The Batmobile has always been a staple in the various Batman movies and comic books. With each new piece of media featuring the masked vigilante, car fans and general admirers of the superhero passionately anticipate what the car will look like. Unfortunately, because of all the various modifications, it’s often difficult for viewers to determine what make and models the Batmobiles are.
The latest film stars Robert Pattinson as the DC superhero, and it was released earlier this year to rave reviews and an impressive box office. However, as always, one of the biggest standouts from the film is the new Batmobile. For the film, it has been revealed that four cars were on set to serve various purposes during filming. Using multiple stunt cars on set makes sense because certain scenes call for certain powertrains, and the filmmakers wanted the new Batmobile to be as realistic in the scenes as possible.
Though the movie has been out for several months at the time of writing this, a lot of people are still seeing the movie for the first time. Also, because there’s no dialogue in the movie to tell the audience what type of car the Batmobile is, people have many questions. The vehicle used for the film is a classic and serves as more than a worthy replacement for the previous cars driven by Batman. Let's check it out.
The New Batmobile Is A Dodge
The Dodge Charger has always been an icon in its own right, so it makes perfect sense that the car would be used as the new Batmobile. These cars have always been known for their performance, and they also feature an adaptable look that’s perfect for the car of a superhero who speeds around at night to save the world. While the exact year model has not been revealed, we know that it falls somewhere between 1968 and '70. As an important note from the film, Batman used the car for street racing before later modifying it for his life as a vigilante.
Though not much is known about the exact specifications of the stunt Dodge Chargers used in “The Batman,” we know that three of the cars had V8s under their hoods, while the others have a Tesla motor. The three V8s used in the film are reported to each have a horsepower of 650. This massive horsepower matches the outer appearance of the film. Additionally, the film’s director, Matt Reeves, stated that he wanted the new Batmobile to be a bit of horror for the audience, instead of simply making it another rich man’s toy. Again, this matches the overall dark vibe of the film, which has left many fans calling this version of the Batmobile their favorite.
Brief Overview Of The Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger, like many long-time running cars, has experienced quite the evolution over the years. It has had almost every classification for a vehicle, from subcompact to muscle car, and it’s currently still on the market. However, it should also be noted that this ride from Dodge has experienced quite a few absences from the market from its debut in the late 1960s until now.
The version used in the new Batman is a second-generation Dodge Charger, which began in 1968. The original version of the 1968 Dodge Charger is powered by a 5.2 liter V8 with a max horsepower of 230 at 4,000 rpm. It also has a torque rated at 340 ft-lb at 2400 rpm. The '68 Charger used a naturally aspirated engine. As is typical with muscle cars, it’s a rear-wheel drive, according to Carfolio. This model of the Charger accelerates from 0 to 60 in just 6.1 seconds.
The Significance Of Movies On Cars
One of the remarkable things about a particular car being heavily featured in a successful film is that the exposure often increases the vehicle's value. Currently, the car has an average value of $106,025 based on the sales activity on the Classic website. However, the lowest recent sale of the Charger was $35,200; this indicates that although this Dodge often sells for a pretty penny, there is a pretty decent range in price. However, we may see this average go up as the film continues its run at both the box office and in streaming.
The Dodge Charger is a celebrated ride that has been around for decades. People who know the car today know it as a four-door sedan that can get up in speed. However, classic car fans know the Charger as a two-door muscle car like the one in “The Batman.” But, of course, this level of longevity doesn’t happen with every car or for every automaker, so we’re glad large-scale movies are still shining a light on vehicles like this.