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New Batmobile gets muscle car makeover

The upcoming Batman film will feature a 1970s muscle car-inspired Batmobile, the new trailer reveals.


The first official trailer for The Batman (2021) gives us the best glimpse yet at the caped crusader’s new set of wheels.

The film will star Robert Pattinson in the titular role, and his Batmobile appears to be heavily inspired by classic American muscle cars of the 1970s.

Some online reports have suggested the vehicle is a modified Plymouth Barracuda, however this is incorrect.

Instead, the new Batmobile appears to be a caricatured amalgamation of classics such as the Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro, and Ford Mustang.

The newest iteration of the car appears to be powered by a front-mounted internal combustion engine, while the iconic jet booster is also retained at the rear.

Earlier this year the film’s concept artist Jeff Frost posted photos of a Batmobile prototype model to Twitter, however it is unclear if this represents the final onscreen version of the car.

Director Matt Reeves later posted a dark image of the car, simply captioned “#TheBatman”.

The Batmobile first appeared in Detective Comics #27, 1939. At the time it was depicted as an ordinary red car.

The first live action Batman film, released in 1943, featured a stock black 1939 Cadillac Series 75 convertible as the protagonist’s car.

A 1949 adaptation saw Batman and Robin driving around in a standard Mercury Eight (pictured above).

The infamously cheesy 1960s Batman television show was the first to incorporate the Batmobile as a specialised and unique crime-fighting tool.

The on-screen car was a customised variant of the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept. It sold in 2013 for US$4.2 million (approximately AU$5.8 million).

Above: The modified Lincoln Futura concept from the 1960s Batman television show.

Tim Burton’s 1989 iteration of the franchise introduced the first entirely original Batmobile (at least aesthetically, however under the skin it reportedly utilised many parts from a Chevrolet Impala).

Within the story the car was powered by 7456kW jet turbine that propelled it to a top speed of 530km/h.

The basic design was later modified for the 1995 Batman Forever film.

Above: The wholly original Tim Burton Batmobile from 1989.

In Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy (2005-2012) the Batmobile was reimagined as the "Tumbler.”

Drawing design influence from modern tanks, the car was powered by a 5.7-litre GM V8 engine producing 372kW.

Filmmakers claimed it had a maximum top speed of 260km/h and could accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

Above: Christopher Nolan's "Tumbler.”

Filming for the new Batman film was reportedly postponed midway through due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Initially slated for a June 2021 debut, the film’s premier is now scheduled for October 1 later that year.

Watch the full trailer below, and let us know what you think about the new Batmobile in the comments.


William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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