Speeding Batmobile turns heads on Russian roads

A car from a comic book on the city's streets is not a common sight and always causes a stir, gathering crowds. And if you are lucky to be at the wheel of the powerful Batmobile, it is hard not to feel like a superhero.

Sleek and powerful, with a 450 horsepower, three-liter turbo engine, it is no wonder Evgeny Mihlik attracts so many stares when he goes out for a drive.

A real labour of love, his modified Toyota Crown was a project intended as a restyling of the Soviet Volga.

“This is an every day car, it is nice and powerful, it has good looks and good sound,” Evgeny said.

However, driving around in such an intriguing car can pose problems.

“It really makes you feel as if you are driving a Bentley. Others respect you on the road. They look and pay attention,” Evgeny said. “It is nice on the one hand, but tiring on the other hand. Too much attention is distracting on the road. People stop and cause traffic jams.”

The car looks like something straight out of a comic book, and with its speed and power it is certainly fit for a superhero.

The inside is not quite as slick as the Batmobile, though, as there is still a lot of work to be done. But with a top speed of 280 kilometers per hour and with the potential to go even faster, this car was not designed to fight crime, but to have a lot of fun.

It was not Evgeny’s intention to recreate the famous car when he was building it, but he certainly enjoys the attention it attracts.

“I was thinking about buying Batman’s mask and wearing it when driving around the city. Just for fun,” he said.

So if you happen to see a Batmobile driving through the streets, it probably is not your comic book fantasy come true, but Evgeny Mihlik going for a spin.