Shannon, You are right. The PSA from Lotus was the Esprit was going to be used in the film. Then Austin Martin got involved. BMW owned until recently a controlling majority in Rover, Morris, and Mini. Ford offered to use a Jaguar, then backed out. BMW stepped in and offered product placement to the film producers. The end result? The producers control the $$$$$$ in any film. The director makes his decision from their, shall we say...orders. BMW helped produce the film in a Back Handed way, controlling the purse strings. The publicity manages told the General Public that the Car was easy to work with. The Cinematographer was well pleased with working in tight spaces in the convertible BMW.