- “Respect a man’s car, and the man will respect you”
- “Greet the man”
- “Seat belt”
- “Never drink coffee in the car”
- “If you take care of the car, the car will take care of you”
If you abide by these rules, you may proceed.
The Fast and Furious was a great franchise, but nothing beats the Transporter when it comes to class, sophistication and action.
More so, Jason Statham plays Frank Martin in the movies, nobody is as classy as him when it comes to action movies. The Transporter franchise was pretty successful, so much so that there is a TV show named Transporter Series, with a different Frank Martin.
The French film series, Transporter was a success from 2002-2008. The protagonist (Jason Statham) named Frank Martin is a professional Freelance courier driver for hire. Jason Statham is an accomplished martial artist and the stunts performed in the movies show Jason Statham in action. The Hong Kong style fight scenes are performed by Jason himself and so this movie was a block buster hit.
This article is going to give you a brief overview on the cars that were seen in the Transporter movies and the series. The article also includes rumors and news about the forthcoming Transporter movie named “Transporter Legacy”
First, let’s take a look at the cars that were seen in the Transporter movies.
1999 BMW 735i E38:
The BMW 735i was the first car that Frank Martin uses in the first transporter movie, till its blown into pieces. The production of the 735i started in 1998 (Mid-year) to 2001 (mid-year)
Originating from Germany, the E38 BMW was quite a luxurious sedan that had a RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) and it was offered only in Europe. This 5 speed auto transmission car was powered by a V8 engine. It produced 345 Nm of torque @ 3800 RPM. Although the styling of the car was a bit off, these cars were sheer performers and combined luxurious interiors. This BMW went as fast as 228 kmph or 142 mph as claimed by the factory. The car accelerated from 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds, although it does not seem too fast, it was quite good then. The mileage delivered ranged between 21.3mpg to 25.6 mpg.
Mercedes-Benz W140:
Soon after Frank’s car is blown into shreds and after the bad guy pow-pow action, Frank takes the Mercedes Benz W140 by force. The Merc W140 is a series of flagship vehicles that were produced in the late 90’s by German auto maker Mercedes Benz. The W140 was unveiled on November 16th 1990. The W140 came in both sedan and coupe versions. The sedan versions were powered by 3, 3.2, 3.5, 4.2,5 and 6 liter Turbo-Diesel engine models. Safety and Comfort were of utmost importance in these Mercedes models. A few safety features included; Effective Braking systems, Brake Assist and more power while stopping the car. ESP (Electronic Stability Program) that used on-board computers to improve vehicle handling response when the driving conditions used to get really difficult. Again, these cars lacked the modern style, but they were considered pretty elegant back then.
2004 Audi A8 6.0 W12:
Making a fresh entry and beginning a new relation with Audi, the Transporter 2 movie focused on the Audi A8. Soon after Frank Martin’s BMW and his home are blown to pieces, he gets himself a new home and a new car.
The Audi A8 was produced between 2004 and 2011. Currently Audi has discontinued the 6.0 W12 models.
Powered by a W12 spark-ignition engine, DOHC with 5998 cc displacement ready for action, the A8 produced 580 Nm of torque @ 4000 RPM. The car went as fast as 250kmph and accelerated from0-100 in just 5.2 seconds. It was clearly an action machine that made fans worldwide love Audi more than ever.
Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster:
The transporter 2 movie had a pleasant surprise during the end. Jason Statham drives a Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster during the pursuit scene.
The Murcielago Roadster was powered by a V12 60 degree, light-alloy block, Longitudinal central rear mounted engine that had a permanent four-wheel drive and viscous traction system. The bull powered 640 BHP and produced 660 Nm of torque @ 6000 RPM.
Audi A8 6.0 W12 Face lift:
The Transporter 3 movie was released after the previous transporter was a smashing success and Frank Martin drove a 2008 Face lifted Audi A8 6.0 W12.
With a 5998 cc, 4 cylinder DOHC 6-liter W12 Spark Ignition Engine that produced 446 bhp, the A8 produced 580 Nm torque @ 4000 RPM. This sedan delivered 4 mph mileage in the city and 7 on the highway. But then again, mileage isn’t really a concern for those who buy such a car. The 6 speed auto transmission on this car made an ever lasting impression in the movie.
Statham’s Cars:
Jason Statham is a big car enthusiast. As lady luck is in his favor, he owns various Audi cars and a Lamborghini too. His car collection is pretty awesome; he promotes the Transporter series quite magnificently.
Transporter Legacy:
Transporter Legacy is scheduled to release in June 2015. Sadly, we wont be seeing Jason Statham playing the role of Frank Martin. Let’s hope Ed Skrein plays Martin’s character as good as Jason did. There aren’t any updates on the cars that are going to be used, let’s hope we find some aggressive rides on screen. 🙂