Who will become the next James Bond? Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor are among the names being discussed, but there’s another important casting decision awaiting the producers of the 26th Bond film: what will 007 drive?

Cars have been central to the Bond franchise for more than six decades, often playing roles almost as memorable as the actors themselves. From machine-gun-equipped Aston Martins to underwater Lotuses, the series has produced some of cinema’s most recognisable automotive moments.

Not every choice has been successful, however. Some vehicles have been saddled with ridiculous gadgets, while others have barely appeared long enough to justify their inclusion.

With another Bond adventure on the horizon, we look back at the cars that defined the franchise, those that missed the mark and some outstanding machines driven by its villains.

What will James Bond drive next?

Aston Martin remains the obvious candidate to provide 007’s next company car, although nothing has been confirmed.

The relationship between the British sports car manufacturer and the Bond franchise stretches back to 1964’s Goldfinger, and Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark has acknowledged the enormous promotional value of the association.

Speaking to Auto Express earlier this year, Hallmark admitted he had been “wildly jealous” of Aston Martin’s Bond connection while running Bentley – particularly given that Ian Fleming’s original literary Bond drove a Bentley.

Aston Martin’s involvement with the franchise continues through the forthcoming video game 007: First Light, which features the mid-engined Valhalla supercar.

For the next film, the current Vanquish might be a more conventional choice, while another appearance by the classic DB5 would hardly be surprising.

Alternatively, producers could revive Bond’s association with Lotus. The company’s forthcoming Type 135 electric sports car, potentially carrying the Esprit name, would provide an interesting link to one of the franchise’s most celebrated vehicles.

Whatever the decision, the next Bond car has considerable history to live up to.

James Bond’s best cars

Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger (1964) and others

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No vehicle is more closely identified with James Bond than the Aston Martin DB5, which made its debut alongside Sean Connery in Goldfinger.

The elegant British grand tourer came equipped with an extraordinary collection of equipment developed by MI6’s Q Branch. Its armoury included retractable machine guns, bullet-resistant protection, smoke and oil dispensers, tyre-destroying wheel hubs and, most famously, an ejector seat activated by a button concealed in the gearlever.

The DB5’s gadgets played a central role in Bond’s pursuit of Auric Goldfinger, establishing a formula that would influence decades of subsequent films.

Its popularity prompted another appearance in Thunderball, while the association gave Aston Martin invaluable publicity.

Later generations of moviegoers encountered the DB5 in GoldenEye, where it raced a Ferrari F355, and in several Daniel Craig films, including Casino Royale, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die.

More than 60 years after its first appearance, the DB5 remains the definitive Bond car.

Lotus Esprit – The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

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Roger Moore’s Bond enjoyed one of the franchise’s most spectacular automotive sequences in The Spy Who Loved Me, thanks to a white Lotus Esprit that could transform into a submarine.

The wedge-shaped British sports car initially appeared to be another Q Branch creation, complete with missiles, mines and other defensive equipment. But its greatest capability emerged during a pursuit in Sardinia, when Bond drove the Esprit off a pier and into the Mediterranean. Rather than sinking, the car converted into a submersible and continued the chase underwater.

The vehicle, nicknamed Wet Nellie, was actually a specially constructed underwater machine wearing an Esprit-shaped fibreglass body. Rather than developing a fully sealed, independently powered submarine, the filmmakers used a wet submersible operated by scuba divers concealed inside.

The result remains one of the Bond franchise’s most inventive and memorable automotive sequences.

Aston Martin DB10 – Spectre (2015)

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Few cars have been created specifically for a Bond film, making the Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre particularly significant.

Designed under the direction of Aston Martin’s Marek Reichman in collaboration with director Sam Mendes, the DB10 offered an early glimpse of the styling direction that would influence the next-generation Vantage.

Only 10 examples were built, and the car was never offered as a regular production model.

In the film, Daniel Craig’s Bond commandeers the DB10, which was actually intended for fellow agent 009, before taking it through a dramatic nighttime pursuit in Rome. Its appearance ends rather abruptly when Bond abandons the Aston in the River Tiber.

One surviving example subsequently sold for £2.4 million, despite not being road legal, demonstrating the considerable value attached to Bond-related automotive memorabilia.

Sunbeam Alpine – Dr No (1962)

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The first Bond film was made on a relatively modest budget, long before elaborate automotive product placements became part of the franchise. Consequently, Sean Connery’s 007 found himself driving a borrowed Sunbeam Alpine while investigating the mysterious Dr No in Jamaica.

The little British roadster was powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing around 60kW, hardly ideal for escaping determined pursuers. Nevertheless, its compact dimensions proved useful during a chase involving a LaSalle hearse driven by Dr No’s henchmen.

Bond managed to slip beneath a crane blocking the road, while the larger American vehicle continued over a cliff.

The Alpine was sourced locally for filming, providing a relatively humble beginning to Bond’s illustrious automotive career.

Interestingly, the original Fleming novel featured an even less glamorous Hillman Minx.

Aston Martin DBS – Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008)

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Daniel Craig’s arrival as Bond brought a grittier approach to the franchise, with fewer improbable gadgets and a greater emphasis on physical action. The Aston Martin DBS suited that change perfectly.

Although the car didn’t reach showrooms until 2007, it appeared in 2006’s Casino Royale, where it became involved in one of the most spectacular crashes ever filmed.

After discovering Vesper Lynd lying in the road, Bond swerves violently to avoid her, sending the DBS into a series of barrel rolls. The stunt established a Guinness World Record for seven consecutive rolls, although the resulting sequence stretched the boundaries of believable vehicle dynamics.

Another DBS featured in the opening pursuit of Quantum of Solace, suffering extensive damage as Bond attempted to escape his attackers.

Neither car enjoyed a particularly long screen life, but both helped establish the DBS as a modern Bond favourite.

Ford Mustang Mach 1 – Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

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James Bond hasn’t always relied on British sports cars, as demonstrated by the 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 in Diamonds Are Forever.

Sean Connery’s Bond commandeers the rented Mustang belonging to diamond smuggler Tiffany Case while attempting to escape police in Las Vegas. The resulting pursuit includes a memorable sequence through a multistorey car park before Bond attempts to squeeze the wide American muscle car through a narrow alley. His solution is to drive the Mustang on two wheels.

Unfortunately, the stunt produced one of cinema’s best-known continuity mistakes: the car enters the alley balanced on its right-side wheels but emerges travelling on its left-side wheels.

The error has become almost as famous as the chase itself.

BMW Z8 – The World Is Not Enough (1999)

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BMW’s involvement with the Bond franchise reached its high point with the striking Z8 roadster in The World Is Not Enough.

Following appearances by the Z3 and 750iL, the retro-styled Z8 provided Pierce Brosnan’s Bond with a considerably more glamorous vehicle.

Naturally, Q Branch had made a few modifications. The Z8 featured remote-control driving, protective armour and surface-to-air missiles concealed within its front wings.

Unfortunately, its impressive equipment couldn’t prevent the car from being sliced in half by a helicopter-mounted saw.

The production Z8 wasn’t yet available during filming, so the filmmakers used a specially constructed replica based on a kit-car chassis and powered by a Chevrolet Corvette engine.

Citroën 2CV – For Your Eyes Only (1981)

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Few Bond getaway vehicles have been less appropriate for high-speed pursuits than the Citroën 2CV featured in For Your Eyes Only.

After Roger Moore’s Bond and Melina Havelock come under attack, they escape in a bright yellow example of the famously basic French small car. What follows is a surprisingly entertaining chase through the Spanish countryside, with the 2CV tackling rough tracks, steep hills and repeated collisions while evading more powerful Peugeot 504s.

For filming, stunt coordinator Rémy Julienne replaced the standard 602cc two-cylinder engine with a more powerful four-cylinder unit sourced from a Citroën GS.

Citroën subsequently released a special-edition 2CV inspired by the film, complete with yellow paint, 007 decals and simulated bullet holes.

It remains one of the franchise’s most unlikely automotive stars.

James Bond’s worst cars

Aston Martin Vanquish – Die Another Day (2002)

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Aston Martin returned to Bond duty in Die Another Day, ending BMW’s three-film association with the franchise.

The Vanquish itself was an inspired choice, combining dramatic styling with formidable V12 performance.

Unfortunately, the filmmakers decided it needed an invisibility system. The resulting technology allowed Pierce Brosnan’s Bond to make the car disappear from view, pushing the franchise’s already flexible relationship with reality beyond reasonable limits.

Missiles, machine guns and other defensive equipment were familiar Bond territory, but the invisible Aston Martin became one of the film’s most heavily criticised elements.

Ford Mondeo – Casino Royale (2006)

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Daniel Craig’s Bond may have enjoyed an Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale, but he also spent time behind the wheel of a Ford Mondeo.

The ordinary family sedan appeared during Bond’s arrival in the Bahamas, reflecting the commercial relationship between the film and Ford. There was nothing particularly wrong with the Mondeo, but its appearance lacked the glamour traditionally associated with 007.

Fortunately, it was only a brief diversion before Bond returned to more suitable machinery.

BMW Z3 – GoldenEye (1995)

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Pierce Brosnan’s first Bond film introduced BMW as the franchise’s new automotive partner, but the choice of the Z3 roadster was somewhat underwhelming.

BMW had several more powerful and desirable models available, including the M3 and 8 Series, yet Bond received the relatively modest Z3.

Q promised an impressive collection of equipment, including missiles, but the car was given little opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities.

Indeed, the Z3 appeared for less than two minutes. The promotional partnership was nevertheless enormously successful, generating considerable attention for BMW’s new roadster and demonstrating the commercial value of a Bond appearance.

The best cars driven by Bond villains

Land Rover Defender – No Time to Die (2021)

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The latest-generation Land Rover Defender made a spectacular appearance in No Time to Die, joining a collection of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles involved in the film’s action sequences.

During an extended pursuit, Defenders driven by Bond’s enemies are launched into the air over challenging terrain.

The stunt work provided Land Rover with an opportunity to demonstrate the vehicle’s rugged credentials, even if the driving was considerably more extreme than most owners would contemplate.

Jaguar C-X75 – Spectre (2015)

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One of the most striking concept cars Jaguar never put into production, the C-X75 received a second life in Spectre.

Originally conceived as a technologically ambitious hybrid supercar, the C-X75 project was cancelled amid difficult economic conditions.

However, its dramatic appearance made it an ideal choice for the character Mr Hinx, played by Dave Bautista. The Jaguar pursued Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 through Rome in one of the film’s major action sequences.

The stunt vehicles weren’t mechanically identical to the original concept, instead using purpose-built chassis and V8 engines beneath C-X75-inspired bodywork.

Rolls-Royce Phantom III – Goldfinger (1964)

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Auric Goldfinger’s personal transport was suitably extravagant: a Rolls-Royce Phantom III finished in a distinctive yellow colour scheme.

The imposing V12-powered limousine was particularly appropriate for a villain obsessed with gold.

In the film, the Rolls-Royce was used to transport smuggled bullion across Europe, with driving duties handled by Goldfinger’s formidable assistant, Oddjob.

Its combination of size, luxury and sinister purpose made it an ideal automotive counterpart to the villain.

Jaguar XKR Convertible – Die Another Day (2002)

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Bond’s invisible Aston Martin Vanquish faced an equally well-equipped opponent in Die Another Day: a Jaguar XKR Convertible driven by the villain Zao.

Finished in British racing green, the Jaguar carried an extraordinary arsenal of weapons, including rockets, missiles and a Gatling gun. The resulting confrontation on a frozen lake was among the film’s most elaborate automotive sequences.

Despite its impressive firepower, the Jaguar was ultimately defeated by Bond’s technologically improbable Aston Martin.

Honda CRF250R – Skyfall (2012)

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Not every memorable Bond vehicle has four wheels.

The opening sequence of Skyfall features Daniel Craig’s Bond pursuing an enemy operative through Istanbul on Honda CRF250R motorcycles.

The chase takes both riders through crowded streets, across rooftops and into a series of increasingly dangerous manoeuvres.

Because Bond and his opponent are riding essentially identical machines, the action depends more on the riders’ abilities than any technological advantage.

It’s a refreshing departure from the heavily modified supercars that have become synonymous with the franchise.

What makes a great Bond car?

Across more than six decades, James Bond has driven everything from affordable roadsters and family sedans to bespoke supercars costing millions.

The most successful choices have combined distinctive styling with memorable action sequences, whether that’s the DB5’s ejector seat, the Lotus Esprit’s underwater transformation or the Aston Martin DBS’s spectacular destruction.

Other vehicles have become famous for less flattering reasons, including the invisible Vanquish and the Mustang’s notorious continuity error.

As the producers prepare the next chapter of the franchise, the choice of Bond’s next car will attract almost as much interest from enthusiasts as the actor taking the wheel.

And while Aston Martin remains the favourite, the history of 007 suggests that almost anything is possible.