Ford EDGE makes feature film debut in new James Bond movie

James Bond gets behind the wheel of a black 2008 Ford Edge in pivotal scenes of the new action film “Quantum of Solace,” which opens this weekend in theaters throughout the country.

“Quantum of Solace” picks up where “Casino Royale” left off. After Bond – played by Daniel Craig – is betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loves, he sets off to avenge her death and find out who blackmailed and pitted her against him. The trail ultimately leads to the villain of the film – Dominic Greene – an environmentalist who heads up a criminal organization called Quantum.

“Four Edges dressed up as hydrogen-powered vehicles are part of a fleet that belongs to Greene, and they are integrated naturally into the plot of the movie,” said Al Uzielli, senior advisor to Ford Global Brand Entertainment. “When you see the Edge – as when you saw the Mondeo in ‘Casino Royale’ – there’s no question to the relevance or the correctness of the vehicle being in that scene.”

While the Ford Edge models featured in “Quantum of Solace” are merely made up to look like hydrogen-powered vehicles, actual testing is underway at Ford with the Edge HySeries Drive technology – the world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric plug-in. The HySeries combines an onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator with lithium ion batteries to deliver more than 41 mpg.

According to Uzielli, producers of the film “auditioned” all of the vehicles in the Ford lineup before selecting the Edge for the coveted role.

“They needed a vehicle with a certain amount of space and performance,” he explained. “One of the scenes takes place in the desert. It didn’t necessarily have to be an all-terrain vehicle, but a sedan wouldn’t have worked, and there needed to be a certain amount of slickness to the vehicle.”

Four Edges traveled halfway across the world to remote locations in Chile and Panama. Throughout the movie, they are used as vehicles for Greene’s henchmen. At the end of the film, however, 007 himself takes a ride behind the wheel.

“Without giving away too much of the storyline, let’s just say it’s a very important scene that takes place in the desert,” teases Uzielli.

“Quantum of Solace” also features a cameo appearance from the all-new Ford Ka. Ford’s new European small car makes its screen debut alongside the film’s beautiful but feisty leading lady, Olga Kurylenko, who plays Camille, a woman with her own personal mission who quickly becomes an unlikely ally for Bond.

Ford has had a long-standing relationship with the Bond movies since Henry Ford II brokered the deal with Albert “Cubby” Broccoli to showcase the ’64½ Ford Mustang convertible in “Goldfinger,” says Uzielli, who is also the grandson of Henry Ford II. But he hastens to stress that regardless of that relationship, the vehicles chosen to appear in the Bond films are selected solely based on their suitability for the role.

“If we didn’t have the right cars, the relationship wouldn’t mean anything,” he said. “They are very particular about the way their brand is perceived, and they would never force fit a vehicle in that didn’t work.” But when the vehicle does work – like the Edge in “Quantum of Solace” – it’s a beautiful thing, says Uzielli.

“Bond is the most successful franchise in motion picture history,” he said. “It’s an honor to be a part of it.” Ford’s Global Brand Entertainment team has established itself as a leader when it comes to placing products in motion pictures.