We lovers of the film version of James Bond are quick to state that the Aston Martin is the legendary agent’s car of choice. But those familiar with the original book incarnation know that Mr. Bond was a Bentley boy through and through. Author and creator of the series Ian fleming was such an admirer of Bentley automobiles that he bestowed 3 of them to his literary alter ego.

To celebrate the release of Carte Blanche, the new James Bond book by Jeffery Deaver, on May 26 2011, publisher Hodder & Stoughton has partnered with Bentley Motors to create an exclusive Bentley special edition: the ultimate luxury edition of the highly anticipated new James Bond adventure. The 500 limited edition copies are available for pre-order from today, Tuesday 26 April 2011, exactly a month before publication date.

In Carte Blanche, award-winning thriller writer Jeffery Deaver reunites Bond with this classic marque. In this contemporary adventure, the agent will be behind the wheel of the beautifully sculpted and sophisticated new Bentley Continental GT.

The design team at Bentley worked closely with Hodder & Stoughton to capture the spirit of Bond and Bentley, and each copy of the special edition arrives inside a stunning continental-shaped metal case. The special edition is strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide at a price of £1,000 (around $1,650 USD) each. They will be available to pre-order worldwide through www.007carteblanchebentley.com. The editions will be delivered after publication date.

Like the exterior of the GT, the case is made from polished aluminum, giving it a seamless and aerodynamic shape. Its metal skin looks like the car has risen from the desert sands of Dubai, where much of the action in the novel takes place.

The book itself is bound in white Nappa leather, the same grade of leather used in a Bentley’s interior, mimicking the interior of the GT with its contrast of white leather trim and Pillar Box red edging. The title, author’s name and the familiar wings of the Bentley logo are carefully embossed into the front and foil-blocked onto the spine. The text is printed in black and red, on ivory paper, with endpapers of a matching red leather.

If having a Bentley shaped container doesn’t excited you enough, know that a die-cut bullet hole pierces pages of the book, hiding within the pages a single polished 9mm bullet, individually marked with a number distinct to each copy.

For more information about the book, a countdown to it’s publication and, oddly, a live action trailer, visit www.007carteblanche.co.uk