THE history of film, TV and comics has seen the invention of a host of iconic superheroes vehicles. From Batman’s seminal Batmobile to the retro cool of the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty, these cars are the stuff of legend.
With pretty much every superhero franchise being given a Hollywood reboot in recent years, the team at car leasing provider Vanarama Cars has taken a fresh look at these vehicles. How well do they fit the needs of the contemporary superhero?
Batman and the Smart Car
From the sleek, chic 1960s model to the brooding modern update, the Batmobile is arguably the most famous superhero vehicle of all time. But the streets of Gotham City – which boasts a population of approximately 10 million, according to Batman: The Animated Series – would be far better suited to something small, nippy, fuel-efficient and easy to park in a hurry. In short, Batman needs a Smart Car.
The Hulk and the Ford Galaxy
With an average height of 7-8 ft (depending on his level of anger), not to mention his green (or grey) skin tone, The Hulk is hardly the most inconspicuous superhero. When fighting crime, The Hulk would benefit with a vehicle that both contains and disguises his mutated form. Step forward the Ford Galaxy: extremely spacious, and so commonplace that it wouldn’t attract a second glance.
Captain Planet and the Toyota Prius
The eco-friendly superhero who battles people planning to pollute the Earth, Captain Planet demands a car that’s kind on the environment to get him from A to B when he’s not flying. What better choice than the Toyota Prius? After all, it was the winner of Consumer Reports’ Best Green Car for a record six successive years.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Land Rover Discovery
The Battle Shell, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ go-to mode of crime-fighting transport, has a fairly significant flaw. Given that they stole the souped-up armoured car from the Purple Dragons, one of their most commonly recurring enemies, it isn’t exactly discreet. The Land Rover Discovery would be a sufficiently spacious and rugged replacement. With more than 1,000 litres of boot space when the rear seats are folded down, there’s plenty of room for the Turtles’ beloved pizza.
The Green Hornet and the Lincoln Continental
The Black Beauty – an upgraded 1965 Chrysler Imperial – is arguably the coolest superhero car of all time. What’s more, given that it’s essentially a real car (albeit one with built-in rocketry and knock-out gas), it’s actually pretty practical. However, if the Green Hornet and his faithful partner Kato are in the market for a modern upgrade, they should look no further than the equally slick new Lincoln Continental.
