Best movie cars : Batmobile Tumbler (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight)

Let a Hummer military vehicle stay overnight with a Lamborghini Countach and you’ll get this mean machine – the Batmobile Tumbler. A far cry from the batmobile concepts that we are used to through comic books, TV series and in live action films, Tumbler is by far the most purposeful batmobile in the caped crusader's fictional universe.

Christopher Nolan’s realistic treatment of Batman Begins also translated into a believable version of the batmobile. Production designer, Nathan Crowley did a fantastic job in his role and that resulted in the creation of this machine.

The rugged and brutally fast version of the batmobile was very much required. With battle tank-inspired armour plating in place of the sleek panels of its predecessors, Tumbler is the right vehicle to gatecrash mob meetings, gangster dens, joker's hideout and may be the occasional celebrity party at Gotham city.

Unlike the flimsy looking batmobiles from Batman Forever and the notorious Batman & Robin, the design did away with the loud wings and overhangs. Early versions of batmobiles were merely Chevrolet Corvettes with redesigned bodies and interiors.

The design is one of its kind and the engineering behind it, impeccable. Tumbler was built from scratch and it was built to endure all the abuse thrown at it. The best part is that we can actually believe that Tumbler is a plausible vehicle. This monster was meant for Batman and met his requirements so well. Jumping over roof tops, crashing through walls, running over obstacles, enduring showers of bullets to name a few. And it took the beating like a piece of cake.

Coming to dimensions and specs, it’s 15 feet long, 9 feet wide and weighs a massive 2.5 tons. A 5 litre Chevy V8 engine with 500 bhp on tap powers this behemoth of a vehicle. The axeless front section is the vehicle’s signature. An impressive acceleration figure of 0-60 kph in 5.6 seconds. When accelerated, it rises up on its front arms posing an aggressive stance. That’s mean!

A jet engine at the rear powers the car to higher speeds in order to jump over obstructions. Two propane tanks are used to fuel this engine. The Super Swamper tyres at the rear are as tall as the vehicle itself. Off-roading and hi-speed chases had never been so much fun.

The fictional specifications include canons, rocket launchers, grappling hooks, stealth mode, caltrops deployer, a system which shifts the driver’s position and the absolute surprise package – an ejectable Batpod. Not to mention the rest of the hi-tech wizardry which are yet to be explored and applied.

The self-destruction of Tumbler in The Dark knight doesn’t stop its admirers from expecting a return in the upcoming sequel. Keeping my fingers crossed too.