The Bad Boys franchise has never been shy about doing things loud, fast, and slick. From its debut in 1995 to its 2024 release of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, it’s been a wild ride! And not just for Mike Lowrey (played by Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (played by Martin Lawrence) but for the real co-stars as well! The cars.
Featuring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence as buddy cops in the Miami Police Narcotics department, their adventures were brought to life by Michael Bay, renowned for his love of explosions and high octane action scenes, and he certainly brought his signature style to the movie.
Let’s take a look at how the franchise has evolved car-wise and why some of these rides became legends in their own right.
Mike and Marcus’s Cars
1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6: Bad Boys (1995)
Color: Black
This Porsche set the trend for the Bad Boys franchise, just in a way you may not imagine.
Michael Bay’s personal Porsche became the franchise’s starting point for automotive style. The car isn’t just pretty. With its air-cooled flat-six and menacing curves, it defined what we now expect from a “cop movie car.”
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello: Bad Boys II (2003)
Color: Titanium
The 575M Maranello brought Ferrari’s V12 muscle to the screen. Three were used during filming, but only one was seen in action at a time. Two of them were courtesy of Ferrari itself. This was a bold switch from Porsche to Prancing Horse, a sign that Lowrey was evolving, even if Marcus was still screaming in the passenger seat.
1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello: Bad Boys II (2003)
Color: Titanium
As the second Ferrari used in filming, this 550 Maranello was from Michael Bay’s personal collection, just like the original Porsche 911. Though it didn’t get much screen time, it made headlines when it met a concrete block thanks to Lawrence’s stunt scene.
2004 Nissan Quest 3.5 SL: Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Color: Custom gold (or something close to it)
“We’ve got Mike Lowrey in here! Mike Lowrey in a Nissan Quest!” from Marcus Burnett might’ve been one of the most quotable lines from the third movie. And it works because the minivan wasn’t there to impress, it was comic gold.
2020 Porsche 911 (992) Carrera 4S: Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Color: Gentian Blue
Some fans were let down by this model. After all, going from a Turbo to a Carrera 4S isn’t an upgrade. Still, it carried the Porsche torch forward, and visually, it still had that sleek, Miami-cop energy.
2023 Porsche 911 (992) Turbo S: Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Color: Black
Ride or Die delivered non-stop car action. The Turbo S made its big screen debut in Miami with incredible stunt coordination. Its two-tone wheels and aggressive wide body got a standing ovation from gearheads.
More Than Just Hero Cars: Iconic Background Rides
1965 Shelby Cobra 427: Bad Boys (1995)
Color: Midnight Blue
Driven by villain Antoine Fouchet, the Cobra got smoked in a drag race by Mike’s Porsche. That scene aged like fine wine. In 2023, this actual Cobra went up for auction, having sat untouched since filming.
2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4: Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Color: Arancio Argos (Orange)
Used briefly in a background shot, the Aventador is proof that Bay doesn’t skimp when it comes to choosing set pieces. Even when they’re only visible for a few seconds!
What These Cars Say About the Franchise
The evolution of cars in Bad Boys mirrors the evolution of the franchise itself.
The original movie was gritty and stylish. The second amped up the budget and visuals. And the third leaned into maturity, and the fourth completely struck a balance between nostalgia and progression.
And it’s not just flash. These are performance machines. Which brings up a fun point: what would these cars look like after being used in those insane chase scenes?
Final Thoughts
The Bad Boys franchise has given us more than laughs and stunts. It gave us a roadmap for the kinds of cars we dream about.
With the 2024 Turbo S making waves, the franchise ends strong. Even if you’ll never drive a Turbo S through Miami like Lowrey, these cars remind us why film vehicles endure beyond the screen as legends, inspirations, and conversation starters.
FAQs By Bad Boys Franchise Fans!
Was Mike Lowrey always in a Porsche?
While Mike was shown driving other vehicles occasionally, the Porsche is a signature element of his character, appearing prominently in each movie.
Which car dominated Bad Boys: Ride or Die?
The Porsche 911 Turbo S! This car served as Mike Lowrey’s primary vehicle and was featured in key action sequences, reinforcing the franchise’s long-standing association with high-performance Porsche models.
How many Bad Boys movies are there?
There are four Bad Boys movies: Bad Boys (1995), Bad Boys II (2003), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024).
Each franchise follows detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett through high-octane missions filled with action, comedy, and loyalty.
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