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Bond Cars Bring Gadgetry, Power

22nd James Bond Movie Out In November

Monday, September 15, 2008 – updated: 5:09 am PDT September 16, 2008

Since "Dr. No" first put James Bond on the big screen in 1962, the cars that the British super spy drives are often flashy and high-powered, with a dose of gadgetry thrown in.

Through the 46 years and 21 films -- the 22nd, "Quantum of Solace," is due out Nov 14 -- one company has taken its place as the most famous maker of Bond cars: Aston Martin.

The Sunbeam Alpine was the first main car used by Sean Connery's Bond in "Dr. No," and it wasn't until the third Bond film, 1964's "Goldfinger," that Connery was behind the wheel of an Aston Martin DB5.

The DB5 has appeared in four Bond films since its debut: "Thunderball," "GoldenEye" and bit parts in "Tomorrow Never Dies" and "Casino Royale."

A new Aston Martin was released prior to "Casino Royale," which came out in 2006 -- the Aston Martin DBS.

The DBS was originally available from 1967-1972 and was featured in the Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." The new version of the car is based on the Aston Martin DB9, and was featured in a record-breaking stunt in "Casino Royale."

With the latest Bond actor Daniel Craig behind the wheel at high speed, he swerved avoid hitting his love interest, who was tied up and lying in the road. The car then rolled seven times in the air before crashing to a halt.

According to a blog on the film's official Web site, the DBS was supposed to have hit a small ramp and roll several times in midair. But due to the DBS's race car roots, the low center of gravity prevented the stunt from working.

"We decided then on using a cannon. The special effects guys had put a cannon in which sits just behind the driver's seat," according to the blog. "It has a cylinder that, as you press a button, releases a load of air which punches the cylinder into the road which then, in turn, turns the car over. And that's how we ended up doing it in the end."

According to pictures released on the "Quantum of Solace" Web site, the DBS is back as a Bond car.

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