TORQUE: 516 ft.-lbs. at 2650 rpm
0–60: 4.6 seconds
BELLA‘S MERCEDES GUARDIAN
?BECAUSE I WAS SO FRAGILELY HUMAN, SO ACCIDENT-PRONE, SO
MUCH A VICTIM TO MY OWN DANGEROUS BAD LUCK, APPARENTLY I NEEDED A TANK- RESISTANT CAR TO KEEP ME SAFE. HILARIOUS.?
— Bella (
While some of its features are based on the actual Mercedes S600 Guard, the Mercedes Guardian does not exist in reality and is the only fictional car in the Twilight Saga. As its name suggests, the focus of Edward‘s choice for Bella‘s pre-vampiric conversion was entirely on safety. Built from the ground up with protection in mind, the car offers its occupants security from everything that automotive engineers could dream up. Armor designed to resist military-standard small-arms projectiles, hand-grenade fragments, and various other explosive charges lies beneath the car‘s skin, while run-flat tires, a self-sealing fuel tank, and a fire-extinguishing system allow the driver to get out of bad situations. Should assailants switch to a gaseous attack, the Guardian provides occupants with a fresh oxygen supply while completely sealing off the car from all outside air. No doubt understanding Bella‘s limited human reflexes, Edward would also have welcomed the car‘s driving aids, including everything from night vision to electronic brake distribution.
This car highlights the inherent differences in how Edward views Bella and how Bella views herself. Bella is content with her seat belt — lacking Chevy, while Edward puts her in a car generally reserved for land mine — avoiding oil sheiks, sparing no effort, or expense, to protect her in every way possible.
BELLA: FERRARI F430
COLOR: Red
ENGINE: 4.3-liter V8
HORSEPOWER: 483 hp at 8500 rpm
TORQUE: 343 ft.-lbs. at 5250 rpm
0–60: 3.5 seconds
BELLA‘S FERRARI F430
?I HADN‘T SEEN THE ?AFTER‘ CAR YET. IT WAS HIDDEN UNDER A SHEET IN THE DEEPEST CORNER OF THE CULLENS‘ GARAGE. I KNEW MOST
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE PEEKED BY NOW, BUT I REALLY DIDN‘T WANT TO
KNOW.?
— Bella (
The Ferrari F430, hidden until after Bella transforms, is the most stand-out car of the series. This car choice was unencumbered by the normal compromises necessary in the characters‘ car decisions. The Ferrari F430 is the pinnacle of sports-car engineering. Though many ultra exotics have a higher price tag, this car outperforms almost all. In addition, the car‘s beautifully defined lines and curves remind the viewer more of classical Italian sculpture than anything related to transportation. Though it plays only a minor role in the books, it identifies Edward‘s true feelings for Bella. The majority of the cars in the series show Edward as overly obsessed with her safety, but small moments, like revealing the identity of this car, show that his feelings for Bella are much more involved than just a need to protect her.
JACOB: VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT
COLOR: Red
ENGINE: 1.8-liter Inline 4
HORSEPOWER: 90 hp at 5500 rpm
TORQUE: 107 ft.-lbs.
0–60: 10.5 seconds
JACOB‘S VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT
?IT‘S AN OLD RABBIT—1986, A CLASSIC.?
— Jacob (
Perhaps the most obtainable vehicle in the series, Jacob‘s daily driver is the cult classic Volkswagen Rabbit. With a modest 1.8-liter engine offering just 90 horsepower when it was originally rolling off the factory line, before Jacob was born, this car‘s force of acceleration is not its strong suit. The lightweight front driver makes up for this, though, with remarkably communicative steering, engaging the driver without the use of massive amounts of tire- shredding power.
The VW Rabbit has been accepted by car nuts since its inception as an easily modded driver‘s car. It was the most attractive option for Jacob, with its low cost of entry, ease of repair, and fun return on investment. While worth less than a wheel from Edward‘s Aston Martin, the Rabbit is still capable of putting the same smile on Jacob‘s face.
Highlighting the accessible nature of Jacob‘s character, this car proves that driving enjoyment does not require hundreds of thousands of dollars and looks to match the price tag.
Jacob shows himself as equally endearing despite constant comparisons to Bella‘s perfect vampire love.
JACOB AND BELLA:
