Personal tools

Licensed vehicle alternate modes

From Transformers Wiki

Jump to: navigation, search
(thumbnail)
Ultimate Bumblebee as a Chevrolet Camaro.

Though many (and some might even say most) Transformers toys are designed to resemble Earth vehicles, only a significant minority actually represent specific Earth vehicles, the majority having been fudged so as not to have to pay royalties to the actual owners of these vehicle designs.

The exception to this is when Hasbro, TakaraTomy or both acquire a license specifically to make a toy sculpt of a given vehicle. These licenses are most often with car manufacturers across the world, but have recently expanded to include aircraft and other military hardware.

The notion of Transformers toys being officially licensed replicas of vehicles is a fairly recent one, and even more recent in Hasbro and TakaraTomy actually embracing it with gusto. It can be a risky decision, as licenses need to be maintained and working relationships with the originating companies fostered. Molds whose licenses have expired are unable to remain in production, thus lessening the potential for redecos and retools. As well, the companies granting the licenses often request a level of creative control over the characters created from their licensed property.

Contents

History

Generation 1

Even though the original Generation 1 Autobot Cars released in 1984 and 1985, just like their Diaclone predecessors, were closely based on existing car models, none of them were officially licensed. In some instances, sponsor decals of racing cars were slightly altered ("Gitanes" becoming "Citanes", "Martini" becoming "Martinii", "Alitalia" becoming "Alitalla" etc.) in order to avoid legal trouble with those companies.

An odd case is the Autobot Car Jazz (based on a Porsche 935 Turbo), whose original European version, released by Milton Bradley in 1985, sported an additional "Porsche" note after the name "Jazz" on the packaging. It's still unclear whether this was supposed to indicate a licensed vehicle, or was merely intended to highlight a domestic vehicle, as the MB toys were also available in Germany.

Robots in Disguise (2001)

Although the three 2001 Robots in Disguise Autobot Brothers Prowl, Side Burn and X-Brawn were all based on real-world vehicles (Prowl on a Lamborghini Diablo, Side Burn on a Dodge Viper and X-Brawn on a Mercedes-Benz ML320 SUV), Takara released their Car Robots versions without any licensing. When Hasbro brought over the Car Robots line as Robots in Disguise, they also intended to avoid having to pay license fees, going so far as to retool X-Brawn's headlights as compared to the Car Robots version in order to make the vehicle look "different" from a real Mercedes.

However, Dodge/DaimlerChrysler apparently still considered Side Burn's vehicle form too close to a real Dodge Viper. Therefore, they pressured Hasbro into acquiring a license. Starting with the red "new style" redeco of RID Side Burn, all subsequent versions of the mold were officially licensed, and in return sported a small official Dodge Viper logo on top of the front grille. Furthermore, the last release of the mold, the Wal*Mart exclusive Universe Deluxe from 2004, even sported a "Viper" sticker on the front of the packaging, and a "Dodge Official Licensed Product" sticker on the back of the packaging.

The established licensing relationship between Hasbro and DaimlerChrysler/Dodge was presumably also the reason why a Dodge Viper was one of the first vehicles to be actually released as part of the Alternators line.

A few months after the "new style" redeco of RID Side Burn had come out, Hasbro also released a Wal-Mart exclusive two-pack of retools/redecos of the Generation 2 Laser Cycles Road Rocket (based on a Yamaha GTS1000A motorcycle) and Road Pig (based on a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle), named Sideways and Axer, respectively. One of the inside flaps of the packaging for the two-pack contained a copyright note identifying the two toys as licensed Yamaha and Harley-Davidson vehicles, respectively. (The G2 versions of the two molds had been unlicensed.)

Alternators/Binaltech

Hasbro and Takara finally jumped in with both feet in 2003, launching a toyline that was entirely composed of licensed vehicle modes. Some of this line was leveraged by the companies' growing relationship with the DaimlerChrysler corporation, with some of the toys using vehicle modes by DaimlerChrysler subsidiaries Dodge and Jeep. Other car manufacturers participating were Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru), Mazda, General Motors (Chevrolet), Ford, Honda (including its US subsidiary Acura) and Toyota (plus its US subsidiary Scion). Most of these companies have their parent companies based either in Japan or the United States; the only genuine European manufacturer willing to license one of their vehicles was Jaguar, owned, at the time, by Ford.

The Alternators line hit some snags in its early development stages when Hasbro approached Porsche and Volkswagen with plans to make new toys of Jazz and Bumblebee, respectively. Prototypes of Jazz as a Porsche 986 were made, but Porsche refused to grant Hasbro and Takara the license, arguing that Transformers are "war machines" and thus "not worthy [of] carrying the Porsche trademark."[1] As a consequence, the toy ultimately never went into production. Volkswagen had similar concerns as Porsche, what with not wanting to be associated with "war toys" (until recently), therefore the design (as a Volkswagen New Beetle) never made it past the 2D stage. The prototype for Jazz was later shown in the Japanese book The Transformers: Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide and during the BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour, and control drawings for both Bumblebee and Cliffjumper were also published in the same book.

Other companies also had their own objections: General Motors/Chevrolet initially denied Hasbro and Takara the license for a new version of Tracks based on a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for unknown reasons. Unlike other companies, they later had a change of mind, but not before the real-life C5 generation Corvette was about to be phased out of production, making the toy (and its redecos) seem somewhat outdated when they were finally released. An Alternators toy based on a Mini Cooper was allegedly also in the works in 2004 (semi-confirmed by early preorders for a Binaltech version), but Hasbro and Takara reportedly failed to obtain the required license. Rumors of actually existing prototypes were never confirmed, however.

Along the same lines, Honda's North American branch urged Hasbro to omit a long gun barrel accessory from the Alternators version of Windcharger (a Honda S2000), together with all references to "weapons" from the packaging. Even though Honda's Japanese branch had no such concerns, allowing Takara to release their Binaltech version of the toy (named Overdrive) with the full barrel, Honda Japan insisted that the packaging must not feature any official Honda logos... out of fear that customers might mistake it for an official Honda product, rather than a licensed product by a third party.[2] (Apparently that policy has changed in the meantime, since Binaltech Arcee, a retool of Overdrive, does sport official Honda logos on the toy's packaging.) There were also store listings for an unspecified Mitsubishi vehicle which ultimately never materialized... and Hasbro themselves confirmed at BotCon 2006 that a Cadillac XLR (as Megatron) would have been the next mold in the line, had Alternators not been cancelled.

Eventually much of the Alternators, Binaltech, and derived toylines (such as Binaltech Asterisk and Kiss Players) had to be taken out of production due to the expiration of the licenses which initially allowed their release.

Star Wars Transformers

Beginning in 2006, Hasbro leveraged its existing license to produce Star Wars toys for Lucasfilms with its ownership of the Transformers brand. The resulting toys were considered Transformers, but not Cybertronians and had no ties to prior franchise fiction. Rather, the figures were mecha piloted by Star Wars characters, and each included a "pilot" figure.

In 2008, Hasbro rolled this toyline into the greater umbrella of their new Transformers: Crossovers brand. Thus rebranded, the "pilot" figurines were omitted from the re-released toys.

Transformers (2007)

The advent of the 2007 live-action movie required licensing on a grand scale, as nearly all alternate modes featured in the film had to be at least nominally real-life vehicles. DreamWorks/Paramount reached what must be assumed to have been a very lucrative deal with General Motors, using vehicles from their product line as the movie's Autobots' alternate modes almost exclusively. All of those vehicles were also licensed to Hasbro for their accompanying toyline. Barricade, meanwhile, whose vehicle mode was based on a Ford Mustang, was licensed by Saleen (who had provided a tuned up Saleen S281 "Extreme" Mustang for the movie), because Ford didn't want one of their cars used as a "villain". Therefore, Barricade sports no "Ford" logos in the movie. Only Optimus Prime didn't require a license at all, since his vehicle mode in the movie - a Peterbilt 379 - was heavily genericized, and all manufacturer logos were removed.[3] TakaraTomy even identifies the Leader Class toy as a Kenworth W900 instead of a Peterbilt 379.[4]

On a rather bizarre note, even the Robot Replicas figures of Bumblebee and Autobot Jazz were licensed (whereas the Barricade figure wasn't), as was the Turnarounds Unleashed Autobots bust (Autobot Jazz and Autobot Ratchet, only released in Australia and Asia since it was cancelled for the US market). Since the figures and the bust don't actually transform, and the copyright remark for the bust only mentions Pontiac but not Hummer, this was likely due to the fact that the robot modes feature the official manufacturer logos on their chests.

In addition, a new development in the official licensing of vehicle modes came in the fact that the movie used real-life military vehicles as well, namely the Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor and the Force Protection Buffalo mine-protected vehicle - in fact, even the Starscream Barrel Roll Blaster role-play accessory was an officially licensed toy based on an F-22 Raptor!

Meanwhile, new-mold toys inspired by non-transforming vehicles that appeared in the movie, such as Longarm (based on a GMC Topkick tow-truck), Incinerator (based on a Bell Helicopter V-22 Osprey) and Stockade (based on a Cadillac Escalade SUV), again had their alternate forms modified in order to avoid having to acquire licenses (for example, Longarm's toy was more closely based on a Ford F-350 truck). The only exception to this was Landmine, who was based on a Sector Seven buggy specifically designed for the movie. Therefore, Hasbro was able to keep the toy's vehicle form spot on to the movie vehicle, since they didn't require an additional license aside from the obligatory DreamWorks/Paramount one.

Unfortunately, due to issues of vehicle mode licensing and the fact that the robot designs are the shared intellectual property of DreamWorks/Paramount, it is a virtual certainty that the Movie toys will never be made available as redecos in other franchises (except movie sequels) or as convention exclusives. So get 'em while the getting's good!

Universe (2003)

In August 2007, a particularly odd toy with a licensed vehicle mode turned up. The purported character was Swerve, though the toys were poly-bagged with no character bio. The vehicle mode was a General Motors Chevrolet Aveo. To make matters even more complicated, the instructions sheet included within the polybag marked Swerve as part of the Universe line (using the logo of the original toyline of that name launched in 2003 rather than that of the second line of that name officially launched in 2008).

Early reports throughout the fandom, tepidly verified by Hasbro sources, suggested that the mold's creation had been commissioned by General Motors for that company's exclusive use; neither Hasbro nor TakaraTomy can use it in their own lines. This amounts to the first time that a "mainstream" Transformer mold was created to be an exclusive (as opposed to things like Happy Meal toys which are obviously distinct from standard product and cost far less to design and produce). The prevailing theory for the toy's existence was that it may have been commissioned as part of an advertising budget tax writeoff. "We spent X amount of money so we don't have to pay Y amount of taxes on our profits; thanks, Byzantine corporate tax laws!"

Not only were the exact origins of this toy a mystery, but also its intended purpose. Ultimately, it was only ever made available in extremely limited venues over the years, sometimes as a free giveaway for a local Chevrolet promotion (in Ontario, Canada in 2009), sometimes via online stores such as the Chevrolet online store in 2008 (which alternatively shipped from Switzerland or the United Arab Emirates, with massive markups for international shipping that made even scalper prices look reasonable by comparison) and BigBadToyStore in 2010.

Alternity

In early 2008, TakaraTomy announced a new toy to be released under the header Transformers: Alternity. The toy's vehicle mode was based on a licensed Nissan GT-R, whereas the robot mode was based on a cross between the Alternators/Binaltech and the 2007 Movie line's aesthetic. The character was soon confirmed to be Convoy (Optimus Prime), and the toy was announced to be released in two different color variants, similar to some Binaltech toys. This was followed by a licensed Nissan Fairlady Z which transformed into Megatron, likewise available in two deco variations, as well as a third color variant for Convoy. The line expanded beyond Nissan vehicles with the solicitation of a figure for Bumblebee, which transforms into a licensed Suzuki Swift, and Starscream, with a vehicle mode of the Mitsuoka Orochi. Hasbro stated at BotCon 2009 that they had no intention to release these toys in the USA.

Revenge of the Fallen

Hasbro's relationship with General Motors continued into the development of the sequel to the live-action movie. In addition to recurring same-alternate mode characters Bumblebee as a slightly updated 2009 Chevrolet Camaro, Ironhide, Ratchet and redecos of toys from the characters from the first movie (e.g. Smokescreen as a Pontiac Solstice), the Revenge of the Fallen line featured many new GM vehicles, this time all of them from their Chevrolet subsidiary. Among them were a new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray concept car (Sideswipe), the Chevrolet Beat (Skids), the Chevrolet Trax (Mudflap) and a new electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt (Jolt). Unfortunately, due to GM's financial problems, a decision was made not to cross-promote the film from their end. Barricade also made a toy line-only return; however, whereas the first film's toys had only been licensed by Saleen, all his Revenge of the Fallen toys were licensed both by Saleen and Ford.

A lot of other vehicles, on the other hand, were not licensed, most of them from the Scout Class range. The most notable case is Sideways, a character who appears in the movie (with full support from Audi): His alternate mode is based on an Audi R8, but either due to Hasbro's well-known problems with acquiring licenses from German manufacturers or because of an exclusive deal with General Motors, the toys' vehicle mode was tweaked just enough to avoid having to obtain a license (similar to Robots in Disguise X-Brawn).

Just like the first movie, the film continued to license military vehicles. Lockheed Martin provided Hasbro with the licenses not only for the F-22 Raptor, but also for the SR-71 Blackbird (Jetfire), and various Grindor toys were released as redecos of Blackout from the first movie, also as MH-53 Pave Low helicopters. Meanwhile, none of the construction vehicles used as the Constructicons' alternate modes were licensed.

Transformers (2010)

The 2010 Transformers line served as a toy-only continuation of the live-action film series, bridging the gap between the second and third movie. It featured various redecos of older toys, but also entirely new sculpts for characters such as Bumblebee, Ironhide, Sideswipe and Starscream, all of them making use of the existing licenses.

Dark of the Moon

The third entry in the live-action film series once again featured many of the established characters in slightly tweaked versions of the same vehicle modes. Sideswipe remained a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray but became a convertible, and Bumblebee's Chevrolet Camaro mode once again featured a few tweaks. The accompanying toy line featured all those vehicles as well as redecos and retools of toys from the previous lines with their older vehicle models. Barricade also finally returns in the movie, and thus has several new toys. Skids and Mudflap were intended to return in the movie as well, this time both of them in the form of a Chevrolet Spark (the production model of Skids' Chevy Beat concept car from Revenge of the Fallen), but even though they were ultimately scrapped from the movie, Hasbro still released several toys of them, with some of Skids' toys being straight redecos or minor retools of their Revenge of the Fallen counterparts, while the rest, including all of Mudflap's toys, were new sculpts and accurate renditions of the Chevrolet Spark. Another new licensed GM vehicle was the Chevrolet Suburban, used for the Dreads Crankcase, Crowbar and Hatchet.

A (more or less) new addition to the licensing fold is Mercedes-Benz. Unlike other German manufacturers, they apparently had no objections to their cars representing weapon-equipped alien robots (one of them even an evil Decepticon!), despite what Michael Bay claimed before the movie's release. Wheeljack aka "Que" transforms into a Mercedes-Benz E550 and Soundwave into a Mercedes-Benz SLS-AMG, and all their toys are fully licensed. It's possible that Mercedes's different attitude towards the Transformers brand compared to other German carmakers has something to do with them being part of Daimler-Benz, itself previously part of Daimler-Chrysler, which had already licensed some of their vehicles for the Alternators line a few years earlier (though all of them from the Chrysler end, which split from Daimler in 2007).

Italian manufacturer Ferrari also provided a Ferrari 458 Italia to serve as the alternate mode of Dino; however, due to an exclusive licensing deal with Hasbro's biggest competitor Mattel, the character was not allowed to sport the name of a Hasbro toy in the movie (hence he was named "Dino" at the request of Ferrari), and the only toy actually based of off the character's appearance in the movie had it's car mode heavily genericized, even though it released years after the movie came out.

Masterpiece

Seeing how the Masterpiece series seeks to represent the G1 characters as closely as possible, and with many characters having real-life alternate modes, nearly every car mode in the line is licensed. Returning licencees from the past include Nissan (including its predecessor Datsun), General Motors (Chevrolet), Lancia, and new ones include Mitsubishi, Lamborghini and its owner Volkswagen, who has since come around from refusing to approve the Alternators Bumblebee New Beetle.

Age of Extinction

The fourth film continues the collaboration with General Motors. Earlier in the film, Bumblebee chooses a customized 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS as his disguise when hiding from Cemetery Wind, whereas later on, he upgrades to the newest model, a 2014 Camaro concept car. (The production crew was actually accused of ripping off a one-of-a-kind custom for the 1967 version.[5]) Furthermore, new addition Crosshairs's alternate mode is a 2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray, and recurring character Ratchet briefly appears at the beginning of the movie and transforms into his Hummer H2 ambulance mode (in the color scheme from Dark of the Moon) before being killed at the hands of Cemetery Wind and Lockdown. In addition, a Chevrolet Sonic RS Rally car was provided as Shane's car, although not a transformer, it would provide the basis for the licensed alt-mode for Rollbar.

Age of Extinction is the first movie to feature an official partnership with a manufacturer for Optimus Prime's alternate mode. Earlier in the movie, he transforms into an old, rusty Marmon 97 truck cab (presumably without support from the manufacturer), but later upgrades into a brand new Western Star "5700 OP" concept truck that was designed specifically for the movie by "Twins Custom Coaches" and the team at West Coast Customs, with Western Star being a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks, who also provided a custom 2012 Freightliner Argosy that serves as Galvatron's alternate mode.

Other manufacturers that provided vehicles to be used for characters' alternate modes were the Oshkosh Corporation with an Oshkosh Defense FMTV truck for Hound, the continuing relationship with the Volkswagen group with a 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse for Drift and a Lamborghini Aventador for Lockdown, and independent Italian manufacturer Pagani Automobili with a Pagani Huayra for Stinger, but while the One-Step Changers toy was a licensed Pagani, the Deluxe class was simply a redecoed 2014 Camaro Deluxe Class Bumblebee. Hasbro representatives at BotCon 2014 noted that a full retool of the Bumblebee toy as Stinger was planned, presumably as the Pagani, but ultimately did not get beyond the prototype stage.[6] Stinger would finally receive a proper licensed Pagani figure as part of the Studio Series line.

The Last Knight

The fifth film continued the GM partnership, Bumblebee being a modified 6th gen Camaro (whose styling would actually preview the 2019 Camaro facelift), whilst the Crosshairs' C7 Stingray mode had a subtly changed decal design, greyed rims and a different spoiler. Berserker transforms into a Chevrolet Suburban, but that aspect is only shown through his toy.

Mercedes-Benz returns as a prominent licencee, providing a Mercedes-AMG GT-R for Drift (replacing the Bugatti), and a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 4023 for Hound (replacing the Oshkosh). Lamborghini also returned, with a Lamborghini Centenario for Hot Rod and Aston Martin provided an Aston Martin DB11 as one of Edmund Burton and Cogman's getaway rides (and formed the basis for his toy-only Transtector). Interestingly, for Barricade a new 2015 Ford Mustang police car was used, although now it is no longer a Saleen. Despite previous Barricade toys being licensed by both Ford and Saleen, the Deluxe Barricade is a loose approximation of the real-life Mustang.

Studio Series

A collector-oriented toyline intended to celebrate over ten years of Transformers live action movies, with new toys of characters pulled from all movies, including the Bumblebee film that was released during the line's first year. Many of the characters whose toys had licensed alternate modes for the respective film's original toyline retained those licenses.

Bumblebee

There was no major General Motors presence for Bumblebee, with Bumblebee transforming into a Classic Volkswagen Beetle for the largest portion of the film, and thanks to the Bumblebee Masterpiece toy, most of the Bumblebee toys were licensed by Volkswagen. However, at the end of the film, he does upgrade to his 1977 Chevrolet Camaro form made famous by the 2007 film (although his robot mode is slightly redesigned), and thus, there were a few toys licensed by GM (though with the robot mode based on the design from the 2007 movie). Aside from a Cliffjumper redeco of a Volkswagen beetle Bumblebee toy, none of the other toys from the Bumblebee movie line had licensed alternate modes, although Hasbro did obtain licenses for characters from the film for the Studio Series line.

Toys with licensed vehicle alternate modes

Robots in Disguise (2001)

Micromaster (2002)

Universe (2003)

Alternators/Binaltech

(thumbnail)
Smokescreen as a Subaru Impreza (Binaltech versions).

Binaltech Asterisk

  • Alert (Subaru Impreza WRX; Japan only)
  • Broadblast (Toyota bB X Version; Japan only)
  • Sunstreaker (Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, counterpart of Alternators Sunstreaker)

Kiss Players

  • Autorooper (Mazda RX-8; Japan only)
  • Convoy (Dodge Ram SRT-10, counterpart of Alternators Optimus Prime)
  • Hot Rodimus (Ford GT, counterpart of Alternators Rodimus)

Transformers (2007)

  • Barricade (Saleen S281)
    • Legends Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
    • Cyber Slammers toys
  • Cliffjumper (Chevrolet Camaro 1977 model)
    • Legends Class toys
  • Cliffjumper (Chevrolet Camaro 2006 concept)
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Cyber Slammers toy
  • Evac (MH-53 Pave Low)
    • Voyager Class toy
(thumbnail)
Autobot Jazz as a Pontiac Solstice (Target exclusive version).
  • Autobot Jazz (Pontiac Solstice)
    • Legends Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
    • Cyber Slammers toy
    • Robot Replicas figure (non-transforming, visible Pontiac logo on robot mode chest)
    • Turnarounds Unleashed Autobots bust (non-transforming, visible Pontiac logo on robot mode chest)
  • Smokescreen (Pontiac Solstice)
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
  • Starscream (Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor)
    • Legends Class toys
    • Voyager Class toys
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
    • Starscream Barrel Roll Blaster role-play accessory

Star Wars Transformers / Crossovers

(thumbnail)
Luke Skywalker as a Rebel Alliance Snowspeeder

Alternity

Revenge of the Fallen

  • Barricade (Saleen Ford S281 Mustang)
    • Deluxe Class Interrogator Barricade toy
    • Human Alliance toy
    • R.P.M. toys
Starting with Revenge of the Fallen, all of Barricade's toys have both a Saleen and a Ford license, whereas the 2007 Movie toys only had a Saleen license (the car in the movie didn't sport any Ford logos).
  • Bonecrusher (Buffalo Mine Protected Vehicle)
    • R.P.M. toy
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 1977 model)
    • R.P.M. toy
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2007 concept)
    • R.P.M. toys
    • Robot Heroes vehicle mode toy
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2009 model)
    • Legends Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Human Alliance toy
    • Ultimate Bumblebee Battle Charged toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toys
    • Gravity Bots toy
    • R.P.M. toys
    • R.P.M. Battle Charger toy
    • R.P.M. Lights and Sounds toys
  • Grindor (Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low)
    • Legends Class toy
    • Voyager Class toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
  • Ironhide (GMC Topkick)
    • Legends Class toy (Enforcer Ironhide)
    • Voyager Class toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
    • R.P.M. toys
    • Robot Heroes vehicle mode toy
(thumbnail)
Revenge of the Fallen Jolt as a Chevrolet Volt.
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toys
    • R.P.M. toy
  • Mudflap (Chevrolet Trax concept)
    • Legends Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Human Alliance toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toys
    • Gravity Bots toy
    • R.P.M. toys
    • Robot Heroes vehicle mode toy
  • Ramjet (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor)
    • Voyager Class toy
  • Autobot Ratchet (Hummer H2)
    • Legends Class toy
    • Voyager Class toy (Desert Tracker Ratchet)
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
    • R.P.M. toys
The R.P.M. version of Sideswipe is not licensed by General Motors. Instead, the toy's vehicle design has been severely altered and looks more like an Aston Martin, because Mattel has an exclusive license for Concept Stingray model cars at a 1:64 scale for their Hot Wheels line. An early prototype for R.P.M. Sideswipe that surfaced in 2008 was still an accurate Stingray, however.[7]
  • Autobot Skids (Chevrolet Beat concept)
    • Legends Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Human Alliance toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toys
    • Gravity Bots toy
    • R.P.M. toys
    • Robot Heroes vehicle mode toy
  • Skywarp (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor)
    • Voyager Class toy
  • Starscream (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor)
    • Legends Class toy
    • Voyager Class toy
    • Fast Action Battlers toy
    • Gravity Bots toy
    • R.P.M. toy
    • Robot Heroes vehicle mode toy
  • Swerve (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray)
    • Deluxe Class toy

Transformers (2010)

  • Bonecrusher (Buffalo Mine Protected Vehicle)
    • Legends Class toy (Market six exclusive "Desert Decimation" four-pack)
    • Deluxe Class toy (Walmart exclusive "The Fury of Bonecrusher" two-pack)
  • Grindor (Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low)
    • Legends Class toy (Walmart exclusive "Bombing Run Battle" two-pack)
  • Ironhide (GMC Topkick)
    • Legends Class toy (Market six exclusive "Desert Decimation" four-pack)
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Voyager Class toy (Walmart exclusive "The Fury of Bonecrusher" two-pack)
  • Jetfire (Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird)
    • Legends Class toy (Kmart exclusive "The Victory of The Fallen" five-pack)
  • Jolt (Chevrolet Volt)
    • Legends Class toy (Walmart exclusive "Desert Ruins Brawl" two-pack)
    • Deluxe Class Electrostatic Jolt toy
  • Mudflap (Chevrolet Trax concept)
    • Deluxe Class toy (Walmart exclusive "Starscream's Assault" two-pack)
  • Autobot Ratchet (Hummer H2)
    • Legends Class toy (Market six exclusive "Desert Decimation" four-pack)
    • Deluxe Class Rescue Ratchet toy
    • Voyager Class Night Ops Ratchet toy
  • Sideswipe (Chevrolet Stingray concept)
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Human Alliance Shadow Blade Sideswipe toy
  • Autobot Skids (Chevrolet Beat concept)
    • Legends Class Tuner Skids toy
    • Deluxe Class Tuner Skids toy
  • Starscream (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor)
    • Legends Class toy (Kmart exclusive "The Victory of The Fallen" five-pack)
    • Voyager Class toy (Walmart exclusive "Starscream's Assault" two-pack)
    • Leader Class toy

Dark of the Moon

  • Blackout (Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low)
    • Cyberverse Commander Class toy
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2009 model)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toys (various exclusives)
    • Human Alliance toy
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2011 model)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Deluxe Class "Nitro Bumblebee" toy and redecos
    • Leader Class toy
    • Robo Power Activators toys
    • Robo Power Go-Bots toy
    • Robo Power Bash Bots toy
  • Darksteel (Chevrolet Stingray concept)
    • Deluxe Class toy
  • Ironhide (GMC Topkick)
    • Cyberverse Commander Class toys
    • Voyager Class toy
  • Jolt (Chevrolet Volt)
    • Deluxe Class toy
  • Leadfoot (Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing NASCAR race car)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toy (Target exclusive)
    • Human Alliance toy
  • Autobot Ratchet (Hummer H2)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Voyager Class toy (Target exclusive)
  • Roadbuster (Chevrolet Impala Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR race car)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toy
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Human Alliance toy
  • Sideswipe (Chevrolet Stingray concept)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Human Alliance toy (Kmart exclusive)
    • Robo Power Go-Bots toy
  • Autobot Skids (Chevrolet Spark concept)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toy
    • Deluxe Class toy
  • Skywarp (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Japan-only)
    • Deluxe Class toy
  • Starscream (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toys
    • Deluxe Class toy
    • Voyager Class toy (Target exclusive)
    • Robo Power Activators toy
    • Robo Power Bash Bots toy
  • Autobot Topspin (Chevrolet Impala Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR race car)
    • Cyberverse Legion Class toy
    • Deluxe Class toys
    • Robo Power Activators toy

Age of Extinction

(thumbnail)
Age of Extinction Deluxe Class Drift as a Bugatti Veyron.
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2014 concept)
    • One-Step Changer toys
    • Power Battlers toys
    • Flip and Change toys
    • Mega 1-Step Bumblebee (aka "Mega Flip Bumblebee") toys
    • Deluxe Class toys
  • Hot Shot (2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray)
    • Deluxe Class toy
Presumably, it's not Junkheap's actual truck mode that's licensed, but rather the use of the Waste Management color scheme and logo, which was part of a cooperation with Hasbro that saw the toy officially announced on Earth Day.
Oddly, even though the Power Battlers Vehicon figure (whose alternate mode is a Local Motors Rally Fighter) even has a Local Motors logo tampographed on the vehicle mode's rear, the packaging does not feature any call-outs for the company at all.

The Last Knight

  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2011 model)
    • Legion Class toys
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet Camaro 2014/2017 concept)
    • 1-Step Turbo Changer toys
    • Knight Armor Turbo Changer toy
    • Premier Edition Deluxe Class toys
    • Titan Changer toy
  • Crosshairs (2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray)
    • Premier Edition Deluxe Class toy
  • Optimus Prime (Western Star 5700 OP truck cab)
    • 1-Step Turbo Changer toys
    • Knight Armor Turbo Changer toy
    • Premier Edition Voyager Class toys
    • Premier Edition Leader Class toy
    • Titan Changer toy

Studio Series

(thumbnail)
An accurate Stinger toy, only four years late.

Bumblebee

(thumbnail)
Power Charge Bumblebee
  • Bumblebee (Volkswagen 1967 Beetle)
    • Energon Igniters Speed Series toy
    • Energon Igniters Nitro Series toy
    • Energon Igniters Power Plus Series toy
    • Power Charge toy
  • Bumblebee (Chevrolet 1976 Camaro)
    • Energon Igniters Speed Series toy
    • Energon Igniters Power Series toy
    • Energon Igniters Power Plus Series toy
    • Mission Vision toy
  • Cliffjumper (Volkswagen 1967 Beetle)
    • Energon Igniters Speed Series toy

Masterpiece

  • Artfire (Mitsubishi Fuso T951)
    • MP-37 Artfire (TakaraTomy)
  • Bluestreak/Streak/Silverstreak (Nissan Fairlady 280Z-T)
    • MP-18 Streak (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-18S Silverstreak (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-18B Bluestreak (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-06 Bluestreak (Hasbro)
  • Bumblebee/Bumble (Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle)
    • MP-21 Bumble (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-21G Bumble G-2 Ver. (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-21R Bumble Red Body (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-08 Bumblebee & Exosuit Spike Witwicky (Hasbro)
    • MP-45 Bumble (TakaraTomy; deformed Volkswagen Beetle)
  • Clampdown (Lamborghini Countach LP500S)
    • MP-14C Clampdown (TakaraTomy)
  • Exhaust (Lancia Stratos Turbo)
    • MP-23 Exhaust (TakaraTomy)
  • Grapple (Mitsubishi Fuso T951)
    • MP-35 Grapple (TakaraTomy)
  • Inferno (Mitsubishi Fuso T951)
    • MP-33 Inferno (TakaraTomy)
  • Ironhide (Nissan Cherry Vanette)
    • MP-27 Ironhide (TakaraTomy)
  • Loudpedal (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3)
    • MP-25L Loudpedal (TakaraTomy)
  • Prowl (Nissan Fairlady 280Z-T)
    • MP-17 Prowl (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-17+ Prowl (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-04 Prowl (Hasbro)
  • Ratchet (Nissan Cherry Vanette)
    • MP-30 Ratchet (TakaraTomy)
  • Red Alert/Alert (Lamborghini Countach LP500S)
    • MP-14 Alert (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-14+ Alert Anime Color Edition (TakaraTomy)
  • Road Rage (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3)
    • MP-26 Road Rage (TakaraTomy)
  • Lambor/Sideswipe (Lamborghini Countach LP500S)
    • MP-12 Lambor (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-12G Lambor G-2 Ver. (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-12+ Lambor Lambor Anime Color Edition (TakaraTomy)
  • Smokescreen (Nissan Fairlady 280Z-T)
    • MP-19 Smokescreen (TakaraTomy)
  • Tigertrack (Lamborghini Countach LP500S)
    • MP-12T Tigertrack (TakaraTomy)
  • Tracks (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3)
    • MP-25 Tracks (TakaraTomy)
  • Wheeljack (Lancia Stratos Turbo)
    • MP-20 Wheeljack (TakaraTomy)
    • MP-20+ Wheeljack (TakaraTomy)
  • Cordon (Lamborghini Countach LP500S)
    • MP-45 Cordon (TakaraTomy)
  • Starscream (McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle)
    • MP-52 Starscream (TakaraTomy)

MPG

  • Kaen (JR Central DE10-1573 Diesel Locomotive)
    • MPG-06 Trainbot Kaen (TakaraTomy)
    • MPG-06S Trainbot Raiden (TakaraTomy)

Collaborative

Vintage G1

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

War for Cybertron Trilogy

Legacy

Generations


See also

References

  1. ↑ Former Porsche employee Addl recounting an informal inquiry with Porsche's licensing department at TF Archive
  2. ↑ Hirofumi Ichikawa clearing up some details behind Binaltech Overdrive, relayed by Doug Dlin at alt.toys.transformers.
  3. ↑ Edmunds.com article on the vehicles featured in the movie.
  4. ↑ TakaraTomy product page for Leader Class Optimus Prime.
  5. ↑ "Did Transformers 4 Rip Off This Guy's Design For The New Bumblebee?" at Jalopnik.com.
  6. ↑ Sabrblade posts on The Allspark forums
  7. ↑ mode Mirrored photos of early R.P.M. Sideswipetoy at Jalopnik.com
  8. ↑ Owing to the unusual and convoluted licensing history of the DeLorean, Collaborative Gigawatt is only licensed by Universal Studios, which holds the rights to the design and name of the car. Gigawatt does not feature the iconic "DMC" logo, as it is not licensed by the current DeLorean Motor Company – an unaffiliated organisation to the original DMC.
Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Licensed_vehicle_alternate_modes&oldid=1770770"
Advertisement
TFsource.com - Your Source for Everything Transformers!