Powertrain
From Transformers Wiki
- Powertrain is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Powertrain is the cautious, by-the-book leader of the Off Road Patrol. He approaches every problem with patience, carefully analyzing the best way to tackle it, be it interpersonal conflicts within the Autobot ranks (particularly with the standoffish Mudslinger) or sneaking into a Decepticon installation to blow it to kingdom come from within. Thankfully, he's also a pragmatist, and knows that sometimes, "by-the-book" isn't the answer, no matter how uncomfortable such a decision makes him.[1]
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Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Marvel The Transformers comics
When the Autobots developed the micro-sized, energy efficient Micromasters, they considered the technology above top secret. They were so concerned with keeping the process out of Decepticon hands that each Micromaster was outfitted with a suicide device, and ordered to use it in lieu of capture. When the Battle Patrol were captured alive by Thunderwing, Powertrain and the other Micromasters were ordered to destroy the research facility and everyone inside rather than risk additional captures on a rescue mission. Despite their orders, the Autobot Micromasters braved the installation. Entry to the facility proved a little too easy... Turns out the Decepticons had already successfully reverse-engineered Micromaster technology, and were now using the Autobots to test their new Air Strike Patrol. With a bit of trickery on Roadhandler's part, the Autobots nonetheless managed to liberate their comrades. Although the Decepticons now had Micromaster technology, everyone came back alive. A Small War!
Powertrain and the Off-Road Patrol developed a taste for insubordination on Cybertron, which may have been part of the reason Emirate Xaaron agreed to send them to Earth instead, as reinforcements for Optimus Prime's diminished army aboard the Ark. Alongside the Race Car Patrol, they warped to Earth and were greeted by Prime and Hi-Q. Optimus laid out a pair of recent news reports involving giant creatures spotted in the New Jersey swamps and unusual storm activity consolidating over Manhattan. Believing there was a Decepticon link between the stories, the Off-Road Patrol took to the swamps to seek out any clues. Mudslinger located the Decepticon Pretenders, Iguanus and Skullgrin, operating a stormmaker station in the swamp. Powertrain and the others soon arrived on the scene. As they engaged the enemy, Powertrain radioed Roadhandler and the Race Car Patrol to pick-up a human witness who fled the scene. The Off-Road Patrol managed to destroy the stormmaker, but the forces of nature were too far along to stop. Luckily, Roadhandler and his new friend, Cecilia Santiago, were able to stop Iguanus atop the Empire State Building and save New York City. After the mission's completion, the Micromasters regrouped at the base of the Empire State Building, where Optimus offered to pick them up, so they could avoid any trouble from the local law enforcement agents. The Micromasters refused Optimus's help, preferring to instead act as an independent unit and deal with such matters their own way. King Con!
Staying on in New York, the Micromasters became local celebrities while using their skills to stop crime. Among their exploits, Powertrain and Roadhandler caught some armed thieves outside of a grocery store. A few days later, Roadhandler found a new forum with which to demonstrate Autobot virtues to a larger human audience: the professional wrestling circuit. He quickly achieved fame through this venue, attracting the unwanted attentions of the Decepticons. Lord Zarak eventually arranged to have one of his Micromasters, Storm Cloud, to face off against Roadhandler in the ring. To ensure a Decepticon victory however, Zarak planned to take some human hostages. Cecilia saw through this ploy, and had Powertrain, along with the rest of the Autobot Micromasters, foil the abductions. Roadhandler was able to emerge victorious without worry about casualties. The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!
Transformers Comic-Magazin
Powertrain and the Autobot Micromasters battled against their Decepticon counterparts in New York City. New York — A City Sinking in Terror They later fought the Pretenders while defending oil deposits in Alaska. The Transformers' Grand Hour: Headmaster of the Dimensions
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Toy bios
Powertrain served under Tote in the Off Road Patrol. Zone bio
Zone story pages
When Victory Saber initiated the "Zone Project", the Off Road Patrol helped rebuild planet Micro into the new and improved planet Zone. To counter this threat, Violengiguar began conquering worlds to build his own Decepticon Zone. All the Micromaster teams, including the Off Road Patrol, were then mobilized to patrol the galaxy, specifically planets where their special abilities would be most useful. Early on, the Off Road Patrol were sent to scout a rocky, mountainous planet. Zone Part 1
Later, King Poseidon and Trypticon were sent to conquer the aquatic world of Wall. The Off Road Patrol engaged them in battle and with the help of Commanders Overload, Erector, Missile Bull and Skywave, they emerged triumphant. Zone Part 3
When the Powered Masters flew off to the Tenth Planet for their showdown with Violengiguar, all the Micromaster teams took command of Zone and vowed to keep it safe in their Commander's absence. Zone Part 10
Legends comic
In 2038, Powertrain was on Zone when it was invaded by the forces of Violengiguar and Dark Nova. Along with a number of fellow Micromasters, he swarmed the possessed body of Dai Atlas, distracting the Decepticon spirit inside until heavier weaponry could be brought to the battlefield. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
Created after the launch of the Ark in a joint venture by the Autobots and Decepticons, Powertrain could first be seen hanging out in Little Iacon with his fellow Micromasters. He and Highjump were discussing Blaze Master, a Decepticon Micro they thought could be talked over onto the Autobot side. The Gray Race When the Insecticons attacked Little Iacon, Powertrain was among the many Micromasters taken prisoners by the Decepticons, Recipe for Hate but was later set free alongside his fellow diminutive comrades. Victims of the Revolution
2005 IDW continuity
Powertrain and the rest of the "Off-Road Patrol" were part of the Micromaster assault on Hardhead and Nightbeat at Gorlam Prime. Spotlight: Hardhead
TransTech
A version of Powertrain and the rest of the Off Road Patrol found themselves on Axiom Nexus. They joined the Sub-Metro Amateur League Lobbing competition, but were defeated by the Mighty Mechanics, a team composed of bots named "Fixit," in the championship. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/05/28
2019 IDW continuity
Powertrain was a crewmate on the Fist of Iacon serving under the Great General Ultra Magnus. Storm Horizon Part 1
Upon returning to Cybertron, he joined the Autobots under Optimus Prime. Powertrain fought on the Sea of Rust against the Decepticons over possession of the Enigma of Combination. Sea of Rust II Although they suffered no losses, the Enigma itself fell into the Sea, unrecoverable. Enigmatic
War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing material
During the war for Cybertron, Powertrain was a Ground Command Special Ops Private. Siege toy packaging
Commercial appearances
Powertrain was among the many Autobot Micromasters unleashed by Optimus Prime that managed to infiltrate the Decepticons' lair and muck up the place. Micromaster Patrols commercial
Toys
The Transformers
- Takara ID number: C-335
- Released in the sixth year of Hasbro's US Transformers toyline (fifth year in European markets), Powertrain transforms into an orange semi-trailer "sleeper cab" truck of made-up model. Powertrain is gang-molded with Mudslinger, sharing the same plastic colors.
- He was only available in a four-pack with his teammates Highjump, Mudslinger, and Tote.
- Together with the Air Strike Patrol and the Race Car Patrol, the Off Road Patrol was released by Hasbro in late 1988 (basically, a case of "next year product" being released at the end of the old year), in packaging that differed from the "proper" 1989 Micromasters' redesigned packaging (silver cards and boxes featuring an all-new "Transformers" logo) by retaining a variation of the faction-specific color-coded gradient background on the card and featuring a unique "Micro Transformers" title in a variation of the old, pre-1989 "Transformers" logo. This same basic packaging design was also used for Canada (albeit bilingual English/French) and parts of Europe (bilingual French/Dutch, and Italian-only packaging distributed by GiG). However, a variant of sorts featuring the later 1989 packaging design also exists, and was released (in English-only packaging) in the United Kingdom, where it was sold at Woolworth's stores.
- The Off Road Patrol was sold in Japan a year later as part of the Zone portion of Takara's Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers series, with no notable changes from their Hasbro releases.
- This sculpt was also used to make Ironworks.
War for Cybertron: Siege
- Autobot Powertrain & Highjump (Micromaster, 2019)
- Hasbro ID number: WFC-S33
- TakaraTomy ID number: SG-33
- TakaraTomy release date: October 26, 2019
- Part of the fourth wave of Siege Micromasters, Powertrain transforms from robot to "Cybertronian" semi-truck (cough). Paired with Highjump, the two can combine into a weapon for larger Siege figures to wield. Because the peg to combine the two is on a piece that hinges open during transformation and does not lock in place, Powertrain has a tendency to droop when combined. However, he can be wielded individually as well due to the combination post being 5mm.
Merchandise
Transformers Trading Card Game
- Private Powertrain, Off-Road Patrol-Leader (2019)
- Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II
- Rarity: CT
- Card Number: T21/T52
- Stars: 5
- Private Powertrain, Off-Road Patrol-Leader is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, War for Cybertron: Siege I. In order to represent Powertrain's size as a Micromaster, Private Powertrain, Off-Road Patrol-Leader is the size of a battle card, about half the size of a normal character card.
- The card's artwork is based on the Siege Powertrain toy, with the Alt Mode artwork being reused from the toy's packaging art.
Notes
Foreign names
- Japanese: Freed (フリード Furīdo), Powertrain (パワートレイン Pawātorein)
- French: Défonceur (Canada, "Digger")
- Italian: Terminus
