Fast Lane: Batmobile, BYD, Zeekr, Rolls-Royce, BMW Motorrad

Batmobile tribute on auction

A recreation of the Batmobile that pays tribute to the 1966 Batman television series is now on auction at online marketplace Catawiki.

The vehicle has been used in events in Europe and the Middle East, including an appearance with Adam West, the late American actor who portrayed the Caped Crusader on the show.

The conversion from American coupe to crime-busting convertible was commissioned in 1988 by an English collector of replica cars from famous TV series. The car is estimated to be worth €80,000 (S$120,000) – a fraction of the US$4.2 million (S$5.4 million) that the original Batmobile changed hands for at an auction in January.

The car’s current condition is described as rust-free, with some small cracks and marks. However, the television on the dashboard and some decorative lights are not working.

The running gear comes from a 1973 Lincoln Continental with a 7.5-litre V8 engine – good for 208hp – and a three-speed automatic transmission.

Since the steering wheel is on the left, it would not be possible to register the car in Singapore, even under the Classic Vehicle Scheme. This is open to right-hand-drive vehicles that are at least 35 years old, starting from the original registration date.

The auction closes on Aug 24. Find out more at str.sg/9jUX

BYD’s new starter model

Launched at $159,388 with a guaranteed certificate of entitlement (COE), the Atto 2 is BYD’s newest and most affordable model in the brand’s local line-up, priced a notch below the Dolphin hatchback.

The electric crossover, which is slightly bigger than the Toyota Yaris Cross, is generously equipped. Its suite of active safety features includes lane departure warning and front collision warning, along with comfort features such as ventilated front seats and an electrically operated tailgate.

Zeekr’s electric SUV to launch

The Zeekr 7X electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) has been approved for sale in Singapore and is slated to be officially launched in September.

This is an upmarket SUV that measures 4,787mm long with a wheelbase of 2,900mm, approximately the size of the Porsche Macan Electric.

Based on the published information from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), two versions of the Chinese electric car will be available: a dual-motor AWD Performance (Stargate) with 475kW of power, and a single-motor RWD (Standard) with 310kW.

Zeekr’s European website says the 475kW car has a 0-100kmh timing of 3.8 seconds and an operating range of up to 543km. The 310kW version takes six seconds for the century sprint and has either 480km or 615km range, depending on the size of the battery.

Watercolour exhibition at Rolls-Royce

A selection of eight works by Singapore artist Ong Kim Seng is on display at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore showroom at 11 Kung Chong Road.

Ong is among the most acclaimed watercolourists in Asia. The Cultural Medallion recipient’s accolades include nine awards from the American Watercolor Society in New York.

His artworks on display depict scenes from Singapore, Nepal and Bali, created between 2024 and 2025.

The show is part of the luxury car brand’s National Day celebrations. Open from 9am to 6pm from Mondays to Saturdays, and noon to 6pm on Sundays, the exhibition ends on Aug 31.

Caffeine kick with a motorcycle engine

The Big Coffee Boxer is a limited-edition espresso machine made from BMW Motorrad’s largest boxer engine – the two-cylinder 1,802cc unit used in the R18 cruiser.

Created in partnership with German espresso machine maker ECM, only 80 Big Coffee Boxers will be produced.

The machine looks like a boxer engine set on a frame, with a pressure gauge mounted on each cylinder. Instead of making 91hp and a redline of 5,750rpm, the machine has two independent water circulation systems for users to prepare coffee and milk foam simultaneously.

Available at selected ECM coffee machine retailers in Europe, the luxe coffee maker is priced at €7,900.