History Main / Thememobile

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' finally allows players to actually drive the Batmobile, which now has a tank mode. The Bat-Wing returns one final time, and can now dock with the Batmobile to provide upgrades. It spends a large portion of the game flying circles around the city (and can be seen doing so) scanning for the Cloudburst.
** Played for laughs later on, to add a little levity to a dramatic event. After [[spoiler:Batman's secret identity]] is exposed to the population of Gotham, three thugs had much snark about it.
-->'''Thug 1:''' ''[jokingly]'' Oh no! He's coming to get us in the [[spoiler:Wayne]]mobile!\\

** The Riddler also boasts as to having the "Riddlermobile". It's bigger, faster, more aesthetically pleasing...[[BlatantLies it's in the shop]]. One of the skins for the Batmobile actually ''is'' the Riddlermobile, which turns out to just be the Batmobile with a bunch a green question marks on it.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Mermaid Man who is a combined parody of both ComicBook/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} has the Invisible Boatmobile. Which itself is also a combined parody of the Batmobile and ComicBook/WonderWoman's Invisible Jet from [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends The Superfriends]].

* One of Literature/StephaniePlum's first cars (that the reader is shown) is a beat-up deal with "pussy" sprayed on the side. The pussymobile, as she called it, set the trend for her [[EveryCarIsAPinto various vehicles]] [[TheAllegedCar of questionable quality]].

Most of the time a CoolCar, particularly a PimpedOutCar; if the character isn't supposed to be particularly enthusiastic about cars, or fabulously wealthy, or have specialized transportation needs it counts as an ImprobablyCoolCar. For a specific type of Thememobile, see {{Faceship}}. Not to be confused with the [[IncrediblyLamePun Pope Mobile]], although it is an example of this trope. May overlap with SignatureTeamTransport, AbsurdlyLongLimousine or (if there are no performance upgrades at all) RiceBurner. Compare VehicleBasedCharacterization, where the vehicle reflects the character's personality or characterization without necessarily resembling their outward theme.

* The first ''Film/{{Austin Powers|International Man of Mystery}}'' movie has an easily identifiable Jaguar E-Type convertible painted to look like a Union Jack with a VanityLicensePlate reading SWINGER: the [[IncrediblyLamePun Shaguar]].

%%* The Phooeymobile from ''WesternAnimation/HongKongPhooey''. OnceAnEpisode it changed into some other kind of Phooeyvehicle with just a bong of a gong.

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popemobile Popemobile]].

** Music/IronMaiden travels in a a modified Boeing 757-200 flown by the lead singer, named Ed Force One.
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_state_car_(United_States) Cadillac One AKA "The Beast"]]. Unlike the previous limo, it is not a stretched and armoured DTS, or even an production vehicle. It uses a Chevy Kodiac commercial truck chassis, engine and driveline, Cadillac Escalade body panels, headlights, door mirrors and door handles, and STS tail and reverse lights.

* ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' mention the former Bluesmobile, which was a Cadillac that Elwood traded in for a microphone (a fair trade, we're told). The replacement Bluesmobile seen in the movie was a former police car that at first appears to be TheAllegedCar, but endures more abuse than any automobile reasonably should.
** And also proves to be tire-shreddingly fast, in spite of its appearance. In the sequel, it's revealed it can go underwater.
* Film/{{Blade}} had his own car that was decked out with a few tricks. It was affectionately referred to by the crew as "the Blademobile." The name was never actually used in the film.
* In the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' riff of ''Film/ThisIslandEarth'', when Cal's wormy sidekick runs off to confront him after his strange rescue, Crow quips out "Into the Weeniemobile! Weenie Man away!" when he takes off in an army jeep.
* The made-for-TV movie ''Film/BlackScorpion'' featured a Scorpion Mobile which, in addition to various weapons, can [[TransformingVehicle transform]] into the title character's mundane car and back.
* ''National Lampoon's Film/AnimalHouse'' gave us the Deathmobile during the climactic city parade.

* The Creeper from ''Film/JeepersCreepers'' had his own truck, termed the "Creepermobile" by fans. It looked like TheAllegedCar with an unusual vanity plate (BEATNGU), but it was ''fast'', and the third movie confirms that it's a WeaponizedCar full of booby traps. He mostly used it to run people off the road, using the smell of their fear to track them later at his leisure.

* Even sillier than than the above superhero examples, some of the Franchise/{{Transformers}} action figures- a franchise whose main schtick was robots that turn into vehicles- came with a larger vehicle that they could ride in. Yeah, a robot that can turn into a car comes with a car that he can ride around in. This included Decepticon Roadgrabber, and, as an even more extreme example, the Autobot Skyhammer, who was a robot that could turn into a winged car that had a Pretender shell that was a robot that turned into a spaceship, that had another Pretender shell that was a bigger spaceship. Yeah.
** Less ridiculous is the Human Alliance subline introduced for the Film/TransformersFilmSeries toyline. In this case, the vehicles were normal Transformers and the riders were humans ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Frenzy]]) who could either sit inside the larger figure's vehicle modes or man weapons on their robot modes. The ''Dark Of The Moon'' toyline introduced smaller Human Alliance figures that can also accommodate human riders or become weapons for larger Transformers figures.
* Want something even sillier? Say hello to the [[http://biosector01.com/wiki/index.php/Toa_Terrain_Crawler Toa Terrain Crawler]] from the ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' series. A ''living'' being captured by Axonn, then turned into a Cyborg, all years before the events in the series. Despite this, it looks like one of the current Toa's masks. Needless to say, it's some unholy combination of Centipede, Train, APC, and Sea monster that somehow has a giant [[GatlingGood Cordak blaster]] attached to the top. Note that it's stuck to the ocean floor while the whole cast can swim. And have no real need for long-distance transporation anyhow.

* Parodied on one occasion in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'', when the Sandman (played by Jackie Mason!) declares "Quick, to the Mattress-mobile!" Cut to looking delivery truck. "This is the Matress-mobile?" "[[SarcasmMode Oh, I'm terribly sorry.]] And your truck is ''where''?"

* ''Any'' superhero action figure eventually acquires a vehicle of some sort, whether or not he has one in the source material. So, even though Franchise/SpiderMan has trouble making his rent, he can still afford his own spider-themed VTOL fighter jet. What?

* Comicbook/GhostRider's motorcycle, often with its own skull-shaped windshield.

* Comicbook/MoonKnight has a Mooncopter that resembles a crescent moon.

* Comicbook/TheAvengers have the Quinjets:
** The Quinjets were introduced as small, fast passenger jets that take the heroes where they need to be. The name is an ArtifactTitle; they were introduced when the team had only five members. The Quinjets not only have since gotten larger to account for the Avengers' expanded roster, they're no longer even jets and in fact are equipped for short-range space travel. For a while, their teammate ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} had his own sky-cycle which was soon manufactured into multiple cycles for all non-flying members.
** The ComicBook/GreatLakesAvengers, with a significantly lower budget, had "Quin-Jetta" -- a Volkswagen Jetta with "GLA" painted on the doors. Later, after getting the benefits of government sanction, a garage was shown with all sorts of things, like Big Bertha's Bouncing Buggy and Flatman's Flatamaran. Comicbook/SquirrelGirl ends up in the Squirrel-a-Gig, an autogyro with a definite squirrel motif that's based on the Bat-Whirlygig.

* Like their 1987 cartoon counterparts, the [[Comicbook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesAdventures Archie Comics' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] featured the Turtle Van, Turtle Blimp, and basically any other vehicle in the toylines/cartoons at the time.

* [[Comicbook/NewGods The Forever People]] had a Super-Cycle that could fly and turn intangible, but in the pages of ''ComicBook/YoungJustice'' it fell into possession of ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, who admittedly fit the name better. They later used the Whiz Wagon, a flying five-person car, but ''that'' wound up property of the Newsboy Legion.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Asterix}} and the Chariot Race'', all the chariots are themed to the drivers, mostly by being shaped like NationalAnimalStereotypes (Asterix and Obelix have the Gaulish rooster, the Roman champion has the Imperial eagle, the Britons have a pair of lions, etc.) The pirates have a chariot that's vaguely boat-shaped, with a skull and crossbones.

* DependingOnTheArtist, Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}}'s [[HoverBike Sky-Cycle]] is sometimes the same shade of purple as his costume, and maybe even patterned with "H"s or arrows.

** Rather infamously, a ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' action figure of Comicbook/TheFlash, who can run faster than light, came with a motorcycle.
*** There was also a Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} figure with a motorcycle at some point. Although he has been shown to be capable of driving in emergencies, Daredevil is ''blind''.

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'': Played for laughs to add a little levity to a dramatic event. After [[spoiler:Batman's secret identity]] is exposed to the population of Gotham, three thugs had much snark about it.

** ''Film/BatmanReturns'' had a slightly different Batmobile and the unusual Bat Jetsleigh. The Penguin rode in a giant floating duck.
** ''Film/BatmanForever'' saw yet another Batmobile, the return of the Bat-Wing, and the new Batboat. The Bat-Wing could also disengage its wings and become a submarine.

%%* ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''
%%** The Tumbler serves as the Nolanverse's answer to the Batmobile.
%%** "Incidentally, the Lamborghini is much more subtle..." This is a subtle in-joke. The particular model of Lamborghini Bruce Wayne drives is the Murcielago. Guess what "murcielago" translates to in English? [[spoiler:the bat]]
%%** They still threw the "[[CoolBike Batpod]]" out there but it strangely didn't seem out of place. Maybe Creator/MichaelCaine can do that.
%%** The third installment sees a flying version of the Tumbler, similar to the Bat-Wing.

** The Riddler also boasts as to having the "Riddlermobile". It's bigger, faster, more aesthetically pleasing...[[BlatantLies it's in the shop]]. One of the skins for the Batmobile is the Riddlermobile, it's just the Batmobile with a bunch a green question marks on it.

** [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] had a car in ComicBook/{{Robin}} colours (he had a provisional license because of his dad's disability) called the Redbird.

%%* The vehicles in ''VideoGame/MarioKart: Double Dash!!'' and subsequent games, which tend to stretch the "kart" aspect of ''Mario Kart'' a bit much.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

%%* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'':
%%** You don't need a license to drive a sandwich.
%%** Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy have an invisible Boatmobile, as it happens.

Most of the time a CoolCar; if the character isn't supposed to be particularly enthusiastic about cars, or fabulously wealthy, or have specialized transportation needs it counts as an ImprobablyCoolCar. For a specific type of Thememobile, see {{Faceship}}. Not to be confused with the [[IncrediblyLamePun Pope Mobile]], although it is an example of this trope. May overlap with SignatureTeamTransport, AbsurdlyLongLimousine or (if there are no performance upgrades at all) RiceBurner. Compare VehicleBasedCharacterization, where the vehicle reflects the character's personality or characterization without necessarily resembling their outward theme.

* Pre-retirement [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles Mr. Incredible]] had a fairly civilian-looking (from the outside, at least) car that could drive itself and change him into his costume, among other things. In ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'', it's retrieved from a collector and revealed to have been named "the Incredibile." The second movie also gives Elastigirl a custom motorcycle that can split apart in the middle to take advantage of her stretchy powers.

* According to the toyline for ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'', the Pope is, of course, a popemobile. This raises a lot of questions about Car Jesus and whether he was crucified by the Car Romans.

* ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]'' has Sonic's blue car[[note]]officially called the "Speed Star"[[/note]]. [[FridgeLogic While the fastest thing alive using a car feels much like The Flash example]], WordOfGod [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen says that he uses it out of sportsmanship in order to have a fair race]]. ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'' also has him say that it's for letting him rest his feet. Other characters like Tails, Knuckles, Amy and Shadow also have their own Thememobiles that they use themselves when racing.

* Everyone in the ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'' franchise has one. The one that's most recognizable, however, is Sweet Tooth, a [[BadHumorTruck souped-up ice cream truck]] with a big flaming clown-head-on-a-spring perched on top, driven by MonsterClown Needles Kane.

* Parodied on one occasion in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'', when the Sandman (played by Jackie Mason!) declares "Quick, to the Mattress-mobile!" Cut to [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/fairlyoddparents/images/4/47/Beddybye363.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160619222042&path-prefix=en a beat-up looking delivery truck]]. "This is the Matress-mobile?" "[[SarcasmMode Oh, I'm terribly sorry.]] And your truck is ''where''?"

* ''VideoGame/WarioLand4'' gives us Wario's car ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin called the Wario Car]]), a jalopy that comes complete with a purple paint job matching his overalls and a zigzag moustache decal on the bonnet. Said car has also made a few appearances in other games, such as ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' and ''VideoGame/WarioWare''.

* ''VideoGame/WarioLand4'' gives us Wario's car ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin called the Wario Car]]), a jalopy that comes complete with a purple paint job matching his overalls and a zigzag moustache on the bonnet. Said car has also made a few appearances in other games, such as ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' and ''VideoGame/WarioWare''.

* For the [[Franchise/SpyroTheDragon Spyro & Friends]] Grand Prix, ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'' added in a pair of karts themed after two characters: the Spyromobile for Spyro and the Gnasty Ride for Gnasty Gnorc. The Gasmoxia GP also makes the Velo Chopper[[note]]the kart that the bosses used in ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart''[[/note]] into this for Emperor Velo, complete with a "V" insignia on the bonnet.