New Range Rover Sport SVR Footage From ‘No Time To Die’
The Range Rover Sport SVR is a ferociously capable rig. But when push comes to shove it’s no match for James Bond.
After an interminable wait, the latest Bond adventure is almost upon us. No Time To Die is set to hit American screens on October 8th, and while some of the initial reviews aren’t exactly great, I expect that will make virtually no difference when it comes to the box office take. After a pandemic that seemed determine to sap the joy from every aspect of our lives, fans are ready to go to the movies. And if Ian Fleming’s super spy doesn’t provide a compelling reason to visit the cinema? I seriously don’t know what would.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a James Bond movie without some epic chases, and Land Rover has just released a new video showing some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into delivering the kind of thrills Bond fans expect. In this clip, we see a pair of Range Rover Sport SVRs pursuing an old Toyota Land Cruiser, which is being driven by 007. In reality, the high-powered Rovers would have no problem catching Toyota’s rugged off roader, but since they’re being driven by villains, that means they’ve got to crash — and crash they do!
In an era when it seems like blue screens and CGI is responsible for the lion’s share of movie magic, it’s pretty cool to see that when it comes to vehicular stunts, the Bond crew is delightfully old-school. Like Mad Max: Fury Road, that means lots of practical effects, stunt drivers, and twisted sheet metal. At one point in this clip, one of the coordinators remarks that all the safety systems in the SVRs have been disabled, and I wonder how far they had to go to do that. Something tells me it was a little more complicated than just turning off the traction control.
Obviously, since this is a Land Rover video, they’re not exactly going to start shouting about the fact that camera car is a Ford Raptor. But even as a huge fan of British iron, I thought that was pretty interesting, and a natural fit for the Blue Oval’s factory trophy truck. That said, this is likely the last video I’ll post from No Time To Die — at least until after I’ve watched the movie. I’ve already watched more footage than I’d like, and can’t wait to see how everything comes together. If it’s half as good as Casino Royale or Skyfall, we’re all in for a treat.
Photos: Land Rover