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TopKick

industry news

GM Considering Sale Of Medium-Duty Truck Division To Isuzu

According to Automotive News, GM is planning to sell its medium-duty commercial truck division to Isuzu (Ed. Note to Automotive News: "Medium-Duty" is not the same thing as "Mid-Size." Please make a note of this. Thanks!). According to Isuzu representatives, they have not been contacted by General Motors regarding the possible deal, but said they would respond positively to the prospect. The news comes after Navistar backed out of a deal on GM medium-duty trucks which would mirror the sale of the Ford commercial truck division to Sterling in 1997, though GM is in a considerably different financial situation now than the big blue oval was back in the 90's. GM has of course had a long term relationship with Isuzu in the heavy truck business, even sharing ownership with Isuzu on the DMAX diesel plant in Ohio. More »

transformers 2

Ironhide Spotted With Can-Am Spyder, Motorcycle

More details regarding everyone's favorite movie sequel trickle in by the day. We know that filming is set to begin next week in the Philadelphia area and Ironhide, better known as the GMC Topkick, was spotted en route to the location for filming. The interesting item to note is what was being hauled along with Ironhide. A motorcycle was spotted in the bed of the truck as well as a Can-Am Spyder being hauled alongside. We could get all excited speculating about whether the motorcycle and Can-Am Spyder are miniature Transformers, but they're probably just props or stunt vehicles for the less robotic stars of Transformers 2. Click through for more details about the first shoot next week.

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transformers

Ratchet, Ironhide Spotted; Transformers 2 Filming In Arizona?

Today's daily Transformers 2 update comes with more spotted Autobots and rumors of a filming location. Photographed in the Culver City, Calif. is this truck loaded up with Ironhide and Ratchet. This is the third Transformer spotting we've seen over the past week. Last Friday we saw twin Barricades, yesterday we caught glimpse of Optimus Prime and now we have Ratchet and Ironhide. My keen eye also noticed that all of the spotted Transformers are being hauled around from seemingly the same truck and trailer. That's one hell of a lucky truck driver.
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industry news

Goodbye, Ironhide: GM Reaches Agreement, Sells Medium-Duty Trucks to Navistar

The General's finally come to an agreement on selling their not-so-profitable medium duty truck business to Navistar, the owners of International Truck and Engine. That means the Navistar folks will now be responsible for making the GMC TopKick and the Chevrolet Kodiak, moving production from GM's plant in Flint, Mich., to a Navistar facility to be named at a later date. Well, as long as they're still going to be making replacement parts for Ironhide, what do we care? Because let's be clear here, you wouldn't like this professional grade Autobot when he's angry. Full press release after the jump.

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woodward dream cruise

When Transformers Attack!

Everyone's got to have something different for the Woodward Dream Cruise. Whether it's customizing your classic car or having something entirely unique you've really got to bring your "A" game to really roll in the largest classic car event nobody's ever heard of in the world. Like the guy above who's brought out a GMC TopKick modded out to look like everyone's favorite Autobot weapons specialist, Ironhide. Or at least I thought it was just a modified GMC TopKick — until I happened to catch Mr. Transformer here as he tried to sneak up on me from behind, and snagged some shots of him in my side mirror just as I was trying to get into the left lane. All I've got to say is never cut in front of Ironhide when he's really in a hurry. Just sayin'...those laser burns are really difficult to buff out. Needless to say, I let him by. OK, now back to today's Woodward Dream Cruise coverage.

robots in disguise

Transformers Movie Update: We Have An Exclusive Robogasm With Ironhide, Bumblebee, Jazz And Ratchet

The General took four robots in disguise to the GM Riverwalk this afternoon to show them off in all their vehicular glory and gave us the exclusive look at all of them — before they're sent out west to californicate with the stars at the premiere. Although we weren't allowed to drive or even touch the GMC TopKick (Ironhide), Camaro concept car (Bumblebee), Solstice (Jazz) and Hummer (Ratchet) making up the four Autobot alt-vehicle modes owned by GM, we did find a way to make sure Jalopnik got a chance to sorta touch at least one of them. Check out our galleries of the hot car-robot action in our four galleries below. More »

robot-car porn

Transformers Movie Update: Fifty Hot Screen Shots Of Movie Action!

Despite the whole "Optimus Prime with lips" thing, we've got to say we're still pretty excited about the upcoming live-action movie. Of course, maybe that's only because we were able to snag these fifty some-odd PR shots from Paramount Pictures. Enjoy the ensuing robogasm. [Please note, we cannot be in any way held liable for those of you having a robogasm and any other -gasm simultaneously due to the hot robot action spliced in with the hot Megan Fox action. Just sayin'...] More »

news

GM An Official Transformers Movie Partner, Rick Wagoner To Play Megatron?

Yes, it's officially the end of the world. The Decepticons are in the gate, and evil now goes by another name — General Motors. The General's officially added their name to a "power partnership" with Paramount Pictures today at the General's pre-Oscar fashion event in Hollywood for joint promotion of the new upcoming live-action Transformers movie. As part of the gala, they helped introduce "four...movie stars." Namely they're who we already know about, the disguise-side alt-modes of everyone's fan fave Bumblebee (Camaro Concept), Jazz (Pontiac Solstice), Ratchet (Hummer H2), Ironhide (GMC TopKick). The press release, which we've got below the jump, treated us to at least one hackneyed and overused phrase: "GM will roll out a fully integrated marketing and promotional effort..." But, the killer for us is the blatant attempt at pandering to those readers of Jalopnik who may love the 'Formers, claiming we were one of those "quick enough to have freeze-framed [images of the Camaro, Solstice, H2 and TopKick]." I mean, seriously, you don't need a freeze-frame to catch the huge-ass Chevy logo, do you? Anyway, the press shots are in the gallery below for you to check out (as well as you can also check out our full Transformers gallery, or check out the trailer here) — we're going to go fervently pray Bob Lutz doesn't get a cameo as a jet pilot or something. More »

movies

Transformers Update! So That's What A GMC TopKick Looks Like When You Hit The Red Button On The Dash

Our fave fan site of all things 'formers dropped a pic today of everyone's favorite Autobot, Ironhide. The boys at TFW2005 found some concept art for the people working at ILM make its way into their hands. I'm not so sure I'm liking this here 'bot if he's going to look like this. I mean don't get me wrong, it's kind of cool, but I think I'd prefer to see something that looks more like a minivan transformed. But, that's probably just the part of me which remembers what it was like to be a kid, watching Ironhide killed by a Megatron-armed Starscream. This one looks like he'd take Starscream, turn him into a crumpled ball of metal, and then kick him out the air lock. So maybe this one could be better. Ah well, check out the full picture at the top of our full Transformers gallery below. More »

news

Exclusive Transformers Update: Close-Ups Of A Hummer Named Ratchet, Ironhide's Still A TopKick


Yes, that's Ratchet. He's now yellow and he's a transmogrified Hummer. Will the horrors never end? Maybe — because although we brought you the news first Autobot Ironhide's alt-form would be a GMC TopKick, we've now got a non-camera phone pic to prove it — and he looks pretty damn good with those tall pipes and the big ol' Autobot emblem across the tailgate. Oh, and is that Jazz under the tarp over there behind Ratchet? We think maybe so. Check out a second Ratchet pic and Ironhide's iron back-side after the jump. More »