Daniel Craig's Bond Drove Four Aston Martins in One Movie — Here's Every Car from His 007 Era

When Daniel Craig first slipped into the tuxedo for 2006’s Casino Royale, he brought with him a grittier, more visceral James Bond — and the cars reflected that transformation. Gone were the invisible cloaking devices and satellite-controlled BMWs of the Pierce Brosnan era. In their place came raw, mechanical machines that could exist in the real world, driven with genuine fury by a man who looked like he could actually handle them.

Across five films spanning fifteen years, Craig’s Bond drove everything from a humble Ford Mondeo to a one-off Aston Martin concept worth millions. The partnership with Aston Martin deepened to unprecedented levels, while Land Rover, Jaguar, and even Toyota played memorable supporting roles. Let’s take a film-by-film journey through the most iconic cars of the Daniel Craig Bond era.

Casino Royale (2006) — A New Bond, A New Attitude

Craig’s debut rewrote the Bond formula from scratch, and the car choices signalled the shift immediately. This was a Bond still earning his “00” status — not yet the seasoned agent with access to Q Branch’s finest toys.

Ford Mondeo ST — The Undercover Daily Driver

Bond’s very first car in the Craig era wasn’t an Aston Martin at all — it was a tonic blue Ford Mondeo ST, driven through the Bahamas. Ford was an official partner of the film (they owned Aston Martin at the time), and the Mondeo had to be hand-built before the production model even existed. With a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 220 bhp and a top speed of 150 mph, it was a surprisingly capable sleeper — exactly the sort of unassuming car a newly-minted spy might borrow for tropical surveillance work.

Aston Martin DB5 — Won, Not Issued

The DB5 needs no introduction, but Craig’s version arrived with a twist: Bond didn’t receive it from Q Branch. He won it from villain Alex Dimitrios in a poker game at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas. This left-hand-drive DB5, finished in the classic silver birch, was a deliberate callback to the Sean Connery era, but its acquisition felt fresh — this Bond earned his iconic car through skill at the card table, not through bureaucratic requisition.

Aston Martin DBS V12 — The Record Breaker

The true star car of Casino Royale was the Aston Martin DBS V12. Issued to Bond by MI6 for his Montenegro mission, this wasn’t the gadget-laden machine of earlier films. Its only special equipment was a hidden gun compartment and a medical kit with a defibrillator — which, in a moment of dark comedy, malfunctioned when Bond needed it most.

The DBS V12 earned its place in cinematic and automotive history during one unforgettable scene. Swerving to avoid Vesper Lynd lying bound in the road, Bond’s DBS barrel-rolled an astonishing seven times — setting a new Guinness World Record. The stunt was so difficult to execute that the team had to fit a nitrogen-powered ram to the car to initiate the roll after conventional methods failed. Two hand-built prototype hero cars were used for close-ups, while three modified DB9s served as stunt doubles.

The 5.9-litre V12 produced 510 bhp and could reach 191 mph — making the crash sequence all the more devastating to watch for car enthusiasts.

Quantum of Solace (2008) — The Vengeful Pursuit

Picking up literally minutes after Casino Royale ended, Quantum of Solace opened with one of the most aggressive car chases in Bond history — and the cars told the story of a Bond consumed by revenge.

Aston Martin DBS V12 — The Lake Garda Opening

The DBS V12 returned for the film’s sensational pre-title sequence, a white-knuckle pursuit along the winding roads beside Lake Garda in Italy. Bond, behind the wheel of the charcoal-grey DBS, is being chased by Alfa Romeo 159s carrying Quantum operatives. The chase was filmed on the actual Via Gardesana Centro, and the combination of the DBS V12’s thunderous V12 and the narrow Italian lakeside roads created one of the franchise’s most intense opening sequences.

Alfa Romeo 159 — The Persistent Pursuers

The villains’ weapon of choice was the Alfa Romeo 159 TI, powered by a 3.2-litre V6 producing 260 bhp. While they couldn’t match the DBS for outright speed, the 159s were nimble enough to stay on Bond’s tail through the tight Italian roads. Alfa Romeo capitalised on the exposure with a limited edition Quantum of Solace 159 — finished in black with lowered suspension, red Brembo calipers, and 19-inch wheels. Only 250 units were produced.

Ford Ka — The Unexpected Co-Star

Perhaps the most surprising Bond car of the entire Craig era was the Ford Ka, driven by Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko) through the streets of Haiti. It was a world away from the Aston Martins, but it served the story — a compact city car for navigating crowded developing-world streets. Ford even created a special Quantum of Solace edition, complete with Greene Planet branding identical to the film car.

Volvo S40 — The Surveillance Special

In the Austrian sequences, Bond drives a Titanium Grey Metallic Volvo S40 to track Dominic Greene. The choice reflected the Ford Motor Company’s broad sponsorship deal — at the time, Ford owned Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Aston Martin, making Quantum of Solace effectively a Ford group showcase.

Skyfall (2012) — The Legend Returns

Sam Mendes’ Skyfall was a critical and commercial triumph, and it marked the full resurrection of the classic Bond-Aston Martin partnership — including the return of the most famous movie car of all time.

Aston Martin DB5 — Fully Weaponised at Last

After its relatively subdued appearance in Casino Royale, the DB5 returned in Skyfall with a glorious reveal. When Bond takes M out to the Scottish Highlands to his childhood estate, he uncovers the DB5 under a tarpaulin in a lock-up garage. “We’re going to have to make do with what we have,” he says, before revealing that this particular DB5 comes complete with the full Goldfinger specification — machine guns behind the headlights, an ejector seat, and a passenger-side fingerprint scanner.

The DB5’s finest moment comes during the film’s climactic battle at Skyfall Lodge, where Bond uses the machine guns to mow down Silva’s henchmen in a scene that’s both thrilling and darkly humorous. Mendes managed to make a fifty-year-old car feel genuinely dangerous and cool again.

Jaguar XJ L — M’s Ministerial Transport

M (Judi Dench) was chauffeured in a long-wheelbase Jaguar XJ L in midnight black metallic throughout the London sequences. The XJ L, likely the 3.0-litre V6 diesel variant, was the perfect choice for the head of MI6 — understated British luxury that projected quiet authority rather than flash.

Land Rover Defender — The Opening Sequence

Skyfall’s electrifying opening chase in Istanbul featured Land Rover Defenders, including one driven by Eve (Naomie Harris) with Bond riding as a passenger. The Defenders were put through genuine punishment on the Turkish streets and rooftops, establishing the gritty, practical tone that would define the film.

Audi A5 — Brief but Memorable

Bond briefly drives an Audi A5 during the Istanbul chase sequence before things escalate to a train-top fight. It’s a fleeting appearance, but the A5’s sleek lines looked sharp against the ancient Turkish architecture.

SPECTRE (2015) — The Custom-Built Bond Car

If Skyfall celebrated the past, SPECTRE looked firmly to the future — and Aston Martin rose to the occasion with a car built exclusively for James Bond.

Aston Martin DB10 — Built for Bond, Never for Sale

The DB10 is unique in the Bond canon: it was designed and built by Aston Martin specifically for SPECTRE, never intended for public sale. Director Sam Mendes personally requested a custom car, and Aston Martin delivered. Only ten DB10s were manufactured — eight for filming and two for promotional duties.

The DB10 previewed Aston Martin’s future design language, particularly the narrow LED headlights and aggressive front grille that would later appear on the production Vantage. Powered by the V8 Vantage’s 4.7-litre engine, the DB10 was a fully functional performance car, not just a styling exercise.

Its standout scene was the moonlit chase through Rome, where Bond uses the DB10’s gadgets — including a rear flamethrower and an ejector seat — to escape the terrifying henchman Hinx. The car meets a watery grave in the Tiber, and several DB10s were destroyed during filming. The total bill for wrecked vehicles in SPECTRE reportedly exceeded £24 million.

Jaguar C-X75 — The Villain’s Weapon

Hinx (Dave Bautista) drove the Jaguar C-X75, a stunning hybrid supercar concept that Jaguar originally developed but never put into production. With its compact gas turbine engines and electric motors, the C-X75 was capable of 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds. Seeing it as a villain’s car was a brilliant casting choice — it looked sinister, futuristic, and devastatingly fast.

Range Rover Sport SVR — The Muscle

Hinx’s henchmen used Range Rover Sport SVRs during the Austrian mountain pursuit. The SVR, with its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 542 bhp, was the most powerful production Land Rover at the time. The chase through the Austrian Alps, involving two Land Rover Defender SVXs and the Range Rover Sport SVRs, was one of the film’s most spectacular set-pieces.

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (1948) — The Desert Arrival

Blofeld dispatched a 1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith to collect Bond and Dr Madeleine Swann from the Moroccan desert. It was the oldest vehicle in any Craig-era Bond film, and its stately presence in the vast, empty landscape created an unforgettable image of old-world power meeting ancient terrain.

No Time to Die (2021) — Four Astons, One Farewell

Craig’s final outing as 007 was the most Aston Martin-heavy Bond film ever made, featuring four distinct models — the most in any single film in the franchise’s history.

Aston Martin DB5 — The Final Mission

The DB5 bookended Craig’s tenure. The film opens with Bond and Madeleine Swann driving the DB5 through the ancient Italian city of Matera, pursued by mysterious Jaguar XF sedans through narrow stone streets. It’s a stunning sequence that shows off the DB5’s timeless beauty against a backdrop that hasn’t changed in centuries.

The DB5’s crowning moment comes when Bond, cornered by dozens of henchmen, unleashes the hidden machine guns from behind the headlights and performs sharp donuts, cutting down enemies in a hail of bullets. It was cathartic, thrilling, and the perfect tribute to the car’s 007 legacy.

Ten DB5s were used during filming — two genuine cars and eight purpose-built stunt replicas. The replicas were built on bespoke spaceframe chassis with carbon-fiber bodies and inline-six engines producing over 380 horsepower. Each was equipped with a roll cage, racing harnesses, limited-slip differential, and a remote-control system that allowed stunt operators to drive the cars from up to 500 meters away.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1987) — The Retro Warrior

The classic Aston Martin V8 Vantage, originally featured in Timothy Dalton’s The Living Daylights (1987), made a triumphant return. Bond and Madeleine drive this vintage brute through Norwegian forests while being pursued by villains in modern SUVs. The contrast between the old naturally-aspirated V8’s raw mechanical character and the sterile modern pursuit vehicles was deliberate — this was Bond using analogue fury against digital-age threats.

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera — Nomi’s Ride

With Bond retired at the start of the film, the new 007 is Nomi (Lashana Lynch), and her company car is the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. Powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 715 bhp, the DBS Superleggera was the most powerful Aston Martin road car at the time. Its brief but striking appearance — arriving at MI6 headquarters in muscular, low-slung glory — was a powerful statement that the 007 mantle had been passed on.

Aston Martin Valhalla — The Glimpse of Tomorrow

The Aston Martin Valhalla, a forthcoming mid-engined hypercar powered by a twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain producing over 900 bhp, made the briefest of cameos. Seen in what appears to be a secret MI6 wind tunnel facility with M standing nearby, the Valhalla was never driven in the film. Its presence was a tease — perhaps for the next 007’s future company car. With a projected price of around £600,000 and Nürburgring-record ambitions, it was the most exotic car ever to appear in a Bond film, even standing still.

Land Rover Defender (2020) — The New Workhorse

The all-new Land Rover Defender featured prominently in the Norwegian forest chase sequences. Land Rover even produced a special No Time to Die edition Defender, complete with 22-inch wheels, unique 007 badging, and treadplates. It was a savvy piece of casting — the Defender is to British off-roading what the DB5 is to British sports cars.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J90 — The Underdog

In one of the film’s most resourceful moments, Bond commandeers a J90 Series Toyota Land Cruiser Prado to escape from Safin’s thugs. The Prado sent a Range Rover flying and later evaded a helicopter — proving that Bond can make even a humble Japanese SUV heroic. It was a wonderful piece of counter-programming against the bespoke European exotics.

Jaguar XF — The Pursuit Cars

Jaguar XFs served as the pursuit vehicles during the Matera DB5 chase, providing worthy opposition to Bond’s classic Aston. Their modern, aggressive styling created a compelling visual contrast with the 1960s DB5 on screen.

The Legacy of Craig’s Cars

Daniel Craig’s Bond era was defined by authenticity. The cars weren’t fantasy props — they were real machines with real performance capabilities, chosen to serve character and story rather than merely to showcase the most expensive badges. The Aston Martin partnership reached its deepest level, with bespoke cars like the DB10 created exclusively for the films.

The era also reflected the changing automotive landscape. From the V12 grand tourers of Casino Royale through to the hybrid hypercar tease of the Valhalla in No Time to Die, Craig’s Bond drove the evolution of the performance car itself. The supporting cast of Land Rovers, Jaguars, and even a Toyota Prado grounded the fantasy in a believable world where not every hero drives a supercar.

For fifteen years and five films, Daniel Craig’s 007 proved that the right car can be as memorable as any villain, any gadget, or any one-liner. The cars didn’t just transport James Bond — they helped define him.