Transformers 4 First Pictures: New Characters and Upgraded Optimus Prime

These pictures represent the first cars from the upcoming fourth installment to his Transformers franchise. It is snappily titled Transformers 4, and we're told filming has begun at the Navajo Nation; specifically, Highway 163 in Monument Valley near the border of Arizona and Utah.

You'll see that lead character Optimus Prime has had a facelift, and is "completely upgraded". He'll sit on a custom-built truck from Western Star, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks. Then there's Bumblebee, this time wrapped inside a "highly modified", vintage 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS. 

You'll find a couple of new boys on the block, too. First up is that luminous green Corvette Stingray, a special, race-inspired creation based on the upcoming 2014 production car. And then we find ourselves with a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse.

                                    
Remember we said this can't end well? We meant for the Bugatti. This thing costs many millions of pounds to purchase, and Bay has a habit of, well, blowing everything in sight to smithereens. We can't be sure even Michael Bay - the man who made a film called Armageddon for goodness sake - would leave this 255mph, 1200bhp roadster alone.

Only time will tell, so stay tuned for more updates as we get them. For now, have a stroll through the pics and then think of a suitable plot involving these four cars (all confirmed Autobots - the goodies).

The two completely new characters are a race-inspired C7 Corvette Stingray, based on Chevrolet's upcoming 2014 production car, and a 1,200-horsepower Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse. The Bugatti is worth more than $2.4 million.
Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, has been given a redesign, creating a much sleeker look than he's had in the previous films. What will this mean when he transforms into his robot form?
Paramount's Transformers 4, starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor,Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and Sophia Myles, will hit theaters on June 27, 2014. The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that stand-up comedian-turned-actor T.J. Miller is in negotiations to join the cast as Wahlberg’s best friend, a fellow mechanic.