Paramount Pictures Mexico seems to have gone all out to promote Transformers: Age of Extinction in the country. The attraction/marketing event features an animatronic Grimlock along with the vehicles for Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Crosshairs. Below are a few images and a video of Grimlock, more can be found here. Thanks to Luis C. for the pics.
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Below is a new TV spot that has a few new scenes that feature Hound and Grimlock with Imagine Dragons' Battle Cry playing in the background that played during NBC's The Voice. Its a cam recording but hopefully soon an official version will be posted. Update: Clearer version of same spot thanks to Feris O.

This week's issue of Entertainment Weekly, their Summer preview issue, has an article (image left) about Transformers: Age of Extinction. In it director Michael Bay confirms that Transformers 4 is the start of the next trilogy while Mark Wahlberg comments on the storyline and Jack Reynor talks about working on the set. The article also revealed a few factoids about the CGI version of Grimlock saying the character is "150 feet long from the tail to the nostrils, 63.5 feet tall from the ground to the top of his horns, and weigh 850 tons." Below is a transcript of the the comments from Bay and the others.

Bay: "It's kind of like a new Transformers. We had three, the first trilogy, and this is going to be the next. ...It's the first of a new trilogy. I'm not necessarily sure that I'm doing [the others], but that's what it's meant for."

Bay: "{Shia LaBeouf]'s a good guy, but three movies, the same guy, it's time. You know what I'm saying? It's always good to freshen it up and change the story."

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A Hasbro presentation found on Transformers licensee Vilsco Textiles site has revealed a bunch of concept products and art for Transformers: Age of Extinction. The art (below) includes early designs for Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Hound, Drift, Lockdown and Grimlock that sometimes was spotted on set clapperboards. Of note is some of the art is dated for 2012 indicating that pre-production on Transformers 4 began shortly after post-production on three ended.

The 2014 roadmap indicates the home release of Transformers 4 set for Q4 (probably late October, early November just like the previous movies) along with something referred to as "Animated Stunt" with a new beast like faction symbol. The same symbol comes up for a Q1 2015 animated cartoon while another new faction symbol is used for either a second series or second season of the series for Q1 2016 that will be followed by Transformers 5 in Summer 2017. Below is a look at the new faction symbols and concept art, for the rest of the gallery of concept products head over to TFW2005.
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Another Transformers: Age of Extinction toy was accidentally leaked to Canadian store shelves. The below is detailed review of TF4 Voyager Grimlock that is part of Hasbro's mandate to simply the transformations sequences and make the toys more play worthy for younger kids. The result is a toy that will probably please kids but long time fans will probably not be impressed.

Toy Fair 2014 continued today in New York. Today provided a look at what Hasbro plans for teens (and adult collectors) that are not going to be quite satisfied with the simplistic transformations introduced yesterday. The reveals do indicate that teen and adult fans will get their chance to enjoy multi-step transformations for Transformers: Age of Extinction characters that is based on what Hasbro learned when doing the Generations/Classic toys from the last few years. From those revealed, it is now officially confirmed that Galvatron is the black and dark grey 2014 Freightliner Argosy and likely the other big bad of the movie (besides Lockdown). In addition five Dinobot characters are now confirmed: Grimlock (T-Rex), Strafe (two-headed pterodactyl), Scorn (spinosaurus), Slash (velociraptor), and Slug (triceratops). So far only Grimlock and Strafe have been spotted in the Super Bowl trailer, hopefully upcoming trailers will tease the other three and apparently all five of them do transform at some point in the movie.
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In preparation for Toy Fair 2014 being held in New York this weekend, Hasbro has revealed their initial line-up of Transformers: Age of Extinction toys for "youngsters" called the One Step Changers via USA Today (and mirrored on TFormers). The official images (below) show the robot mode of Grimlock (which seems more like a mash-up of Grimlock and Beast Wars Dinobot). The images also provides the first official confirmation of what fans had already worked out for Crosshairs (Autobot, green 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray), Drift (Autobot, black & blue 2013 Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse), Lockdown (Decepticon, dark gray 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Coup) and Stinger (Decepticon, blood red 2013 Pagani Huayra). In addition there is a "new" Dinobot called Slash with a Velociraptor alt mode. I assume that means that is a fourth Dinobot confirmed for the movie (outside of Grimlock, Slug, and Strafe) but it could just be a toy and not have a movie appearance.
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Another toy line called Transformers Hero Mashers shows off the Transformers: Age of Extinction version of Grimlock. At least his dino mode anyway. There are other figures in the line but those seem based on G1 or cartoon characters and not the movie.

The UK Toy Fair was held this week which provided the first look at the toys and merchandise that Hasbro is planning for Transformers: Age of Extinction. Sadly the fair was not open to the public or press and security was tight so while there are descriptions of some of what was on display, most of the pictures are for ancillary products. Still there was at least some potential useful information revealed including more looks at the TF4 versions of Prime, Bumblebee, Drift and potentially Lockdown. It really does seem like Transformers Prime animated look was inspiration for the TF4 redesigns. Thanks to Feris O. and others for the info.
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While the toys themselves have not started to leak, thanks to Weibo's @HarryHuo we have images of the box art that will be used for the voyager boxes when they are released (probably sometime in May). The images show Transformers: Age of Extinction's version of Optimus Prime on the outside with the inside insert depicting Grimlock, Swoop (or Strafe) and Slag (or Slug) in their Dinobot modes on the inside. The Hasbro name leaks from a few months ago indicates the Dinobots are probably getting new names (likely for copyright/trademark reasons). This is further supported by new TF4 toy listings (below) on Wal-Mart's online store. Thanks to Feris O. for the heads-up.
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It isn't much but at least its something. Entertainment Earth posted the below three licensed products for Transformers: Age of Extinction that show off a touch of new the design for Bumblebee and Optimus Prime along with a look at the head of Grimlock. Hopefully this is the start of more reveals via toy s and more.

A Transformers: Age of Extinction crew hoodie posted on Transformers Cars Facebook page seems to have provided the first look at Grimlock's potential robot mode. It could be another robot but the spiky, bulky look does seem very Grimlock-like. Much like with Optimus Prime with his sword and shield, this one uses maces as weapons. This is the first report of a crew hoodie with TF image on the back (I would assume people around the set would have noticed it by now) so while it could be real, it could also be a fan mock-up. As usual time will tell.

An image posted by JoBlo might be the first look at Grimlock's dinobot alt mode. In the picture it seems Optimus Prime is riding Grimlock like a horse while holding a sword and shield. The image, assuming inspired by movie plans, does look pretty awesome. The source is unknown so unable to confirm if its officially related to Transformers: Age of Extinction or just creative fan art. Thanks to Feris O. for the heads-up.

Render art posted on ACToys forums provides the first solid look at Optimus Prime along with bit of a tease of Grimlock's dino mode and Bumblebee. The art suggests that the designs for the robot modes maintain the movie line's complex look yet seems much more streamlined with larger plate pieces that remind me of Transformers Prime. It isn't enough detail to reach final conclusions but so far I am not hating it.

I wonder if streamlining means less complex CGI transformations resulting in budget savings. This isn't to mean the viewer would be cheated visually. For example Optimus Prime in TF1 to 3 was made up of over 10,000 fully realized CGI 3D pieces put together and rendered even those most of those parts are invisible to the viewer. If Prime were "just" made up of 7,000 pieces (or whatever the final number is), I doubt anyone would notice since most of that detail is hidden. Of course this assumes that streamlining means less when require even more parts. So what do you think of the new designs?
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