Superhero Alter-Ego Rides
The end of summer is upon us, and we have been through an onslaught of superhero feature films. From high flying bats to…well…high flying men of iron, it has been a season of action, explosions, bad CGI and high tech crime fighting. You’ve seen the Tumbler and Iron Man’s suit, but superhero alter egos need to get around Gotham City or their metropolis of choice. Have a look at their everyday rides, some we saw on the screen, and others we thought would fit their “normal” personas.
Bruce Wayne – Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Coupe
When he’s not swinging across the rooftops of Gotham City, or blasting through parked cars in this Tumbler, Bruce Wayne is hobnobbing with the rich and influential. What better vehicle to do such philanthropist-ing in than the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. As Alfred put it, Bruce’s “subtle” Lambo Coupe pumps out 640 horsepower from its 12-cylinder engine, blasting through the streets of Chicago Gotham at speeds of 211 mph. This leaves Mr. Wayne plenty of time to both save Harvey Dent and pick up a few cuties on the side.
Tony Stark – Ironman’s Audi R8
Tony Stark seems to be the only superhero with more money than Bruce Wayne. With a hanger full of muscle cars, foreign speedsters and a military budget to produce autonomous fighting suits of armor, we figure Stark can pick a car fitting his mood any given day, and never drive the same one twice a month. His everyday knock around ride seems to hold a special place in his energy core, that being the Audi R8. With a mid-mounted V8, the Audi’s 420 horsepower and can get Tony from 0-60 in about 4 seconds – so in this R8 it’s always 4:20 time baby.
Bruce Banner -Prius
The Hulk is released when Bruce Banner’s rage comes to a boiling point he can no longer control – or when he stubs his big toe. Mr. Banner, on the other hand, is as mild mannered as a castrated kitty. So what better for this strong but silent type than a Toyota Prius. Your average Priuses (Pri-eye?) gets anywhere from 45 to upwards of 60 miles per gallon. An electric Prius, such as the plug and ride one above, can get you 100-plus! Hey, Bruce Banner does a lot of wandering – with today’s fuel prices it’s better to get the best mileage.
Hellboy – ‘59 Cadillac
Hellboy doesn’t actually have an alter ego – he is forced to remain underground when not battling demons in Manhattan (and boy are there more demons in New York than just tourists and junkies) He needs a set of wheels that allows for comfort and can take a few lashings from some giant beanstalk growing out of Upper West Side sewers – and something a little more stylish than the garbage truck he already rolls in. A leather interior 1959 Caddy would suit Big Red just fine, top down if he is going to remain low key – as long as its dashboard lighter works.
Wanted – Dodge Viper SRT10
The “heroes” of Wanted are actually a team of extra-ordinary professional assassins who all happen to be really, really attractive. They work in offices by day and carry out special assignments by night. With tough jobs come tough vehicles. Angelina Jolie’s “Fox” character enjoys to do her gigs in a Dodge Viper SRT-10. And why not, with max speed of almost 200 miles per hour from its V10’s 5600 RPM’s, you can get from one assassination to another and still hit a downtown LA bar before last call. Your best additional featuring being a hood-mounted Angelina Jolie ornament.
Honorable Mention:
X-Men’s Beast -SMART Car
He wasn’t in a film this summer, but while writing this post we at Automopedia could not help but wonder what a deep thinker such as Beast would use to go—where does Beast drive to anyway? Even if it’s only a ride around Professor Xavier’s complex battling the forces of evil can be waring on the knees. We figured Beast would want the most sensible car on the market today, and a Smart Car would rank high in his calculations, leg room permitting. Maybe a modified version to take into battle, or at least a drop-top for extra headroom.
I’m a huge fan of the great red Shark myself.