Cars that debuted on the big screen: Driven News

The silver screen is where stars are born and names are made, but it's also where some of the world's most revered cars are seen for the first time.

So today in Driven News, Sam looks at four cars that made their international debut on the big screen 

Bullitt Mustang

Steve McQueen cemented the Mustang’s place in 1960’s pop culture when a  1968 Mustang GT Fastback was used in the American Thriller Bullitt.

The movie featured an epic chase scene between a Dodge Charger and the Fastback GT through the streets of San Fanscisco. The Fastback was the first redesign of the Mustang since its debut in 1964.

Two 1968 390 V8 Ford Mustang GT Fastbacks with four-speed manuals were used for the chase scene, with the Mustangs' engines, brakes and suspensions were heavily modified for the chase.

The stunt Mustang used for filming was found in 2016 at a junkyard in Mexico. The car was verified by an automobile authentication expert who conclusively determined from the vehicle's VIN and other identifying information.

Die hard bullitt fans rejoice, the Bullitt Mustang will return in 2018, expected to land in New Zealand in October.

Chevrolet Camaro

In the first instalment in the Transformers series, Bumblebee begins the movie as a 1977 Camaro, but transforms into a 2009 Camaro, yet this move came out in 2007, so how did that happen?

Well in reality, the car used was a Pontiac GTO (aka a Holden Monaro) rebadged to look exactly like the Camaro concept car that debuted at the North American International Auto Show in 2006.

Production of the Camaro wouldn't start until 2010 and since then GM have built over 640,000 units two-door muscle cars.

Audi Spider

​When Audi's R8 supercar was first introduced in 2006, everyone knew a convertible was on its way, but no one knew when. That was until spy shots of the R8 Spider appeared online shooting scenes in the Iron Man 2 movie.

The photos showed a clearly visible soft-top roof and the absence of the distinctive "sideblades" found on the V10 coupe.

The Audi Spyder was formerly unveiled in 2009, but first models arrived in dealerships after Iron Man 2 hit cinemas on May 7, 2010.

Robert Downey Jr also arrived at the premier of Iron Man 3 in an R8 Spider. 

Mercedes-Benz ML

Before Mercedes-Benz launched its first luxury SUV in September 1996, they allowed the producers of the 1997 film The Lost World: Jurassic Park to make use of modified pre-production M-Class SUVs as a way to advertise the the models launch in 1997.

Three versions were used in the movie, of which 2 copies of each were built. Each car featured 4-wheel drive, front bull bars, a front tow cable, a winch, fog lights, rear tail light guards, custom step bars, leather seats, and a camouflage paint. Each variant included various other small changes that added to each vehicle's purpose.

Two are displayed at the Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, there is one at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, and one at the Visitor Center at the M-class factory in Alabama.

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of its first luxury SUV, Mercedes has launched the special edition GLE ‘Edition 20' - read all about it here.