GM Unveils a Transformers Line Of Cars?
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, RumorMonger, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
The already-hyped Transformers flick received another shot of free press this week when the cars that GM licensed for the film showcased at the GM "ten" pre-Oscar fashion event at Paramount Pictures. IESB.net has exclusive video of the cars on the "red carpet" and already speculation has begun that GM could bring a "Transformers Edition" of cars into production. Mike Jackson, GM North America Vice President, marketing and advertising, notes, "Transformers is a compelling project and offers us a global platform for marketing GM products and building our brands, it represents the perfect intersection of entertainment, marketing and design." Most of the attention directed at the cars in the film has been the switch for Bumblebee from a VW Bug into a brand new classic Camaro. Fans are already a little miffed at the change; I'm not exactly the biggest Transformers aficionado, but even I thought it should have been a Volkswagen, regardless of what high-profile marketing agreements were in place. Other GM products in the film include a Pontiac Solstice (Jazz), Hummer H2 (Ratchet and a GMC TopKick (Ironhide). Since these cars are already on their way to the marketplace, I would assume any Transformer edition would pretty much be the same car but with an Autobot or Decepticon logo on the back. So it's not exactly groundbreaking design, but could fans resist the lure of driving around in their very own Transformer?
Harrison Ford Returning for 'Indiana Jones 5'?
A Trailer for Gyllenhaal and Maguire's 'Brothers'
Ron Weaseley Has Swine Flu
Quick List: Romance for Boys
Christian Bale's Rollercoaster Career
_thumbnail.jpg){kind=spacer}
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg){kind=spacer}
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-22-2007 @ 6:38AM
doctiloquus said...
Let's see... Here's the equation for me, I think: Michael Bay + utter disregard for pre-existing character design + rampant, blatant product placement = zero interest in Transformers.
Reply
2-22-2007 @ 7:52AM
John said...
Lets see Mike Bay + Utter disregard for original characters + product placement = I will watch Transformers anyway because to a 80's kid like myself, theres nothing sweeter.
Reply
2-22-2007 @ 9:21AM
Brant said...
A friend told me that the reason for Bumblebee's change was that Volkswagen was opposed to having one of their products portrayed in a manner that glorifies violence. Sounds reasonable enough to me.
Reply
2-23-2007 @ 7:19AM
Michael said...
Brant - I heard the same thing however with all the rest of the premier vehicles being GM products it seems more clear that the real reason for Bumblebee's change was because GM paid them more money than VW did. In this "new" era of visible product placement in both film and television, big dollars speak a language that far out trumps any other reason to revise scripts or dialogue.
As disappointed as I was to find that Bumblebee would not be a VW as before, once I put 2+2 together the real reason for the change became crystal clear. I'll still watch and enjoy this film simply because it exists. I just don't know how much more I can stand when film makers continue to kill a little more of me off inside every time changes come from monetary (read: GREEDY) reasons.
http://www.myspace.com/scoobarama
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 10:58PM
lisa said...
The movie Transformer, is the newest way of GM to showcase their product line of cars as well as its accessories like that of GM bumper brackets - http://www.replacementgeneralparts.com/gm-bumper-bracket -. This also help GM to market their car designs and hoping to attract more buyers.
Reply