We have to tread carefully when we’re talking about Batmobiles because Batman fans feel very strongly about this.
The Batmobile first appeared in 1939, in Detective Comics, and believe it or not, it was just an ordinary red car back then.
Fast-forward to now, 80 years, several comic books and movies later, the Batmobile has been re-imagined and redesigned several times, and it now defines Batman just as much as his Bat-Signal or his Bat-Suit.
The latest Batmobile, driven by Robert Pattinson in the upcoming 2022 film ‘The Batman’, is a muscle car with an additional, protruding engine at the back.
It’s Steampunk petrolheads will get Ford Mustang Mach 1-vibes, and we can’t wait to see it on the big screen.
So how does it compare to three of the most iconic Batmobiles?
1. Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992)
Dark and grim, Tim Burton’s gothic Batmobile encapsulates the ethos of the character and that’s probably the reason why so many fans loved it.
It was also perfect for the era, not too modern, not too old.
Long (6.6 m) and slender, it looked futuristic and analogue at the same time.
Two models were built for the movie using the chassis of a Chevy Impala, but both were actually powered by a proper Jet Turbine, delivering 10,000 hp.
It was driven by Michael Keaton (Batman) in the eponymous 1989 film and then again in 1992 for Batman Returns.
2. The Dark Knight trilogy (2003, 2008, 2012)
This scary-looking brute is actually a military-style vehicle known as the ‘Tumbler’. It was a breath of fresh air in the series because it transports (literally and figuratively) Batman into a new dimension.
It’s more compact than it looks (4.62 m) and actually slower than you’d think, with a 0-60 time of just 5.6 seconds. The engine is a GM-sourced 5.7-litre V8, delivering 500 hp.
This iteration of the Batmobile was used by Christian Bale (Batman) in the Dark Knight trilogy (directed by Christopher Nolan).
A modern version on the superhero, still invincible but vulnerable, a high-performing, highly-skilled vigilante operating in the real world for real world reasons. In tune with the times.
3. The Batman TV series (1966)
This is arguably the most stylish Batmobile ever, created for the 1966 TV series ‘The Batman’ and loosely based on the Lincoln Futura concept car, and powered by a 6.3-litre V8.
Mind you, while the original model was based on the Futura, three replicas were built (from fibreglass) using the frames and running gear from a 1966 Ford Galaxie.
Back in 2013, the original Batmobile fetched $4.62 million at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
