Superman is one of the most formidable characters in the history of fiction, but he has a bad habit of getting his powers stripped from him. Without his abilities, the god-like Supes becomes the relatively ordinary Clark Kent, and while he may be a competent journalist at the Daily Planet, he’s not much of a threat to planet-busting supervillians.
Without the capacity to fly or leap tall buildings in a single bound, Superman needs a reliable way to get from A to B. To address this, British automotive specialists Car Keys have whipped up a digital Supermobile Concept Car, one that features all of the destructive power of the Man of Steel himself.
It may seem like a silly idea, but the concept of a Supermobile has actually been done in a comic before, way back in March 1978. As Car Keys describes, Action Comics #481 was entitled It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Supermobile! and saw Superman become de-powered by an android named Amazo. The superhero was then forced to build a car just like his Gotham-based BFF; one that duplicated many of his former talents.
Car Keys’ version is significantly more modern though, as it fits in with the current DC cinematic universe. It’s covered with Kryptonian armor from head to toe, which was scavenged from the Fortress of Solitude spacecraft from Man of Steel. This makes the vehicle nearly impervious to physical damage, and its futuristic shielding system protects Superman from the effects of Kryptonite.
Rather than a standard internal combustion engine, the Supermobile features a propulsion system adapted from the warp drives of a Kryptonian spacecraft. It’s not quite as fast as a speeding bullet, but the vehicle’s top speed of 212 mph is more than quick enough to get the job done. What’s more, the car is powered by energy from the sun, meaning it will never run out of fuel.
Of course, a superhero’s ride must be able to defend itself as well, so the concept equips twin laser cannons under the headlights. Like the powerplant, they draw energy from the sun.
Batman and Superman will lock horns in the upcoming Dawn of Justice film, but who takes it in a battle of supervehicles — Batmobile or Supermobile? Let us know what you think in the comments, and stay tuned for our list of the Top 10 Batmobiles on March 25.