Guide: BMW Z8 - The World Is Not Enough
The World Is Not Enough
The World Is Not Enough was the 19th film in the James Bond franchise and the third to start Pierce Brosnan as secret agent 007.
The plot saw Bond assigned to protect the daughter of an oil magnate, Sir Robert King, who was building a petroleum pipeline through the Caucasus. Early on, King is killed by an explosion at the MI6 headquarters in London for which Russian terrorist, Victor Zokas aka Renard (Robert Carlyle), was believed responsible.
As Renard had previously abducted King’s daughter, Elektra (Sophie Marceau), Bond was assigned to protect her. It later transpires that Elektra was responsible for her father’s death as payback because he had used her as bait to lure Renard. Bond also discovered a larger plot by the pair to massively increase petroluem prices by triggering a nuclear meltdown in the waters around Istanbul. This would leave the King Industries pipeline as the only viable method of extracting petroleum from the Caspian region.
Filming took place in Bilbao, London, Scotland, Baku and Istanbul between January and June of 1999.
The World Is Not Enough premiered on November 19th of that year in Los Angeles.
It was the third James Bond movie to feature a BMW as 007’s mode of transportation. The German auto maker had signed a three-picture deal back in 1995 that had previously seen James Bond drive a Z3 in Goldeneye and a 750 iL in Tomorrow Never Dies.
For this final collaboration, 007 would be equipped with a specially enhanced Q-branch version of the yet-to-be released Z8 Roadster.
Inspired by the Z07 Concept unveiled in late 1997, the Z8 was built around an aluminium spaceframe chassis in to which was dropped the five-litre 394bhp V8 and six-speed gearbox from the E39 M5. Front suspension was via MacPherson struts and lower wishbones while a five-link Z-axle was installed at the rear.
Styling-wise, the Z8 tapped into the popular late ‘90s trend for retro design. It was conceived as a modern interpretation of the 507 from the 1950s and thus copied an array of details such as the split intake nostrils, curvaceous BMW-branded side vents and pronounced rear fender line. The nostrils, vents, wing mirrors and door handles were all chrome plated to add a classic twist. The retro design theme continued inside where almost every aspect of the Z8 harked back to its illustrious predecessor.
The Z8 made its salon debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1999 and deliveries began in early 2000.
For filming, BMW supplied Eon Productions with three fully-functional Arctic Silver Z8 prototypes plus a pair of engineers to oversee proceedings. The cars were guarded 24 hours a day and generally covered up when not in use.
BMW also provided enough body parts for Eon to build three special effect mules which were based on Cobra kit car underpinnings to which fibreglass Z8-style bodies were fitted. These vehicles were powered by Chevrolet engines with Tremec five-speed gearboxes and Jaguar rear axles. As the Jaguar axles used inboard rear brakes, fake discs had to be installed to accurately mimic the Z8’s appearance.
A quarter scale radio controlled model was also built for some of the action scenes.
Q-branch Modifications
In typical fashion, 007’s Z8 was enhanced with an array of Q-branch extras.
Located on telescopic arms behind the retractable front fender-mounted engine cooling vents were four surface-to-air Stinger missiles. A target control and firing system for the missiles was housed on the steering wheel hub.
Behind a front licence plate which split in two were ten rockets. Retractable fog lights concealed a pair of machine guns.
Hidden behind a rear licence plate that rotated upwards was a rocket booster to give an additional burst of speed.
The exhaust pipes were able to pump out a thick smoke screen.
Other special equipment included a bulletproof windscreen, titanium armour-plated doors, a heads-up display, an eavesdropping device, a thermographic navigation system and an EMP generator that emitted an electromagnetic shock wave to disable electronic devices close by.
Like the 750 iL used in Tomorrow Never Dies, 007’s Z8 could be radio controlled via a drive system built into the car's key fob.
On Screen
The Z8’s opening scene saw Bond given a typically humorous introduction to the car and its features by Q (Desmond Llewelyn) along with his new assistant and appointed successor who 007 comically refers to as R (John Cleese).
The car is next seen in Azerbaijan where Bond has been sent to liaise with Elektra who is overseeing the final stages of the oil pipeline construction started by her late father.
The Z8’s starring role occured at a caviar factory on the Caspian Sea where 007 was the target of an attempted assassination by Renard's henchman.
Having used the radio control function to manoeuvre the Z8 to an accessible position, Bond then activated one of the Stinger missiles to shoot down an approaching helicopter armed with a huge timber-cutting saw. However, a second similarly-equipped chopper then appeared from behind the car and the Z8 (one of the engine-less kit cars) was cut in two.
The World Is Not Enough Release
Produced on a budget of $135m, The World Is Not Enough went on to gross $361.8m at the worldwide box office.
Subsequent Histories
All three of the Z8 prototypes used in the production were subsequently returned to BMW with whom they remain to this day.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Aston Martin - https://www.astonmartin.com & MGM Studios - https://www.mgm.com
