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Call 866-678-4172There are films where a car is the central focus. There are films where the cars become the star. There are films with ordinary cars in great chase sequences and those which are nothing but chase sequences, with as many supercars as possible.
And then there is The Transporter franchise (known internationally as Le Transporteur), a hybrid of martial arts and European car movies which began as film partly inspired by BMW’s ‘The Hire” series, is now having its fourth movie setting up a second trilogy. Written and produced by the French film-maker Luc Besson, and known for launching English actor Jason Statham into action hero stardom. Statham was “Frank Martin” and he has been replaced by both Chris Vance and Ed Skerin as the eponymous hero of this franchise.
The Transporter films all follow a mercenary in a tailored suit who likes to drive very fast and kick people in the face. And who has rules. The recurring motif of the trilogy is that The Transporter is a man who lives by rules (leaving aside that the plot of each film is always predicated on his having to break them).
His rules as a driver for hire are: never change the deal; no names; and never open the package. His rules for the car, which include wearing your seat belt and never drinking coffee inside, begin with the uncompromising: “Respect a man’s car, and the man will respect you.”
Given what Statham does with the cars – driving them off multi-storey parking garages, across rooftops, straddling alleys, off bridges into lakes, into the back of moving trains, and so on – his definition of respect is obviously fairly flexible. But what cars does he respect? Over the course of the three films he drives several, but with the exception of a Lamborghini in Transporter 2, most are powerful, but understated, top-end road cars, rather than flashier Ferraris, McLaren F1s or Bugatti Veyrons.
Cross about this, our hero then puts the hurt on the bad guys with some choice choreography by famed action director/choreographer Corey Yuen, and drives off in a stolen Mercedes W140. This car, one of the S-class, offered a number of innovative safety features, such as side airbags, Brake Assist and Mercedes’ Electronic Stability Program, a computer-aided system which helped to stabilize the vehicle in tricky driving conditions. Usefully, it also had an Adaptive Damping System to bolster the shock absorbers when the car was being driven aggressively, which is the only way Jason knows how to drive. Most of them didn’t feature a kidnapped Triad leader’s daughter tied up in the back.
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By clicking the button, you consent to Endurance using automated technology to call, email, and text you using the contact info above, including your wireless number, if provided, regarding auto protection or, in California, mechanical breakdown insurance. You also agree to the Endurance Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. Consent is not a condition of purchase, and you can withdraw consent at any time. Message and data rates may apply.
Alex has worked in the automotive service industry for over 20 years. After graduating from one of the country’s top technical schools, he worked as a technician achieving a Master Technician certification. He also has experience as a service advisor and service manager. Read more about Alex.