The lead “actor” in the new movie Transformers: Age of Extinction is a rip-snortin’ big tractor-truck that points to the future of highway freight hauling.
That’s because this big Western Star truck is more aerodynamic than the big haulers of the past in order to save more fuel.
The truck plays Optimus Prime in the new Michael Bay movie, which opened this weekend, leader of the group of hot vehicles that transform themselves into oversize robots, called “autobots.” The truck, badged as a 5700 model, looks a lot like the new aerodynamic model that will be sold to truckers around the country, according to Andy Johnson, brand manager for Western Star, a unit of Daimler Trucks North America.
He says it will be Western Star’s first true aerodynamic truck.
In slimming down the truck, Optimus Prime is “keeping up with the times,” Johnson says. The big machine is an example of the “the future of trucking,” where gas savings and emissions reductions play a big role.
Johnson won’t say how fuel efficient — that information will be available this fall when the new trucks, well, roll out.
But the bigger question might also be, how did Western Star get to play Optimus Prime in a mega-franchise when the star has usually been played by Peterbilt Trucks?
On that question, Johnson is not commenting.
Big, mean 'Transformers' truck goes green, lean
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