JASPER: DUCATI 848
COLOR: Silver
ENGINE: 849-cc V-twin
HORSEPOWER: 134 hp at 10000 rpm
TORQUE: 72 ft.-lbs. at 8400 rpm
0-60: 4.5 seconds
JASPER'S DUCATI 848
"TO CALL THIS OTHER VEHICLE A MOTORCYCLE HARDLY SEEMED FAIR.... IT WAS BIG AND SLEEK AND SILVER AND--EVEN TOTALLY MOTIONLESS--IT LOOKED FAST."
--Bella (Eclipse, Chapter 10)
Edward's motorcycle of choice, which he gave to Jasper, is a stark contrast to those belonging to Bella and Jacob. The Ducati 848 is a lightweight, high-powered street bike designed to out-accelerate and outmaneuver all things automotive. This sport bike is the lighter Ducati, offering increased agility compared to its heavier, higher-powered siblings.
Easily going beyond most drivers' capabilities, this bike is ideally suited for a vampire's quickened reflexes, as it requires constant attention to minute angles and positions. This is one of the very few vehicles in the novels that can perform to the level vampires demand, acting as an extension of their natural faculties.
BELLA: CHEVROLET PICK-UP TRUCK
COLOR: Red
ENGINE: 216.5-cubic-inch Inline 6 cylinder
HORSEPOWER: 92 hp at 3400 rpm
TORQUE: 176 ft.-lbs. at 1000 rpm
BELLA'S CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK
"IT WAS A FADED RED COLOR, WITH BIG, ROUNDED FENDERS AND A BULBOUS CAB. TO MY INTENSE SURPRISE, I LOVED IT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD RUN, BUT I COULD SEE MYSELF IN IT."
--Bella (Twilight, Chapter 1)
The main automotive character in the Twilight Saga is the 1953 reddish Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Bella. As the highest-selling truck for its entire eight-year run (1947-1954), this post-World War II Advance Design Series truck is still common enough to be found in its original condition. With its stock engine churning out a robust 92 horsepower and a three-speed manual transmission powering just the rear wheels, it is easy to understand Jacob's joy in his father's sale of this truck. Not fast even by standards of its day, Bella's '53 did, however, boast state-of-the-art features for the time, such as a fresh-air heater system and a larger two-piece windshield for increased visibility.
As the most simplistic car with perhaps the most unique styling and driving character, this vehicle correctly identifies with the main character, serving as a vehicular analogy to give readers an increased understanding of Bella's personality.
BELLA: MERCEDES GUARDIAN
COLOR: Black
ENGINE: 5.5-liter twin turbo V12
HORSEPOWER: 469 hp at 6100 rpm
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 (Breaking Dawn, Chapter 1)
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 (Breaking Dawn, Chapter 1)
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 (New Moon, Chapter 5)
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:
HARLEY SPRINT/HONDA XL250
COLOR: Black/red
ENGINE: 1-cylinder 250-cc 4-stroke
HORSEPOWER: 50 hp at 10,000 rpm/24 hp
JACOB'S HARLEY SPRINT
"THESE AREN'T HALF BAD.... THIS ONE HERE WILL ACTUALLY BE WORTH SOMETHING WHEN I'M DONE--IT'S AN OLD HARLEY SPRINT."
--Jacob (New Moon, Chapter 5)
BELLA'S HONDA XL250
"WHEN I WALKED INTO THE GARAGE, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE RED BIKE STANDING UP, LOOKING LIKE A MOTORCYCLE RATHER THAN A PILE OF JAGGED METAL. 'JAKE, YOU'RE AMAZING,' I BREATHED."
--Bella (New Moon, Chapter 7)
These are two motorcycles that were nursed back to life by Jacob. Despite their origins an ocean apart, these two-wheeled vehicles have striking similarities.
Bearing little resemblance to the Harleys of today, the Sprint was offered under the Harley name after the manufacturer bought a 50-percent stake in a small Italian motorcycle firm. The motorcycle was offered as competition to the technologically superior Japanese motorcycles that were beginning to gain popularity in America. The Sprint was developed with motorcycle racing in mind, and offered impressive p
erformance from the 4-stroke engine.
The 1-cylinder engine allowed the bike to be made with relative simplicity, which meant the mechanically minded, though inexperienced, Jacob would be able to bring the dying bike to life.
Bella's Honda was similar to Jacob's Harley in a number of respects. A 250-cc 1-cylinder, making power through the then less than common 4-stroke cycle, pulled the bike on road or dirt. Designed as less of a racer than the Harley Sprint, the XL250 was a more well-rounded bike, ready for any ground conditions it might encounter.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA PLAYLIST
Explaining a playlist--especially in writing--is a problem. I've tried to do it before, and what comes out is a lot of "this goes here" and "that goes there." Not exciting to read, but still, people want to know where a certain song fits into the story, and what it means to the characters. So what I've done is assign a quote from the series to each song. This will give you the general location of the song, and the specific feeling or issue I was thinking of while listening. I hear all of the songs from Bella's perspective, except where otherwise noted. In a few cases (like "Sing for Absolution" on the New Moon playlist) the song is part of a situation that is taking place "offscreen," so to speak. In those cases, I've tried to find a quote that identifies the situation even though Bella's not around to see it.
Twilight
1. TRAVIS, "WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME?"
Chapter 1 When I landed in Port Angeles, it was raining. I didn't see it as an omen--just unavoidable. I'd already said my goodbyes to the sun.
2. RADIOHEAD, "CREEP" [RADIO EDIT]
Chapter 4 My stomach twisted as I realized what he must have meant. He must see how absorbed I was by him; he must not want to lead me on... so we couldn't even be friends... because he wasn't interested in me at all.
Of course he wasn't interested in me, I thought angrily, my eyes stinging--a delayed reaction to the onions. I wasn't interesting. And he was. Interesting... and brilliant... and mysterious... and perfect... and beautiful... and possibly able to lift full-sized vans with one hand.
Well, that was fine. I could leave him alone. I would leave him alone. I would get through my self-imposed sentence here in purgatory, and then hopefully some school in the Southwest, or possibly Hawaii, would offer me a scholarship.
3. COLDPLAY, "IN MY PLACE"
Chapter 5 "I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly."
4. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, "I'M NOT OKAY (I PROMISE)"
Chapter 5 "What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?"
5. LINKIN PARK, "WITH YOU" [REANIMATION REMIX]
Chapter 7 And I knew in that I had my answer. I didn't know if there ever was a choice, really. I was already in too deep. Now that I knew--if I knew--I could do nothing about my frightening secret. Because when I thought of him, of his voice, his hypnotic eyes, the magnetic force of his personality, I wanted nothing more than to be with him right now.
6. LINKIN PARK, "BY MYSELF"
Chapter 8 It seemed to take forever for me to get to the corner. I kept my pace steady, the men behind me falling ever so slightly farther behind with every step. Maybe they realized they had scared me and were sorry. I saw two cars going north pass the intersection I was heading for, and I exhaled in relief. There would be more people around once I got off this deserted street. I skipped around the corner with a grateful sigh.
And skidded to a stop.
The street was lined on both sides by blank, doorless, windowless walls. I could see in the distance, two intersections down, streetlamps, cars, and more pedestrians, but they were all too far away. Because lounging against the western building, midway down the street, were the other two men from the group, both watching with excited smiles as I froze dead on the sidewalk. I realized then that I wasn't being followed.
I was being herded.
7. OMD, "DREAMING"
Chapter 12 He was too perfect, I realized with a piercing stab of despair. There was no way this godlike creature could be meant for me.
He stared at me, bewildered by my tortured expression.
"Do you want to go home?" he said quietly, a different pain than mine saturating his voice.
"No." I walked forward till I was close beside him, anxious not to waste one second of whatever time I might have with him.
8. DAVID GRAY, "PLEASE FORGIVE ME"
Chapter 13 "Be very still," he whispered, as if I wasn't already frozen.
Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat. I was quite unable to move, even if I'd wanted to. I listened to the sound of his even breathing, watching the sun and wind play in his bronze hair, more human than any other part of him.
With deliberate slowness, his hands slid down the sides of my neck. I shivered, and I heard him catch his breath. But his hands didn't pause as they softly moved to my shoulders, and then stopped.
His face drifted to the side, his nose skimming across my collarbone. He came to rest with the side of his face pressed tenderly against my chest.
Listening to my heart.
"Ah," he sighed.
"Music is my one necessary tool. I put on music that fits the mood of what I'm writing, to help me stay in the zone and get the emotional tone right."
--Stephenie
9. DIDO, "HERE WITH ME"
Chapter 15 "I love you," I whispered.
"You are my life now," he answered simply.
There was nothing more to say for the moment. He rocked us back and forth as the room grew lighter.
10. MUSE, "TIME IS RUNNING OUT"
Chapter 21 Slowly, slowly, my thoughts started to break past that brick wall of pain. To plan. For I had no choices now but one: to go to the mirrored room and die. I had no guarantees, nothing to give to keep my mother alive. I could only hope that James would be satisfied with winning the game, that beating Edward would be enough. Despair gripped me; there was no way to bargain, nothing I could offer or withhold that could influence him. But I still had no choice. I had to try.
I pushed the terror back as well as I could. My decision was made. It did no good to waste time agonizing over the outcome. I had to think clearly, because Alice and Jasper were waiting for me, and evading them was absolutely essential, and absolutely impossible.
11. COLLECTIVE SOUL, "TREMBLE FOR MY BELOVED"
Chapter 24 "You don't know what you're asking." His voice was soft; he stared intently at the edge of the pillowcase.
"I think I do."
"Bella, you don't know. I've had almost ninety years to think about this, and I'm still not sure."
12. THE CRANBERRIES, "DREAMS"
Chapter 24 "I'll be the first to admit that I have no experience with relationships," I said. "But it just seems logical... a man and woman have to be somewhat equal... as in, one of them can't always be swooping in and saving the other one. They have to save each other equally."
He folded his arms on the side of my bed and rested his chin on his arms. His expression was smooth, the anger reined in. Evidently he'd decided he wasn't angry with me. I hoped I'd get a chance to warn Alice before he caught up with her.
"You have saved me," he said quietly.
"I can't always be Lois Lane," I insisted. "I want to be Superman, too."
13. BILLY JOEL, "LULLABY (GOODNIGHT, MY ANGEL)"
Epilogue "I love you more than everything else in the world combined. Isn't that enough?"
"Yes, it is enough," he answered, smiling. "Enough for forever."
And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.
New Moon
1. THE FLAMING LIPS, "DO YOU REALIZE"
Chapter 1 I'd been dreading this day for months.
All through the perfect summer--the happiest summer I had ever had, the happiest summer anyone anywhere had ever had, and the rainiest summer in the history of the Olympic Peninsula--this bleak date had lur
ked in ambush, waiting to spring.
And now that it had hit, it was even worse than I'd feared it would be. I could feel it--I was older. Every day I got older, but this was different, worse, quantifiable. I was eighteen.
And Edward never would be.
2. LINKIN PARK, "PAPERCUT"
Chapter 1 Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm--into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.
3. MUSE, "HYPER MUSIC"
Chapter 3 "You... don't... want me?" I tried out the words, confused by the way they sounded, placed in that order.
"No."
I stared, uncomprehending, into his eyes. He stared back without apology. His eyes were like topaz--hard and clear and very deep. I felt like I could see into them for miles and miles, yet nowhere in their bottomless depths could I see a contradiction to the word he'd spoken.
4. MUSE, "APOCALYPSE PLEASE"
Chapter 3 With shaky legs, ignoring the fact that my action was useless, I followed him into the forest. The evidence of his path had disappeared instantly. There were no footprints, the leaves were still again, but I walked forward without thinking. I could not do anything else. I had to keep moving. If I stopped looking for him, it was over.
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide Page 35
