Autoblog

Click above for more shots of the mystery Transformers Corvette

The upcoming Transformers sequel, which is known as Revenge of the Fallen, is shaping up to be chock-full of new characters and, therefore, vehicles. The GM love fest continues with new cast members like the Chevy Beat and Trax siblings, a mystery Corvette and even the Chevy Volt. With all of these new additions, along with what appears to be the entire cast from the first edition, keeping up is proving a bit difficult. With that in mind, those of you who don't mind viewing a few spoilers before actually seeing the flick, check out the ongoing and recently updated character guide over at FiLM Grenade.

Still can't get enough Transformers action? Check out some conceptual art done by Tim Flattery. Though these particular drawings were made for the first film, the characters didn't make it into the movie. Some sources are claiming that we could see them appear in the upcoming sequel. Thanks for the tips, 04volk and 94 Taurus Owner!

[Source: FiLM Grenade]

Just how important is the Chevy Volt for ailing General Motors? Obviously, that's a rhetorical as GM is making it out to be the second coming of the horseless carriage. The money being invested into the latest battery technology and the sophisticated platform which carries it proves that the General is placing massive wager on plug-in electric cars. And you can bet that it will be hyping the Hell out of them too. We already reported on the fact that the Volt will be a centerpiece of General Motor's upcoming Centennial celebration, and now we hear that the production Volt could join GM's other upcoming gas-saver, the Chevy Beat, by making an appearance in the highly anticipated Transformers sequel.

Die-hard Camaro fans have been anxiously awaiting its formal introduction since it strutted its stuff in concept form in the first installment of Transformers. Thankfully for Volt aficionados, along with just about anyone else looking to save a few bucks on their fuel bills, we shouldn't need to wait nearly as long after its big-screen debut for a shot at driving off the showroom floor in a shiny new electric car, assuming the Volt actually arrives on schedule for its 2010 launch.

[Source: Reuters]

If leaked documentation, which you should avoid if you don't want to read any plot spoilers, regarding the upcoming Transformers sequel is accurate, it appears that Mr. Bay may be bringing a motorcycle-based female robot to the big screen. We've heard that the character known as Arcee was considered for the initial film but was discarded so as not to confuse the audience with multiple gendered robots. If the rendering seen above is any indication, though, we'd imagine that Arcee's pinky-purple coloring would get that point across right away. There are two female riders listed on a leaked Call Sheet for the upcoming movie, and it appears that they are to be riding the oddly-colored Buell in the film.

Also revealed in the leak is information that leads us to believe that a certain Decepticon may make an appearance as an SR-71, along with what could either be the shapely Audi R8 or the mystery car we showed you yesterday. If the German supercar did show up, it would end the all-GM lovefest and be rather interesting to see morph on-screen, as well. Consider our interest piqued, as if we already weren't.

[Source: Comic Book Movie]

In what amounts to little more than a throwaway line in an interesting article detailing the between between the principals of DreamWorks and its current parent company, Paramount, we're given confirmation on when we should expect to see the sequel to this summer's Transformers. With the film grossing over $700 million worldwide (and a big DVD release on the way that will shovel more money into the coffers), a Transformers 2 was a foregone conclusion. And now, thanks to LA Times scribe Claudia Eller, we know that Summer 2009 is when it's set to hit screens. Both Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay are signed on, according to the article.

Those of you who loved/hated the wall-to-wall making-of coverage while the first film was in production should prepare for more of the same in 2008. After all, the TF sequel should include new robots and new cars for us to gab about. Maybe the second time around, GM will even have some on-screen company from other carmakers, too.

[Source: LA Times via MichaelBay.com]