Most of Gerry Anderson's TV series can be relied upon to feature an impressive array of technologically advanced vehicles, designed for space exploration, hazardous rescues, underwater defence, or top-level security missions. One of the most imposing selections of these vehicles comes from one of Gerry's lesser-celebrated gems - New Captain Scarlet. 

In both classic and remake versions of Captain Scarlet, Spectrum boasts a meticulously coordinated approach to its vehicular line-up of peacekeeping machinery. From gargantuan hovering headquarters to fighter jets and reconnaissance automobiles, Spectrum ensure no stone is left unturned in their vehicular defences. However, the vehicles of New Captain Scarlet are arguably superior to the original series in design and purpose. A bold statement? Let's investigate!

Reinventing the Future

Even though the Spectrum of New Captain Scarlet may be the definitive incarnation of the organisations that defends us from the Mysteron menace, it obviously owes its creation to the classic 1967 Supermarionation series. In that original version, Spectrum's vehicles chiefly consisted of aircraft and ground-based vehicles, with some smatterings of other security craft. Spectrum is depicted as having a global reach when it comes to its deployment of its own technology, but the series remained open-ended as to certain issues regarding functionality (where are Spectrum Patrol Cars kept?) and whether Spectrum's line-up included different types of vehicles, such as submarines or spacecraft.

These questions would mostly be answered with extreme confidence by New Captain Scarlet. Spectrum's hardware in the remake can be thought of as greatly enhanced from the classic series. Such classic vehicles as the SPV and the Angels Interceptors receive natural reinventions that aren't bogged down by being in service to the nostalgic appeal of the original series.

Like much of the production design of New Captain Scarlet, the vehicles aren't beholden to their original counterparts. Their designs are strikingly modern, capturing a coldly militaristic aesthetic that prioritises technological functionality over visual appeal. But that's not to say they're absent of eye-catching style. The sleekly curved features of such vehicles as the Cheetah and the Swift are quite distinct reimaginings of the Spectrum Patrol Car and Spectrum Passenger Jet recall the futuristic style of Mike Trim, while maintaining their own unique styles. 

Let's have a rundown of the Spectrum craft...

Much of New Captain Scarlet's vehicles can be attributed to production designer Mark Harris, concept artist Dominic Lavery and script writer Phil Ford. Between the three of them, New Captain Scarlet showcases a fantastic variety of vehicles designed to combat against unpredictable security hazards around the world, from peacekeeping efforts to terrorist attacks, but quickly find themselves repurposed to combat an even deadlier threat from the planet Mars.

Much of Spectrum's vehicles are stationed for immediate deployment on Skybase, the colossal floating headquarters of the Spectrum organisation. Spectrum's most immediate method of defence are the Falcon Interceptors, flown by the Angels. These fighter jets blast off from Skybase for air-to-air combat, but can also return for instant refuelling and rearmament thanks to Skybase's runway system that allows the Falcons to be swiftly equipped by automatic means within the base's internal systems.

The Stallion Raid Bike allows for individual departure from Skybase to Terra Firma without the need to deploy any heavy duty machinery. The Stallion blends single-seater manoeuvrability with impressive flight capabilities thanks to its detachable wing section. Similar in its dual flight and drive function is the Cheetah, Spectrum's rapid response car, utilised for city-based reconnaissance and pursuit. The Cheetah can manoeuvre through built-up metropolises with even greater agility thanks to its own short-range flight capabilities.

At the centre of Spectrum's ground-based hardware is the Rhino (the series' equivalent of the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle). This tank-like vehicle combines deadly speed with even deadlier firepower and its heavy-plated armour can withstand a variety of aggressive assaults. Rhinos are situated aboard Skybase and are often deployed to the danger zone via the Albatross transporter craft, whose function isn't unsimilar to a certain heavy duty transporter craft belonging to International Rescue. Other Earth-based vehicles utilised by Spectrum include the Skyrider Bikes, the Hummingbird helicopter, the Condor cargo plane, and the Swift passenger jet. 

Spectrum also boasts a modest yet useful array of space-faring vehicles for action based on either the Moon or Mars. The Spectrum Shuttle provides interplanetary transport between worlds, while the Bison serves as a space-engineered alternative to the Rhino. It's capable of traversing unforgiving Martian terrain and is well-armed for instant and varied combat situations.

Improving the Originals?

The Cheetah's flight capabilities (oddly reminiscent of Professor Mac's car from Joe 90) and the Falcon's escape pod component are decently realised depictions of how these craft greatly improve on the capabilities of their source material. Additionally, they helpfully serve New Captain Scarlet's merchandise offerings and increase the imaginative potential for the series' thrillingly delivered action and adventure. Captain Scarlet and Captain Blue's pursuit of the compromised Air Force One during the events of Touch of the Reaper, in which a Mysteronised journalist threatens to kill the US President with a single touch, is hugely enlivened by the Cheetah's transformative qualities. A death-defying onboarding attempted by Scarlet as the plane is taking off is made possible thanks to the Cheetah's swift changing from high-speed pursuit car to its compact flight mode. 

Similarly, other episodes showcase this renewed operational functionality of Spectrum's machines within tightly executed action sequences. Colonel White's rapid descent from Skybase to his home thanks to the Stallion Bike in Heist and the fast-moving launch of the Albatross carriers with their Rhino cargos during Enigma capture the hardware-driven excitement that's so closely associated with the worlds of Gerry Anderson.

Spectrum's impressive line-up of machines seen throughout New Captain Scarlet enables the series' to boast a more believable functional attitude than the original series. While retaining a futuristic bent, they're more situated in more recent engineering developments, lending them, and the series, a grounded and realistic quality to its sci-fi adventure.

In New Captain Scarlet, Spectrum's operational capabilities are second to none, something that the series regularly communicates to us through its brilliantly conceived blitzkriegs of vehicular action. Many fans may prefer the original Captain Scarlet to the remake, but it's hard to disagree that Spectrum feel at their most definitively armoured than in New Captain Scarlet.

You can celebrate New Captain Scarlet's 20th anniversary by discovering the history of the series' making and our top 10 countdown of the series' best episodes!

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