Go-Bot (G2)
| The name or term "GoBots" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see GoBots (disambiguation). |
The Go-Bots are a cross-factional subgroup of land-based Transformers whose alternate modes are finely tuned for maximum speed. Several Transformers have had their forms altered to gain these benefits even at the cost of reducing their advantages in other areas. Ironhide traded in his famed armor plating and Bumblebee has become easier to track by the Decepticons.
The Go-Bots include:
- Autobots:
- Decepticons:
- Jhiaxus's clones:
Toys
Generation 2
- Go-Bots (1995) - Wave 1
- Blowout - Porsche 959
- Double Clutch - Lola T94 Indy car
- Firecracker - Lamborghini Diablo
- clear Gearhead - Ford Thunderbird
- High Beam - concept car
- clear Motormouth - Ford F150
- Go-Bots (1995) - Wave 2
- Megatron - redecoed Blowout
- Double Clutch
- Optimus Prime - redecoed Firecracker
- Gearhead
- High Beam
- Motormouth
- Go-Bots (1995) - Wave 3
- Released in 1995, the Generation 2 Go-Bots are small 1:64-scale Transformers cars, the same size as "Matchbox" and "Hot Wheels" brand cars. In fact, Go-Bots were developed to be used with tracks and playsets from those brands, sharing the same smooth-rolling axle/wheel construction that lets the toys be quickly zipped along smooth surfaces.
- During Generation 2, three different sets of Go-Bots were released. The initial set consisted of 6 original molds, each representing a new character. The second set was largely the same, replacing all of the transparent plastics with opaques of the same colors. Firecracker and Blowout were replaced by Optimus Prime and Megatron in this set.
- As was the case for most of late Generation 2, the complete set of six were completely redecoed and made into new versions of returning Generation 1 characters.
- For BotCon 1995, an exclusive redeco of High Beam was released as Nightracer. All six molds were later re-used as the Spy Changers for Robots in Disguise (2001); they were redecorated several times and re-released even more times for that toyline and for Universe (2003).
Unreleased
A second set of six new molds were developed for late Generation 2. Though four of these toys had been given complete paint jobs and were apparently ready to be released, the Generation 2 line was ended before they could be released. One of them appears to be a new form for the Generation 1 Decepticon Rumble, as the toy had a tampograph with "Rumble" on its side. The other three were given the designations "GTP Racer", "911 Police Car", and "Black Viper" in the BotCon 1996 "Toys For Tots" charity auction listings, but otherwise have no known characters associated with them.
These same four molds would later finally see retail release in the Robots in Disguise line, as the Spy Changers Daytonus, Prowl (2), Side Burn, and Side Swipe, then later as Generation 1 characters for the 2003 Universe line.
The other two molds appear to have been separated from the sprues during the original development cycle, and their future release remains unlikely; as of BotCon 2002, Hasbro employee Andrew Frankel said that even with the then-recent release of the other four "lost" molds, there had never at that point in time been searches for the molds for the final two. One transformed into a magenta Mercedes-Benz SL500 sport coupé, and the other, a green off-road 4WD vehicle, would have been Hound.
An early prototype of a Go-Bot "Road Rig" has surfaced, with a proposed redeco of Gearhead as Greasepit. All information suggests this toy never made it past the hand-made, hand-painted state.
Notes
- Even more than the Cyberjets, it's not clear what truly distinguishes a Go-Bot from a more ordinary automotive Transformer, and even their appearance in fiction didn't really clear it up.
- The Go-Bots had the preliminary name of Superfast Wheels.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Go-Bot (ゴーボット Gō-Botto)
- French: Turbo-Transfo
- Italian: Tecnobot
