They are impressive enough when operating in their on- and off-highway roles in South Africa but when a Western Star and Freightliner from the Daimler Trucks stable make their presence felt in a Hollywood blockbuster movie, they set the screen alight.
Anticipation has been running high for the release of the Paramount Pictures “Transformers: Age of Extinction” movie, which is recognised for high-paced action sequences that put a spectacular array of trucks and cars in the limelight. The fourth movie in the Transformers series is given an extra boost when the role of the vehicular lead character, Optimus Prime, morphs into a blinged-out Western Star.
The Western Star shares the screen with a Freightliner truck – but movie fans will need to watch the film to learn more about its character.
Developed specifically for the new Michael Bay film by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), many styling cues for the Optimus Prime character were leveraged from a new Western Star on-highway vehicle that will be unveiled in the USA later this year.
“When the producers of the film approached us to create the new Optimus Prime, we knew we already had the perfect truck in the works and that it would be an ideal partnership to showcase our dedication to engineering, design and building the most rugged and reliable trucks in the industry,” says Andy Johnson, brand manager for Western Star at Daimler Trucks North America.
“Being a part of the Michael Bay Transformers film franchise is a unique opportunity where vehicles are stars and we’re thrilled that Western Star is a major part of this iconic franchise.”
Similarly, the Freightliner truck that debuts in the movie has been a stalwart of the Daimler Trucks commercial vehicle stable globally. In South Africa, these vehicles attract fanatical freight business owners due to the product’s flexibility to serve a wide range of industries and commercial applications. It is widely touted as the vehicle of choice for long-haul trucking.
‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. The film begins after an epic battle that leaves a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history, while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.
With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
And I just love the link marketing and sales divisional manager at Daimler Trucks South Africa, Godfrey Hani, makes: “Just as Optimus Prime takes on epic battles in the name of justice across the universe, so too does the Western Star takes on the most demanding applications. Rugged and tough, commercial vehicle customers in South Africa choose purpose-built Western Star trucks when they need a highly specialised solution for heavy-duty applications both on and off-highway. Merging the two heroes in this movie thus makes perfect sense,” he says.
Moving off the road and into the movie theatre, FleetWatch has sorced a trailer of the movie. Check it out below:
