Autoblog

As if being chosen to play the consummate British secret agent wasn't enough for Daniel Craig to brag about, the current 007 has been extended a free pass to drive Aston Martin's best cars any time he pleases. And he isn't limited to driving on the street. Aston has made its test track available to the faux agent. Craig must be quite the Ambassador to the brand to be granted such special privileges. Unfortunately, Mr. Bond seems to have no intentions of actually going out and purchasing one for himself, saying, "I could drive it faster and more furiously [on the track] than anywhere on the road. I live in London [and] it doesn't make any sense to drive an Aston Martin there. I've nowhere to park it." Yeah, we know how you feel, Daniel. That's the reason all of on the Autoblog staff don't own Astons too... nowhere to park.

[Source: Contact Music]

Few would argue that actor Daniel Craig revived the James Bond series with the movie Casino Royale in 2006. That film featured the Aston Martin DBS as Bond's personal whip, though he was caught driving what was then Ford's brand new Mondeo family sedan from the airport to the hotel, as well. It appears another one of Ford's more pedestrian offerings will make a cameo in the next Bond film titled Quantum of Solace that's scheduled to debut on November 7, 2008. The new cast member will be the next generation Ford Ka small car. The video after the jump shows the car (around 2:24 in) being used in filming. No doubt another Aston Martin will appear as well, despite the fact that Ford has sold off the brand. After all, how could Craig stay in character driving an entry-level three-door hatchback the entire film?

[Source: Motor Authority]

We finally got to watch Casion Royale the other day and were very impressed with the new Bond – clearly a darker and more mature double-O than previous ones who were cast as cartoonish philanderers. In addition to the new Bond, the series also received a new cast member in the form of the Aston Martin DBS. The story of Aston's involvement in Casino Royale is interesting, considering the automaker needed to supply the film with cars a full two years ahead of the DBS reaching production. Of course, the majority of the four cars Aston Martin delivered to the production were completely destroyed for a scene in which Bond swerves to avoid steamrolling his lady love and enters into a series of seven barrel rolls. The scene's stuntwork was so successful that it entered the Guiness Book of World Records for achieving seven complete rolls, besting Top Gear, the previous record holder. Unfortunately, the end result of the wreck was a destroyed DBS. Brit mag EVO chronicles the story of Aston's involvement in Casino Royale here, and provides a series of shots showing the DBS before and after the crash. Surprisingly, the Aston Martin DBS still looks gorgeous after going end over end a record number of times. It just needs a little TLC to get back on its feet.

[Source: EVO]

A new trailer for the upcoming James Bond flick Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig gives us a few quick glimpses of the Aston Martin DBRS 9 that 007 will be driving in the film. While footage of the unique DBRS 9 in the trailer is limited to about 2 or 3 seconds, we're sure the car will see much more screen time in the actual film. After the film fades from the big screen, however, a few lucky owners will still be able to open their garage doors and take the production version of Bond's DBRS 9 for a spin. That car is reported to have an uprated 500-hp V12, race-car inspired lowered suspension and wider track. Until then, check out the trailer and try not to cringe when Craig rolls the car.

[Source: YouTube]

Related posts:

• Spy Shots: Aston Martin's gorgeous DBRS 9
• Bond's Vanquish from Die Another Day auctioned off
• Aston to sell Nurburgring Vantage V8 in limited numbers

What actor is bigger in Hollywood right now than the automobile? Pixar's hit CARS was full of them, James Bond was hardly ever seen without one, and today marks the release of Will Ferrell's octane-fueled Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Now you can add Citroen to the long list of car film credits. The French automaker worked on a new animated movie called Renaissance: Paris 2054 to design a futuristic Citroen in which the film's lead character, played by new Bond boy Daniel Craig, could fight the oppressive power of a corporate-driven government. While the plot may sound a little worn, the trailer for the flick is pretty cool. The film is the silver screen debut for a purpose built Citroen, and it will be hitting theaters elsewhere around the world in two weeks.

[Source: Inside Line]

Daniel Craig, the next James Bond, has already endured his fair share of controversy, and now the poor guy will have to while away the opening sequence in Casino Royale in a Fiat W190 bulldozer. This word, after we we reported last month that he'll also be driving a Ford Mondeo in the film.

But don't shed a tear for Daniel Craig. We're quite sure that he'll still get to shack up with some ridiculously hot beauty in an exotic locale, bide his time with lots of too-cool spy gear, and save the world in his free time. Oh, and we're quite sure all the product placement in the film will result in a sizeable paycheck for the inconvenience of it all. Besides, 007 can always ditch the ditch-digger (and the Blue Oval rep-mobile) and drive off into the sunset in the Aston Martin he's also scheduled to drive. Life is tough, eh, Craig?

Casino Royale is slated for a November release.

[Source: Reuters via CNN; Fiat]