But...does it come with an iPod nano?
Category: Rides...
Posted Thursday, September 08, 2005 at 09:56 AM [GMT-6]

MLB and I saw two movies last weekend, one of which was the critically-panned "Transporter 2." We found it to be a fun bit of fluff, with stunts and car scenes so over-the-top as to seem somehow right, like the hidden-wire magic of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." If you can wrap your mind around the concept that it's not only animated characters or people wearing funky costumes who can routinely defy the laws of physics, then you can sit back and enjoy "Transporter 2."

But enough about the movie; let's talk cars. After all, that's what the movie's hero is all about: making unbelievable cars do unbelievable things. Audi was prominently featured as the primary product placement provider, with the $118,000 12-cylinder A8 being the transporter's personal choice of vehicle. I've no doubt that it's a marvel of modern technology, but it was, frankly, a bit boring to behold.

But that definitely was not the case with the car that was featured -- and ultimately destroyed (heartbreaking!) -- in one of the climactic-if-clichéd chase scenes. If ever there was a car capable of chasing down a corporate jet prior to take-off, it's the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (I think). This 12-cylinder, 540hp gem tops out around 200 mph, and you can have one for about $260,000. The Scaglietti sports a relatively low-key design compared to, say, a Lamborghini, but it's still a thing of beauty:

What caught my attention during the movie, though, was the shifter, an organically-designed piece of metal afixed to the steering column and operated via the driver's fingertips. It reminded me of something Campagnolo might design for its top-of-the-line bicycle component gruppo. I confess to ignorance as to the performance advantages of this shifter, other than its convenient placement and quick operation; perhaps I'd be better schooled if I had $260,000 laying around for "tuition." But, it's Italian and it looks cool (I know; that's redundant) and that's enough.

Oh, I almost forgot. In answer to the question posed in the post title...yes, it does. Or soon will.

Technorati tag: Transporter 2