First look - Hot Wheels Elite Batmobile 1/18 with Batman and Robin

The fabulous 1/18 Batmobile from Hot Wheels Elite with Batman and Robin figures has just arrived. RRP £174.99.

In 1955, the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company designed and built a concept ‘car of the future’ named “The Futura.” It was a two-seat grand touring car with instruments housed in the steering wheel, a push-button transmission, exterior microphones to pick up and transmit traffic sounds, and a host of other innovative devices. It was a ‘rolling laboratory’ from which Ford would learn about new technology to apply to their production automobiles. The car was built entirely by hand in Turin, Italy and, like many concept cars, was never put into production. In the mid 1960's, George Barris of Barris Kustom City acquired the car directly from Ford.

The story goes that he was approached by producers from Fox who were going to be doing a Batman TV Series and needed an exotic car. George sketched out a version of the Futura with suitable “Bat” alterations and presented it to the producers. George felt it was the perfect answer, considering the bat-like qualities his Futura already had and the fact that the car had to be ready for action in a mere three weeks. Sometime later in October of 1965, the Batmobile was born. Hot Wheels Elite's new 1/18 model of this iconic vehicle features non-removable Batman and Robin figures.

Beautifully finished and with opening doors and bonnet, there is plenty of detail and the figures are nicely posed so it will make a fabulous display piece. To the Batmobile, Robin!

All together now, "dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner......"