It’s National Sci-Fi Day, and we’re celebrating by highlighting iconic vehicles from Science Fiction movies.  A good sci-fi hero is only as good as their method of transport, as it’s usually the first and last thing their enemies will see in battle!  See any we’ve left off the list? Leave them in a comment below!

The Eagle 5 Winnebago in Spaceballs

This vehicle featured prominently in the 1986 film “Spaceballs” driven by Lone Starr and Barf.  A grungy homage to the great Millenium Falcon aka a hunk of “space junk,” the Eagle 5 is a happy marriage of camper van and personal jet.  It may not look like much, but just wait until you’ve gone to plaid!

Light Runner/Light Cycle in Tron

The Light Runner is the prominent method of transportation of programs on The Grid.  It is built similarly to the Light Cycle, except it can carry 2 passengers and has quad wheels.  The car featured in both Tron: Evolution, and Tron: Legacy movies.  It is also equipped with a light missile launcher and can drive off The Grid on its own power source.

Ecto-1 Hearse from Ghostbusters

Fans of the original movie will undoubtedly recognize this entry on our list.  This vehicle functioned as an ambulance/hearse hybrid.  The original car died during filming of the sequel, but it has since been restored and has made rounds as part of displays.  It has seen several reincarnations over the years including the Ecto-1A in the sequel, and given new life in the upcoming “Ghostbusters: After Life” film to be released in July 2020.

Spinners in Blade Runner

Spinners are the name of the vehicles driven in the Blade Runner franchise.  A spinner begins as a road-worthy vehicle with tires, but when necessary it can launch vertically into the skies, hover, and then cruise the air using a jet-propulsion system.  Most notably a Police Spinner was used by Decker.

DeLorean in Back to the Future

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who is unfamiliar with this truly iconic technology!  This classic DeLorean-Turned-Time-Machine is a 1980s pop culture legend.  Modified by mad scientist Doc Brown to include time-traveling technology called a “Flux Capacitor” this car drives an unprecedented 88MPH right into the future (or the past!)  It has also certainly been through the ringer thanks to Doc, Marty, and arch-nemesis Biff and all their wacky hijinks.

The War Rig in Mad Max Fury Road

The modified vehicles of the “Mad Max” franchise are infamous in sci fi and dystopian genre.  In 2015’s “Fury Road” installment, the creativity was dialed up to 11 when it came to modified rigs.  Imperator Furiosa drives an impressive 78-foot long 18-wheeler known as “The War Rig.”  This versatile and monstrous truck is capable of driving in almost any terrain, including swamps and deserts! 

Lexus 2054 in Minority Report

The vehicles featured in 2002’s “Minority Report” are versatile, and can drive on auto-pilot or switch into manual mode to be controlled by the driver.  Most notable amidst the dozens of futuristic autos featured in the film is the Lexus 2054, the legendary cherry red car driven by Anderton, played by Tom Cruise.

Audi RSQ in I, Robot

This sleek concept car is driven by Will Smith’s character in the 2004 film “I, Robot” adapted from the Isaac Asimov novel of the same name.  It’s a mid-engine concept car designed by Audi AG to fit into the futuristic Chicago landscape of the not-so-distant 2035!  Its key features are its spherical wheels instead of your typical tire.

K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider

KITT Stands for “Knight Industries Three Thousand” from the Knight Rider reboot, and its predecessor “Knight Industries Two Thousand” from the original 1980s series starring David Hasselhoff.  KITT is an artificially intelligent talking computer installed in a technically advanced robotic automobile, which was actually a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am.  In the reboot, the 3k model is a Ford Shelby GT500KR.

Ford Taurus from RoboCop

When Director Paul Verhoeven saw the new 1985 Ford Taurus drive by, he was particularly struck by its “futuristic” appearance (at the time.)  “RoboCop” was the first to feature the first generation model of the Ford Taurus, and while it may not have all the bells and whistles of other scifi movies it’s certainly recognizable!

M577 APC from Aliens

This Armored Personnel Carrier can cruise along at a top speed of 50mph and can pack in a significant number of troops.  It can easily run over a Xenormorph in a single bound, provided there’s no acidic drool.  It first appears in the franchise in “Aliens” but is revived for several other flicks in the franchise as well as the AvP video games.  It’s got a 4x4 wheel layout, with armored tires to prolong its transport in battle.

Choose your fighter! Do you like “Aliens” or “RoboCop” more?  Be sure to check back soon for the RoboCop versus Aliens multi-blog article tour by Kit Gonzo and Mx T!

By Ellen Avigliano
Twitter: @imaginariumcs
Website: www.imaginariumarts.com