vehicle information
Lotus Esprit driven by James Bond
Owned by MI6
Featured In The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
film information
Where Sean Connery has been famously linked to his Aston Martin DB5, so Roger Moore is linked to the Lotus Esprit. This famous car was unique in the Bond series as it could be used both on land and underwater.
Featuring a wide multitude of land and underwater-based gadgetry the Lotus Esprit was an instant hit with audiences, adding a much-needed boost after the relative unpopularity of The Man With The Golden Gun.
After Q delivers the Lotus Esprit to Bond and Major Anya Amasova on Sardinia, Bond decides to take it for a spin. However, he has not got far before Stromberg’s Motorbike is following him. Bond manages to closely avoid the motorbikes explosive sidecar before being confronted by a car full of Stromberg’s henchmen including Jaws. After getting rid of the pursuers using the Lotus’ cement sprayer, Bond is confronted with Naomi in Stromberg’s Helicopter firing her machine guns. Avoiding been made Swiss cheese by Naomi, Bond continues driving along and off a pier straight into the sea.
When underwater the Lotus Esprit converts into a submarine; the wheels fold in, fins emerge on either side, propellers extend from the back of the car and a periscope rises from the roof. Bond then fires a surface-to-air missile to lock-onto and destroy Naomi. Bond proceeds to travel to Atlantis to further investigate where Bond fires a front mounted torpedo, underwater smoke screen and limpet mine dispenser to eliminate some of Stromberg’s henchmen sent after Bond. §
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