Audi News
Audis to Co-Star in Transporter Sequel
By by: George Achorn
Aug 26, 2004, 05:52

After much Internet speculation around the upcoming sequel to The Transporter, it appears that Audis will play the co-starring role in this typically automotive-centric action film. Fourtitude has confirmed with Audi of America that an Audi A8 and A3 Sportback will be used in the production of the movie.

The Transporter, an action movie that came out in 2002, starred buff British actor Jason Stratham as Frank Martin, an ex-British Special Forces operator who hires himself as a “transporter” - moving whatever needs moved from one place to another - with no questions asked.

In the first movie, Frank lived a seemingly sleepy life on the French Mediterranean coast, while performing 'jobs' in his tweaked BMW 7-Series. While the first movie didn’t do for the BMW 7 what Ronin did for Audi’s S8, The Transporter is still well-respected as one of the better car-chase movies, even if the plot left a bit to be desired as a thriller.

Stratham is back for The Transporter 2, though his female lead is said to be model/actress Amber Valletta (Raising Helen) this time around, while the setting has moved from France to Florida.

When 20th Century Fox announced recently that The Transporter 2 would begin shooting, auto-enthusiasts on Internet movie-fan forums began to speculate what Frank would drive in the sequel.

In an August 23 article appearing in the Miami Herald about Florida’s new financial incentive program for movies who choose to film in the sunshine state, it would appear the cat has been let out of the bag as to what car the hero would assumedly drive.

The Herald reported that, during filming, a “sleek black Audi” being chased by no less than five police cars raced to the end of Miami’s Washington Avenue, headed straight for the ocean. The car was confirmed as an A8L by Gil428, a user of our own Car Lounge discussion forum. According to the Herald, the car swerves through a fountain in South Pointe Park, careens onto a promenade, missing pedestrians who narrowly escape its path, while two of the chasing police cars lose control and ram each other.

Jason Stratham as "The Transporter" - 20th Century Fox

User Gil428 reported a slightly different scene, where a woman runs down some stairs, shooting two Uzis at the A8L. The police in the cars that slide to a stop point their weapons at the girl, ordering her to drop her guns. Instead, she apparently fires on the police cars, destroying them.

Contacting Audi of America for confirmation, we were told that an A8 and A3 Sportback had been procured for use in the movie. No other details have yet been provided.

Also confirmed by the Herald, the widely acclaimed French stunt driver and choreographer from the original movie is also working on the Miami-Dade production of The Transporter 2.

It was also reported in The Car Lounge discussion forum that production assistants on the scene of the shoot mentioned that previews for The Transporter 2 would begin to air in about 5 months, while it would be roughly 8 months before the movie would hit theatres.

More info:
Original Transporter Movie Website
Fourtitude Car Lounge Forum User Recount of Movie Shoot
FilmForce.IGN.com Transporter 2 Script Review
Miami Herald Article at HispanicBusiness.com

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