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The all-new Ford
Mondeo makes its screen debut
- Cinema goers will be first to see all-new Ford Mondeo in
action in new Bond movie: CASINO ROYALE
- The specially-built model features in a sequence filmed on
location in the Bahamas
- New Mondeo 5-door is featured in near final production form
ahead of launch in early 2007
The all-new Ford Mondeo makes its screen debut in EON Productions' new
James Bond movie, CASINO ROYALE, which opens in cinemas around the world
from November 17, 2006.
Cinema goers will be the first to see the new 2007 Ford Mondeo in
action at the hands of the new James Bond, actor Daniel Craig. Although an
Aston Martin remains James Bond’s car of choice, the new Mondeo is the
first car to appear in the film as Bond uses it to drive to a hotel after
arriving in the Bahamas on the trail of a terrorist cell.
"We're delighted to be part of this exciting new Bond project,"
said Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe Vice President for Marketing Sales and
Service. "As part of Ford Motor Company's significant relationship
with Bond, the producers wanted a very special vehicle for this short,
early sequence in CASINO ROYALE, and we decided this was a great
opportunity to showcase the exciting new Mondeo shortly after the global
reveal of a preview model at the 2006 Paris Motor Show."
The model is a specially-built 5-door example of the new Mondeo, fitted
with a sports bodykit. Finished in striking Tonic blue, the new Mondeo
property was constructed by hand at Ford of Europe's Design Studio in
Cologne, Germany, in January, 2006.
Appropriately for a Bond movie, the vehicle was then shipped under
great secrecy to the filming location in the Bahamas, where the short
driving sequence was filmed
This sounds simple enough, and although the car in question may not be
one of Bond's more complicated 'special' vehicles, in reality the task of
getting a new Mondeo to the Bahamas in time for the filming and more than
one year before the car's launch was immense.
"The new Mondeo was essentially still on the drawing board when we
were asked to supply the vehicle for filming in February 2006," said
Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Director for Design. "As
volume production for the car doesn't start until the second quarter of
2007, we had to create a one-off, driveable model based around a design
studio property!"
Time was also of the essence, and a team of craftsmen in Ford's
Merkenich Design Studio near Cologne, worked night and day for several
weeks to complete the car and make it driveable.
"This team normally builds the clay and fiberglass models of all
of our future products, so they are used to demanding timeframes and
making full-scale models look like real vehicles," Smith added.
Once completed, the Mondeo was shipped to the CASINO ROYALE set in the
Bahamas, hidden in a purpose-built crate.
Despite the speed with which it was constructed, and the non-standard
materials that were used to build it, the Design team was determined to
make the car look suitable for the role.
"We wanted the property to be fully representative of a
top-of-the-range new Mondeo," Smith added. "The end result is so
convincing that you would never know its origins, and we even added a
unique body kit to the vehicle to emphasise its sporty and dynamic
design."
"On the big screen, the new Mondeo looks impressive and
eye-catching, and we're convinced this appearance, although brief, will
stimulate early customer interest in the new model," added Odell.
In addition to its cameo role in the new film, the special Bond Mondeo
will also feature in a specially made pan-European Ford television
commercial inviting viewers to 'discover the secret world of 007' and
showing footage of the car in action in the Bahamas.
Proud Association
For Ford of Europe, this is not the first time that a popular new model
has been previewed in a Bond film before the car itself has gone on sale.
In 1976, as Ford was about to launch its all-new Taunus-Cortina model,
the company provided a pre-production vehicle for a brief appearance in
"The Spy Who Loved Me". In the sequence filmed on Sardinia's
Costa Smeralda, Bond is chased by the Taunus-Cortina which eventually
careers off the mountain road and through the roof of a cottage.
"We're proud of our association over the years with the film
business, and in particular the Bond movies," Odell said. "It is
particularly exciting for us to have this appearance by Ford's all-new
flagship model in the same film that introduces a new James Bond."
CASINO ROYALE
CASINO ROYALE, the 21st James Bond adventure in the most successful
franchise in film history, began principal photography on Monday 30 th
January 2006 in the Czech Republic. Produced for Eon Productions by
Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, directed by Martin Campbell and
starring Daniel Craig in his debut as 007, it is based on Ian Fleming’s
first novel to feature the ultimate secret agent, which was published in
1953.
CASINO ROYALE traces the early career of James Bond. His first
“007” mission leads him to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the
world’s terrorists. In order to stop him, and bring down the terrorist
network, Bond must beat Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at Casino
Royale. Bond is initially annoyed when a beautiful Treasury official,
Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), is assigned to deliver his stake for the game and
watch over the government's money. But, as Bond and Vesper survive a
series of lethal attacks by Le Chiffre and his henchmen, a mutual
attraction develops leading them both into further danger and events that
will shape Bond’s life forever.
With a screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Oscar winner,
Paul Haggis, CASINO ROYALE was filmed in Prague and Karlovy Vary in the
Czech Republic, on New Providence and Paradise Islands in The Bahamas and
at Lake Como and Venice in Italy, before returning to the UK. Back in the
UK, the production filmed at Dunsfold Airfield in Surrey, in
Buckinghamshire’s Black Park and on the legendary 007 stage at Pinewood
Studios.
British actor Daniel Craig is introduced in the role of James Bond in
CASINO ROYALE, supported by a strong international cast. Judi Dench once
more appears as M, the Head of the British Secret Service. Vesper Lynd,
the first woman with whom James Bond falls in love, is played by French
actress Eva Green, and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen takes the role of Le
Chiffre, international money launderer and Bond’s rival in the high
stakes poker game at the heart of the film.
American Jeffrey Wright plays Felix Leiter, Bond’s ally in the CIA,
and distinguished Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini takes the role of
Mathis, his MI6 contact. Caterina Murino, also Italian, plays Solange, the
beautiful but unhappy wife of one of Le Chiffre’s villainous associates,
who succumbs to Bond’s charms.
CASINO ROYALE is an Albert R Broccoli presentation of an EON production
produced by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, directed by Martin
Campbell from a screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul
Haggis, based on the novel by Ian Fleming, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Pictures and Columbia Pictures through Sony Pictures Releasing.
The 2007 Ford Mondeo
The all-new Mondeo is striking and unmistakably a member of the Ford
family, and takes the company's 'kinetic design' form language to a new
level.
A comprehensive range of core bodystyles will be launched concurrently
in the new range in early 2007, but the Ford of Europe design team chose
the five-door as the appropriate model for CASINO ROYALE, while the new
wagon derivative makes its debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.
The new Mondeo clearly demonstrates how Ford of Europe's 'kinetic
design' language is shaping the company's new models. This form language
will be progressively applied to future Ford vehicles in an appropriate
way, depending on individual vehicle or market segment tastes.
The new Mondeo range will incorporate all of the key 'kinetic design'
elements:
- Dynamic lines
- Three-plane plan view
- Full surfaces
- Strong shoulders
- Bold wheel lips
- A rising belt line
- A distinctive kick-up of the window graphic at the C-pillar
"With the purest expression of 'kinetic design' revealed in the
Ford iosis Concept at Frankfurt 2005, we then introduced the first
elements into volume production on the new S-MAX and Galaxy," Smith
added, "Now, the new Mondeo takes the next major step along our
journey towards a more expressive and emotional Ford range."
Immediately evident in the new model's appearance is the distinctive
front end, with its chamfered corners and the deep offset between the top
of the bonnet and the front wings. Seen from above, the three-plane plan
view of the frontal area is immediately obvious, and a key visual link
between the new Mondeo and the 2005 iosis Concept vehicle, emphasizing
their proportional relationship.
The new family face of Ford is further represented at the front end by
a premium-feel, large upper grille opening, and an inverted trapezoidal
grille below the license plate. Large and distinctive headlamps and lower
foglamps are a key design element, and draw the eye around the chamfered
corners, neatly disguising the volume required to meet the latest
pedestrian protection requirements.
A muscular shoulder line runs through the side of the car to a
relatively high point at the rear. This produces a dynamic window graphic
when the so-called "daylight opening" (DLO) is viewed in profile,
and an upward kick at the rear of the DLO further emphasizes the feeling
of motion. Distinctive rear lamps also feature carefully designed graphics
that enhance the overall feeling of premium quality.
A strong undercut line runs from the bold front wing wheel lips through
the side of the car. Under this, full surfacing extends down to strong
rocker panels to ensure the vehicle maintains a dynamic road presence.
The undercut and full surfaces are key graphic elements of 'kinetic
design' and are already becoming familiar as new Galaxy and S-MAX become
more visible on European roads.
'Kinetic design' themes are carried through to the all-new interior,
which features high quality surfaces, materials and finishes.
Here, dynamic lines and full surfaces are again evident, and the slim
instrument panel provides very generous cabin space for front seat
occupants. The flow-through centre console allows the gear shifter to be
located high and within easy ergonomic reach of the driver.
The design team have also paid great attention to interior detailing,
and examples of this include the new generation infotainment systems, plus
the next generation of Ford's Human Machine Interface (HMI). This easy to
use system features the same steering-wheel toggle switches seen on new
Galaxy and S-MAX, but introduces a large central LCD screen with full
colour graphics situated between the main analogue instruments in front of
the driver.
Rear seat headroom and legroom have also come in for scrutiny by the
Mondeo development team, and these have been maximized for occupant
comfort and safety.
"New Mondeo will deliver premium levels of comfort in a
class-leading package," says Steve Adams, Ford's Vehicle Line
Director for Large Cars. "You can also expect innovative and
top-of-the-range new technology features, particularly those aimed at
assisting and pampering the driver."
The 2007 Mondeo range will feature many of the new premium technologies
seen on Ford S-MAX and Galaxy, and also introduce some new features unique
to the new model.
The Ford team is also determined to ensure that new Mondeo will
maintain its position as the best CD car for driving quality, with
superior driving dynamics, and targeting best-in-class steering, ride and
handling.
Full series information, technical specifications and data for the new
Mondeo range will be revealed early in 2007.
Pictures for this movie were provided by: antp, Rinspeed, Gag Halfrunt,
tarpp1, Gliffhanger
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