TRANSFORMERS' OPTIMUS PRIME BECOMES REAL-LIFE & COLLECTIBLE RACING CAR

The latest Transformers collaboration crosses the robots in disguise with an iconic Japanese car company. The new Transformers x Bingo Sports figure lets fans collect an Optimus Prime who transforms and rolls out like never before.

Based on a design by the company Bingo Sports, this new Transformer is one of the many new releases for the franchise's 40th anniversary. Giving Autobot leader Optimus Prime a speedy makeover, the toy and the car it's based on showcase the influence of the Transformers property. This includes participation in the Super GT Japan Cup, potentially making Transformers into a winning brand like never before.

The Original Generation 1 Transformers Is Coming to U.S. Theaters

The first several episodes of the original '80s Generation 1 Transformers cartoon are heading to theaters as part of a 40th-anniversary celebration.

Bingo Sports Presents a New Version of Transformers' Optimus Prime

The Bingo Sports collaboration includes a real-life sports car -- the Chevy Corvette C7 GT3-R -- based on Optimus Prime himself. This car will participate in the Super GT Japan Cup racing event in June and August 2024, with even the racing team representing the Autobot leader. The driver suits will be decked out with Transformers-themed imagery, featuring pictures of Optimus Prime and his Decepticon rival Galvatron (the upgraded form of Megatron).

Along with the actual car, Takara Tomy -- the Japanese equivalent to Hasbro that handles Transformers in Japan -- is producing a corresponding figure. Transforming into a Corvette C7, this Optimus Prime toy is seemingly a heavy retool of the Transformers Studio Series figure for Age of Extinction Crosshairs (who turned into the same car). It's unknown how much the figure will retail for or where it will be available, but it's set to be released by the year's end.

Transformers: Legacy Autobots Stand United

The latest Transformers Generations Selects release includes 5 Autobot figures -- including a version of the Autobot Hound.

Transformers Is Pulling Out All the Stops for the Franchise's 40th Anniversary

Along with the race car and its action figure, there's a lot going on with the Transformers franchise for its 40th anniversary. These festivities include a special screening of the first few episodes of The Transformers on the big screen, plus several new action figure and toy releases. Examples of the latter include comic book-based variants of Shockwave and Grimlock toys, along with a crossover toy with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Skybound, which publishes the current "Energon Universe" Transformers comic books, will be releasing a new compendium of the original Marvel Comics Transformers series in Q4 2024.

On the anime merchandise front, Takara Tomy has just revealed the upcoming Transformers: Masterpiece God Ginrai figure from the series Transformers: Super-God Masterforce. Movie fans can also look forward to the release of the animated movie Transformers One. A prequel set on Cybertron, the movie will detail the early days of Optimus Prime and Megatron's rivalry.