Mazda Autobot

[RONIN]

Mazda creates a Transformer! Probably just a concept car, can't wait for the real thing!

Mazda Autobot (http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/NA_Autoshow/main.html)

[Blackhawk]

I think it's more of a character for their website than anything. I don't think they developed a transformer car, just a theme for the site.

[dfacto]

Proving that the Mazda advertising execs are huffing glue.

You'd think that they would do something normal after that "Zoom Zoom", crap...

Its cool, but rather fanime wannabe-ish for a major corporation.

[bRyaN]

Awesome...

Now if the car actually did that.... would be hot...

[Rockhead]

I think this is a pretty cool idea for Mazda to link themselves up to transformers. I think its a great marketing strategy, specially since the audience that these sporty cars are aimed at grew up watching Transformers. There is also the upcoming live-action and CGI Transformers movie that will be coming out in about two years or so. Mazda just better hope the movie is good so it shows whatever cars they have represented in it, in a good light. More on the movie at http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808512169&intl=us

[davi]

when it transforms in the animation you can see when the doors open that there is not a single car component in it, if it does move in car form it's done by remote control

still a cool idea though

[AnarchyAo2]

I think it would be kinda risky to drive around in that thing. What hit the button to transform while you were driving? You'd probably be a mangled corpse.

[DanSTC]

Originally posted by dfacto
Proving that the Mazda advertising execs are huffing glue.

You'd think that they would do something normal after that "Zoom Zoom", crap...

Its cool, but rather fanime wannabe-ish for a major corporation.

I agree, although the very idea of a major car company essentially making an autobot overshadows any other rational though I would otherwise have in my brain right now.

Edit: "zoom zoom" still makes me shudder. :(

[DanSTC]

Hahahaha...they even have one of those stupid "make your own flash movie and send to friends" things for this.

Here's one I did made: http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/mas_videocardPlayBackFrameset.action?your_name=Dan&friends_name=what&timeline=10,11,10,11,10,11,10,11,10,11&sound_track=0

I call it "waste of gasoline."

[lavhoes]

Oh man that was awesome.

[davi]

DanSTC that was a waste of a loading screen

[Matt Elder]

At first glance it is a cool idea, but I'm kinda lost on the point. What does a car company have to gain by having its theme character tied to another franchise interest? I'm a huge TF fan but how about a new transformation mode? How many times are they going to mine the Prowl/Jazz/Smokescreen/Silverstreak/BlueStreak mode again and again?

[newman]

http://www.epicheroes.com/acatalog/Home_Page_Japanese_Transformers_20th_Anniversary_F igures_565.html

[newman]

whoops! didn't work... see the first green line of text on the epichereos page...

[DavidCousens]

Originally posted by Blackhawk
I think it's more of a character for their website than anything. I don't think they developed a transformer car, just a theme for the site.

It's for the latest TF toy line, called 'Alternators'. They're remaking a load of the old classic Transformers with the co-operation of actual firms. I've got the first one of Smokescreen which was licensed by Subaru and it's a really nice toy.

I agree with Matt Elder though. It'd be nice to see a bit more variation with them. I was disappointed to see the Mazda one was the exact same model again.