Transformers Feature Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 21, 2009

3:29 min

�It�s a mystical bond between man and machine.� For many of us, our own mystical bond started back in the 1980s with Transformers � the toys that started as cars and became robots. And all the TV cartoon series that those toys inspired. Like so many mystical bonds before, this one will become a major motion picture. This summer, those of us who are one with Transformers will see a major motion picture directed by Michael Bay � the guy behind Armageddon and Bad Boys � and produced by Steven Spielberg � who practically invented the summer blockbuster. It stars a whole bunch of cars, trucks, tanks, helicopters and jets � Transformers opens planet-wide on July 4th. Inside Line came to this top-secret warehouse outside Los Angeles to meet the vehicular cast of Transformers. Some heroic Autobots and a few evil Decepticons. It�s no coincidence that most of the Autobots are GM products. The corporation is counting on Transformers as their key product placement for all of 2007. It�s no bad thing when the cars are actual characters. And your cars are the good guys. Big, tough good guys. Or old worn-down good guys. But always good guys. The most heroic of all the Autobots is �Bumblebee,� who starts the film as this beater �76 Camaro. Really more than just a beater; aggressively tasteless. The production company actually built three identical cars to portray the Beater Bee. All were equipped with 330-horsepower, fuel-injected small-block V8 crate engines. So while they all look like junk, they run well. Eventually Bumblebee decides to take the shape of the upcoming 2009 Camaro. Not a bad choice. But since the new '09 Camaro isn�t in production yet, GM and the producers of Transformers had to come up with a close substitute. So Saleen Specialty Vehicles chopped the bodies off two, current-generation Pontiac GTOs� And substituted gorgeous fiberglass replica bodies of the Camaro Concept, introduced at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The result is a full functional car that looks just like the new 2009 Camaro. Even if its only a movie prop. Albeit a great looking one. Fighting alongside Bumblebee is �Ratchet,� a rescue vehicle based on the Hummer H2. Ironhide, based on a GMC Topkick truck. And leading the Autobots is, of course, Optimus Prime, portrayed by a pair of mid-Eighties Peterbilt semi trucks. Now any good Camaro needs a Mustang to fight. So Bumblebee�s arch nemesis in the film is Barricade, a cop-ified version of the Saleen S281. Of course there�s no upside for Ford in seeing its pony car play an evil Decepticon. So Barricade isn�t a Mustang � he�s a Saleen S281. Which isn�t only important to Ford, but also to Hasbro. That's because Hasbro has naturally turned all the Autobots and Decepticons back into toys. And Saleen has been happy to license its S281 as a villain even if Ford wouldn�t have liked seeing the Mustang portrayed as such. Hasbro even has this this helmet that�s supposed to change your voice so it sounds like Optimus Prime�s� Does this make me sound like Optimus?� (muffled response from O.S.)�. It does? That is so cool! Here let me try this out� Autobots transform and roll out! Mystical bond, schmystical bond. I�ve been wanting to say that since I was 10!