In the 1989 Batman film, the Joker, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, exclaimed, “Where does he get those wonderful toys?” Throughout the years, Batman’s array of vehicles has shifted from a sleek sports car to a rugged off-road machine. The legendary DC figure has garnered such a following that Italy’s Automobili Pininfarina, under Mahindra & Mahindra, crafted two hyper-electric sports cars inspired by Gotham: the B95 hyper Barchetta and the Battista hyper GT’s Dark Knight edition. Here, we showcase the most remarkable vehicles Batman possesses, extending well beyond the Batmobile. After all, as Robin once remarked, “It’s the car, right? Chicks dig the car.”
1. Batman’s amazing vehicles: The Bat
You may or may not remember flying aircraft, The Bat from The Dark Knight Rises, but the Batman fans will surely remember Lucius Fox’s quote, “And yes Mr Wayne, it does come in black.” This intimidating flying object has a dual aircraft engine up in front. The Bat can easily be navigated in the city and in between buildings. It gives the Batman to hover around the city without facing any traffic jam and gives him a bird’s eye view to easily find his target. It is the ultimate armoured urban war machine from the sky.
2. Batman’s amazing vehicles: The Batpod
The Batman riding a motorcycle is not a common sight, but, yes the Dark Knight does once in a while swing his leg over a saddle. The Batpod made its debut in The Dark Knight. With massive tyres and multiple machine guns in front, one does wonder how one takes a turn. Well, that’s why he’s Batman. In all fairness, the Catwoman made it more of an eye candy in The Dark Knight Rises as she went guns blazing with the motorcycle. If there was any doubt over its agility, the Batpod showcased that it could take 180-degree turns at lightning pace.
3. Batman’s amazing vehicles: The Tumbler
Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins casts aside all the cliches of Batman riding a suave sports car. Instead, he introduced the all-conquering Tumbler. A military armoured vehicle gathering dust in the basement of Wayne Enterprises gets an all-black avatar and the official wheels of the Cape Crusader. With an afterburner like an exhaust which chases down criminals and if need be also driver over their vehicles.
It may initially come across as an eye-sore if you’re used to watching the sleek Batmobile in its different versions, but Nolan was going for brute and unadulterated brute force to smash and grab criminals. This vehicle brings us back to the iconic graphic novel Dark Knight Returns in which the Batman was also driving a monstrous tank-like armoured vehicle.
4. Batman’s amazing vehicles: The Batwing
This sleek flying aircraft is designed like the Bat insignia. The winged flying machine is armed with missiles and machine guns. The Batwing was showcased in Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989 and one of the most iconic shots in the movie has the Batwing flying up in the air in front of the moon. It was unnecessary but it was quite a memorable one. The anti-climax was that the Batwing was easily shot down by a simple long-barreled handgun by the Joker. It’s still the best-looking aircraft in Batman’s collection.
5. Batman’s amazing vehicles: The Batmobile
In 1989 Batman had the most unique and spellbinding Batmobile. Tim Burton took car design and dynamics to the next level. With a low-slung nose with a jet engine turbine as the nose, wrap-around windows like a cock pit and twin Bat fins in the rear. The Batmobile is a three-seater with a single elevated seat. The Batmobile made its return in 1992 Batman Returns. A couple of years back, the Batmobile was up for sale in Pennsylvania for $1.5 million.
