Find out our top ten picks for what Batman’s next ride should be!
Darkness. Intimidation. Mayhem. The Batmobile has long been the bearer of these traits for decades, assisting Bruce Wayne in his endless conquest against the crime-laden cesspool of Gotham City. Batman’s vehicle of choice has long been a trademark of the storied franchise, spanning over eight decades of crime fighting capers and harrowing mystery.
Over the years, the filmversion of the Batmobile has changed frequently and typically consists of a totally customized or bespoke vehicle, almost never being based upon a specific make or model. 2022’s The Batman saw a slight shift in the overall theme, depicting the latest version of the Batmobile as heavily inspired by the 1968-70 Dodge Charger. Other famous examples of the Batmobile include the obvious, Lincoln Futura-based version by George Barris, Tim Burton’s 1989 variant, and the Tumbler seen in The Dark Knight Series. The test of time has been kind to the Batman franchise, as these cars can be worth an absolute fortune today, with one authentic version selling for $4M in 2013. The majority of the Batmobile collection, however, remains within the tight grasp of Warner Brothers. For the upcoming sequel to The Batman, we’ve selected ten utterly badass cars that would be a perfect fit for Bruce Wayne to drastically modify into the next incarnation of the legendary Batmobile.
10 1986 Peugeot Proxima
The 1986 Peugeot Proxima is an absolutely insane concept car, packing 600 hp from its twin-turbocharged V6 and touting a top speed of 216 mph.
Even for the 1980s, this concept is seemingly years ahead of its time. The world wasn’t exactly ready for it back then, and honestly, it still might not be. Even so, with its radicalized styling, it would only take some black paint to make the Proxima a highly suitable Batmobile.
9 2023 Delage D12
For a much more modern take on a potential Batmobile, the Delage D12 certainly strikes a chord. Although the Delage name harkens back to the days of pre-WWII luxury, this newly-revived, French manufacturer is a stark contrast from its ancient origins.
With 1,100 hp on tap, the Delage D12 can certainly hustle. However, Batman would be taking no prisoners, as the D12 hypercar only features a single seat under its distinctive canopy.
8 1988 Pontiac Banshee
The Banshee name has been under Pontiac’s wing since the mid-1960s, giving host to a variety of prototypes that would never see the light of commercial production. The 1988 Pontiac Banshee was the last concept of this series, with wild styling that heavily influenced the overall design of later Pontiac Firebird models.
Fitted with a distinctive 4.0-liter V8, the Banshee only produced a claimed 230 hp, but is easily just an LS-swap away from becoming Batman’s next ride.
7 1959 Dodge Coronet Lancer
According to lore, Batman dons his trademark mask to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. If Batman were driving a 1959 Dodge Coronet, then the car would be easily be fulfilling this task as well.
Styled by legendary designer Virgil Exner, the intimidating 1959 Dodge Coronet would be an easy fit for the caped crusader. This is easily one of the most aggressively styled and menacing cars ever crafted by human hands, which is exactly why it’s on this list.
6 2010 Veritas RS3
The Veritas RS3 was an interesting oddity that first debuted as a concept car in 2001, aiming to resurrect the long-dead German manufacturer. Later production versions gained power from BMW’s 5.0-liter V10 that was shared by the E60 M5, allowing for a reported top speed of 217 mph.
While the Veritas would certainly leave Batman overly exposed throughout his high-speed escapades, this isn’t exactly a factor that’s hindered him before.
5 1938 Phantom Corsair
The Phantom Corsair is an utterly wild one-off, spawned from the mind of Rust Heinz. This prototype was based on a Cord 810 chassis, although underwent drastic modifications at the hands of coachbuilders Bowman & Schwartz. Powered by a Lycoming V8, the Phantom Corsair sent its power to the front wheels and featured a wide multitude of technological innovations, with the intent of the car eventually reaching commercial production. Sadly, Rust Heinz’ untimely death put a stop to the project after only one example was made.
If the DC producers ever opt for some form of Batman reboot that takes place in the days of old, then the Phantom Corsair is an easy and almost obvious choice for inspiration to the Batmobile. Absolutely nothing else from this era matches this car’s aggressive and menacing style.
4 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo
The Ferrari 512S Modulo was an interesting concept constructed by Pininfarina for the famed, Italian marque. Utilizing the chassis and drivetrain of Ferrari’s 512S endurance racer, the Modulo offered an oddly futuristic shell, designed by Paulo Martin, that sported a sliding canopy for entry/exit. However, this radicalized bodywork made the prototype nearly undrivable, until it was eventually purchased and modified by American racing entrepreneur Jim Glickenhaus.
Despite its bright, optimistic paint scheme, the Ferrari 512S Modulo still carries some definitive Batmobile vibes, especially with the sliding canopy that harkens back to the 1989 Batmobile featured in Tim Burton’s series.
3 1959 Buick Invicta
The 1959 Buick Invicta just looks absolutely raw and menacing, there’s no denying this. Although nearly all 1950s American cars seem to carry this type of overall presence, few can strike dread into the souls of its enemies in the way the Invicta can. Seeing its front end popping up unexpectedly in your rearview mirror is more than enough to get the blood stirring.
If Batman ever finds himself in the market for a vintage ride, the 1959 Buick Invicta definitely has the ingredients for adventures in blatant vigilantism.
2 1989 Lamborghini LM002
Throughout Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series, Bruce Wayne was seen having a penchant for Lamborghini, with the Italian brand featured prominently in each of the three films as Wayne’s primary transportation when he wasn’t out battling the likes of Bane and The Joker.
For a possible Batmobile replacement, the Lamborghini LM002 would be a fine specimen. This rugged off-roader sports the same 5.2-liter V12 found in the iconic Countach. Of course, it’s nowhere near as extreme as the Tumbler featured throughout The Dark Knight series. Then again, what is?
1 1990 Vector W8
The Vector W8 took supercar performance to an entirely new level when it was first released for production in 1989. Inspired heavily by American fighter jets, the Vector W8 carried this theme both in and out, offering avionic gauge displays and a Chevy V8 dishing out 625 hp. Although its claimed top speed of 218 mph was never properly proven, these cars still provided some intense competition for their European counterparts upon their release.
Unfortunately, a sea of legal issues and a hostile takeover ultimately ended the Vector W8, leaving less than 20 cars produced before the company went through drastic changes that would ultimately result in its demise. Nonetheless, this type of obscurity is exactly the type of presence needed for a future Batmobile. The Vector W8 would be an easy fit in Bruce Wayne’s garage.
