Downshift (Energon)

The name or term "Downshift" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Downshift (disambiguation).

Downshift is an Autobot from the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

No, I'm not Wheeljack. Or Wheeljack. Or Cliffjumper.

Downshift doesn't say much, but apparently he's really easy to confuse for other guys. He's all about action, learning what he can from Earth's kung-fu movies. Apparently this has done well for him, as he even has a femmebot "lifebond partner".

Japanese name: Wheeljack

Hungarian name: Lejtő ("Slope" (once)), Sziklamászó ("Cliff-climber")

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Energon cartoon

Voice actor: Ty Olsson (English), Makoto Yasumura (Japanese), Carl Utbult (Swedish)

Downshift was a rookie solder sent into the rift, along with his partner Cliffjumper, to locate Optimus Prime and his scattered crew. Protection They searched fruitlessly for some time over several planets and asteroids. Imprisoned Inferno Eventually, the duo found the Autobots' trail on Iron Planet. There they were joined by their assigned field commander, Bulkhead. The old coot's eccentric cackling really got on Downshift's nerves, but he respected the chain of command. The three Autobots tracked their comrades down to Jungle Planet, where the Decepticons were attacking. Downshift demonstrated that he possessed a Spark of Combination by Powerlinxing with Hot Shot and Inferno in turn. Jungle Planet

Downshift and a crew of Autobots made their way back towards Cybertron in order to get the Energon Towers necessary to defend the energon-rich planets beyond the rift. They were attacked en route by a squadron of Divebombs, but Downshift and Hot Shot broke off from the others and made their way through the rift. Thanks to the power of teamwork, they were able to destroy the Terrorcons who pursued them, and transformed to speed off to Cybertron as fast as their wheels could carry them while spinning in the void of space. Uh. On Cybertron, Downshift learned that crazy, cackling old men pop up in a variety of species. After securing an energon tower from Doctor Jones, they returned to Jungle Planet and activated the tower, driving off the Decepticon invaders. Bulkhead

Downshift and Hot Shot continued to oversee the arrival of more energon towers for Alpha Q's planets, including the replacement tower called in for Ocean Planet at the original was destroyed by Mirage. They powerlinked in order to hold off the Insecticons attacking the tower. Farewell Inferno

Cybertron comic

After the evacuation of Cybertron due to the threat of the Unicron Singularity, some soldiers chose to stay behind. Downshift was one of these brave souls, and he guarded the tunnels leading to the inner workings of Cybertron. While on duty, Downshift was attacked by the agent Nemesis Prime and impaled to a wall by one of his harpoon missiles. After these grave injuries, Downshift was repaired and reformatted by a worker drone into a new muscle car form.

During Downshift's maturation between the Powerlinx Battles and the arrival of the Unicron Singularity, Hot Shot has become his new mentor. Eventually, Downshift becomes a civilian on Earth, living with his unnamed female "lifebond partner" in Rhode Island.

Toys

Energon

• Downshift (Deluxe, 2004)
  • Japanese ID number: SC-19
  • Accessories: Spoiler, missile launcher, missile, rifle

"Hi, I'm Cliffjumper!"

Downshift transforms into white rally-deco sports car of undetermined (possibly fictional) model with red and green stripes as a homage to Wheeljack from generation one. He has a pair of clear-plastic guns, one a spring-loaded missile launcher, one non-firing. These can be hand-held or attached to Downshift in various ways in both modes. He can also form the top or bottom half of any silver or bronze "Powerlinx" combiner.

For his Takara releases, the pale-olive plastic of his robot parts was replaced with a medium silver.

Downshift's deco and sculpt are a clear homage to the Generation 1 Autobot Wheeljack. His robot mode has Wheeljack's head, a simulated car roof on his chest, and even the "Lancia" grill-feet.

Downshift was first released as part of the final wave of "normal" Energon black-backed cards, a shipment that appears to have been very brief, mostly showing up in Kohl's department stores and Canada. This naturally caused a panic. He was later released in much greater numbers in the "Powerlinx Battles" packaging.

• More information on Energon Downshift at TFU.info

Universe

• Downshift (Deluxe, 2005)
  • Accessories: Spoiler, missile launcher, missile, rifle

For Universe, the original Energon Downshift was redecoed, with blue stripes and a large Autobot sigil on his car mode, which, strangely enough,has the "eyes" filled in. However, his robot mode was almost totally unchanged, save yellow plastic replacing the pale-olive.

A KB Toys exclusive alongside Snow Cat, the pair were released during a time when Kay-Bee was having great financial difficulty, closing multiple stores nationwide. Few Kay-Bees appear to have actually received these. The bulk of these exclusives appear to have been sent instead to "Kay-Bee Toy Works" outlet stores.

• More information on Universe Downshift at TFU.info

Cybertron

• Downshift (Deluxe-Class, 2006)
  • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles, Earth-type Cyber Key

"Am I Wheeljack now?"

Cybertron Downshift is a green sports car that uses elements from various 1970s era pony cars. According to Hasbro's designers, the main inspirations were a 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the front section and a 1970 Dodge Challenger for the rear end. The car features a black hood and a texturing like vinyl roof applications from the 1960s and 70s.

Inserting a Cyber Planet Key into a flip-up slot in his rear window activates a claw from the car's grill. This feature is also available in robot mode. He comes with two large spring-loaded missile launchers, which can be mounted on his side-panels in car mode, or be used in robot mode as hand-held blasters or mounted on his shoulders.

While Downshift's Wheeljack-modeled head in this form is not surprising, he still retains his Lancia-grill feet. Funky.

This mold was also used to make the live-action movie continuity Big Daddy.

• More information on Cybertron Downshift at TFU.info

• Search for the Pirate Moon (Multi-pack, 2007)

During Christmastime in 2007, Wal-Mart got several Universe-branded multi-packs of Cybertron toys. The Cybertron version of Downshift was packaged with Cannonball, with a cardback story about Downshift hunting Cannonball's gang of pirates... in a setting that had nothing to do with a moon. Oh well. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

Notes

• As referenced above, the Energon cartoon switched Cliffjumper and Downshift's names around for the majority of the series. More often than not, the white robot would end up being called Cliffjumper, in defiance of the toy names. It also seemed as if the two characters randomly switched voice actors from episode to episode.