Transformers are not real; they’re toys or computer-generated images. You can’t just go out and buy a full-size car that transforms into an Autobot.
Or can you?
A Turkish company called Letvision says it has created a 1:1-scale machine that transforms itself from a 3 Series BMW into, well, a transformer. Except Letvision calls its creation Letrons, probably because they don’t want a visit from Hasbro’s Transformers—or Hasbro’s lawyers.
We pretty much have to believe Letvision’s claim of building such a machine because they released video of a Letrons transforming from a car and back again. Here it is:
Yes, the transformation is really slow and yes, they haven’t quite figured out what to do with most of the back end of the BMW, and yes, the smoke release makes it look like the machine is breaking wind, but it is pretty cool just the same.
You can’t drive it from the inside, or even ride in it, but you can operate it by remote control and connect it to Wi-fi.
Letvision claims they will be making them for sale, so who wants to step up to own the first production transforming BMW?
Of course, we all know what will happen next. Assuming the transforming BMW is one of the good guys—like an Autobot, someone will have to build a Mercedes-Benz Decepticon.
And because we don’t want a visit from Hasbro’s lawyers either, we will note that Transformers, Autobots, and Decepticons are all trademarks of Hasbro.—Scott Blazey
[Photos and video courtesy of Letrons.]
From another angle:
