Post by grahamthomson on Apr 29, 2009 20:12:13 GMT
Universe
Swerve (2008)
Swerve is something of a rarity. Not so much the fact that it's nigh-impossible to track down, but the fact that it has such an everyday alternate mode. Most Autobots (those that have car modes) seem to go for sleek, expensive sporty numbers that are well out of an average car enthusiast's price range. Swerve's vehicle mode is that of an altogether ordinary six-grand on-the-road four-door saloon Chevrolet Aveo. In actual fact, it's quite a common car in the UK. The next time you see a red one, it could be Swerve! It's not really that often you see what might be an Autobot driving along our continuously worked on roads.
But, yes, Swerve is a tough Transformer to find. Chevrolet, it seems, commissioned Hasbro/TomyTakara to make a Transformers toy based on its Aveo car for its own marketing purposes. In certain European markets, anyone taking a real Aveo for a test-drive received a free Swerve. And, apparently, Chevrolet own exclusive rights to the design/mould and so it's not likely either Hasbro or TomyTakara will be allowed to release it as a mainstream toy without paying exorbitant licensing fees back to Chevrolet. The corporate world is a funny place when you think about it.
Like all recent licensed vehicle mode Transformers, Swerve's car mode authentically replicates most of the details of the real thing. The primary colour scheme in this mode is red with slightly turquoise tinted windows. The Chevrolet badge is faithfully reproduced in gold on the front grating. There's also a large Autobot logo screen printed in a slightly darker red on the bonnet. All in all, a vehicle mode much like its real-life counterpart; functional, conventional, uneventful.
The way Swerve transforms is much like a lot of car/robot Autobots: the bonnet becomes the chest, the rear half becomes the legs, and the front doors go on the shoulders. But saying that, there is at least some extra thought gone into making the legs look like legs rather than the back end of a car split in two. It's quite clever, really.
In robot mode, Swerve boasts much articulation and character. The primary red colour is joined by black and grey and there is a fair amount of moulded detail. The robot is very nicely proportioned with right-size arms that haven't been artificially shrunk to fit under the bonnet when transforming.
The sculpting on the head, too, has a lot of detail and includes a translucent light-piping visor. There's something about the look of the face that lacks the usual characteristics associated with a Transformers character. It's almost like a generic design you might find in one of those How To Draw Manga Robots books. Well, I think so, anyway.
Swerve does not come with any accessories, nor does it include any added action features. In fact, all that comes with the printed polythene bag/moulded plastic tray packaging is a page of "Transformers Universe" branded instructions.
While it is refreshing to see an Autobot with such an ordinary and contemporary vehicle mode, it lacks any real imagination. If released through regular channels and available in normal circumstances, I would recommend Swerve in a beat. But, really, think twice before going to any unwarranted expense in tracking one down.
All told, Swerve is merely the result of a business transaction; functional, conventional, uneventful.
Verdict: three stars out of five.
Flickr Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/the-hub/sets/72157617485056392/
Hublog: www.hubrisonline.co.uk/hublog/files/swerve2008.html
Swerve (2008)
Swerve is something of a rarity. Not so much the fact that it's nigh-impossible to track down, but the fact that it has such an everyday alternate mode. Most Autobots (those that have car modes) seem to go for sleek, expensive sporty numbers that are well out of an average car enthusiast's price range. Swerve's vehicle mode is that of an altogether ordinary six-grand on-the-road four-door saloon Chevrolet Aveo. In actual fact, it's quite a common car in the UK. The next time you see a red one, it could be Swerve! It's not really that often you see what might be an Autobot driving along our continuously worked on roads.
But, yes, Swerve is a tough Transformer to find. Chevrolet, it seems, commissioned Hasbro/TomyTakara to make a Transformers toy based on its Aveo car for its own marketing purposes. In certain European markets, anyone taking a real Aveo for a test-drive received a free Swerve. And, apparently, Chevrolet own exclusive rights to the design/mould and so it's not likely either Hasbro or TomyTakara will be allowed to release it as a mainstream toy without paying exorbitant licensing fees back to Chevrolet. The corporate world is a funny place when you think about it.
Like all recent licensed vehicle mode Transformers, Swerve's car mode authentically replicates most of the details of the real thing. The primary colour scheme in this mode is red with slightly turquoise tinted windows. The Chevrolet badge is faithfully reproduced in gold on the front grating. There's also a large Autobot logo screen printed in a slightly darker red on the bonnet. All in all, a vehicle mode much like its real-life counterpart; functional, conventional, uneventful.
The way Swerve transforms is much like a lot of car/robot Autobots: the bonnet becomes the chest, the rear half becomes the legs, and the front doors go on the shoulders. But saying that, there is at least some extra thought gone into making the legs look like legs rather than the back end of a car split in two. It's quite clever, really.
In robot mode, Swerve boasts much articulation and character. The primary red colour is joined by black and grey and there is a fair amount of moulded detail. The robot is very nicely proportioned with right-size arms that haven't been artificially shrunk to fit under the bonnet when transforming.
The sculpting on the head, too, has a lot of detail and includes a translucent light-piping visor. There's something about the look of the face that lacks the usual characteristics associated with a Transformers character. It's almost like a generic design you might find in one of those How To Draw Manga Robots books. Well, I think so, anyway.
Swerve does not come with any accessories, nor does it include any added action features. In fact, all that comes with the printed polythene bag/moulded plastic tray packaging is a page of "Transformers Universe" branded instructions.
While it is refreshing to see an Autobot with such an ordinary and contemporary vehicle mode, it lacks any real imagination. If released through regular channels and available in normal circumstances, I would recommend Swerve in a beat. But, really, think twice before going to any unwarranted expense in tracking one down.
All told, Swerve is merely the result of a business transaction; functional, conventional, uneventful.
Verdict: three stars out of five.
Flickr Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/the-hub/sets/72157617485056392/
Hublog: www.hubrisonline.co.uk/hublog/files/swerve2008.html
