Rowan Atkinson introduces the Johnny English Rolls-Royce
At the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Rowan Atkinson joined Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos during a press conference to talk up the new movie "Johnny English Reborn," in which he drives a Phantom Coupe.
The Johnny English Rolls-Royce, which does not actually have a built-in laser.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)James Bond has his Aston Martin, and Johnny English has his Rolls-Royce. At least he does in the latest super spy parody movie from English comic actor Rowan Atkinson. During the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Atkinson showed up for the Rolls-Royce press conference to talk about the role played by a Phantom Coupe in the movie "Johnny English Reborn."
Rowan Atkinson poses by the Johnny English Rolls-Royce.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)Atkinson, who gained fame playing characters such as Blackadder and Mr. Bean, stars in "Johnny English Reborn" as a spy who, in Atkinson's words, "thinks he is better than he really is." In a clip from the movie, the Phantom Coupe driven by Johnny English has a female voice, and the self-awareness of KITT, the car from "Knight Rider."
The movie version of the car apparently has a 9-liter V-16, according to one clip played, a bit more than the 6.75-liter V-12 in the real Phantom Coupe. The car is keyed to English's voice, and at one point cuts its way through a door using a laser that shoots out of the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.
Atkinson said he wanted to make the car a character in the movie, but including it is also a good way to spend some quality time with a Rolls-Royce. "Johnny English Reborn" opens on October 28 in the U.S.
