Updated - Batman Gets a New Ride

Updated - 6/20 - New Image Added

Warner Bros. announces via press release that an all new Batman Vehicle from "The Dark Knight" will be shown tomorrow at the 2007 Licensing Show in New York, but today the L.A. Times got a first look at the new "Batpod".

Click to enlarge

Designed by Nathan Crowley, creator of the Batmobile for "Batman Begins" and built by Chris Corbould, six of these high performance machines are now on the set and being used in ongoing shooting in Chicago.

The high-tech ride was also featured on The Today Show this morning . Below are some questions a Today Show producer had with Nathan Crowley:

Q: What exactly is the "Batpod?"

CROWLEY: It's Batman's new vehicle from "The Dark Knight." It comes from the same family as the Batmobile that he got from Morgan Freeman's character, Lucius Fox. The Batpod is as fast as the Batmobile, it's self-standing, it has front weaponry, and it can lower itself to protect its rider. It can fit through small spaces, and the seat is rotational, so even if it falls over, the rider can't be thrown off.

Q: What's the difference between this and the Batmobile?

CROWLEY: All I can tell you is that Batman needs a second vehicle for a very specific reason. He doesn't choose it... he requires it to do something he can't do. That's all I'll say!

For a better look at the Batpod, check out this video.

"The Dark Knight" starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger hits theaters June 2008.

Images - L.A. Times, Warmer Bros.