Batman beats Bond in battle of big-screen cars

The Batmobile has been voted the ultimate big-screen car, racing ahead of James Bond's Aston Martin in a poll of film fans.

The Batmobile has been voted the ultimate big-screen car, racing ahead of James Bond's Aston Martin in a poll of film fans.

The Caped Crusader's hi-tech car first appeared in the Batman comic in 1941 and made its movie debut in the 1989 film starring Michael Keaton.

With its voice-activated controls, retractable armour and arsenal of weapons, the 20ft supercar was the clear winner in the survey of 1,000 people carried out by UCI Cinemas.

Bond's gadget-packed Aston Martin from Goldfinger came second, followed by the Mini Coopers of The Italian Job.

Herbie, the VW Beetle with a mind of its own in The Love Bug, was fourth in the poll.

Fifth was the time-travelling DeLorean which took Michael J Fox Back to the Future in the 1985 movie.

"Cars in movies have always helped provide the action in chase scenes and getaways, but the best big-screen cars are the ones that go beyond simply being a prop and have an identity of their own," a UCI spokesman said.

Other entries in the top 10 include the Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt and the musical motor from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.