The TakaraTomy Coffee Boxx figures are now out in Japan and the three chase figures, gold Convoy, Megatron and Starscream, have already appeared on ebay.

The figures are plastic models with moving arms and were originally only available via convenience store Japan that carries the Boss coffee brand.

Following up from his auction for the Clear Collectors Edition Mini-bots and the Chrome Soundwave, Yahoo Japan Auctions seller Sharbicc has now listed some more of these "Lunchtime special" toys for sale. The latest auctions are for clear versions of Smokescreen, Megaplex and Sideswipe. The figures have somewhat yellowed from their original clear colour, probably due to the conditions in which they have been kept.

If you want to see more images of these, as well as other clear Collectors Edition figures then you can find lots of them within the prototype Transformers area of the website. The seller will probably have more clears for sale over the coming weeks, so you may be interested in knowing who they could be. Here is a list of the known clear toys many of which you cna find galleries within the prototype Transformers area. Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Sunstorm, Smokescreen, Prowl, Jazz, Sideswipe, Inferno, Grapple, Tracks, Skids, Astrotrain, Hotrod, Hound, Stepper, The Minibots, Aramda STD Prime, Armada Sideswipe.

Some readers may not have heard of the term "Lunchtime specials" before so we will give you a brief history. The term Lunchtime Special was coined by the Autocon group during the Transformers Collectors Edition period of releases and was used to attach to any figure that the group did not know about and believed was fake. Most of these figures were clear,some where chrome, and others have been proved as Lucky Draw campaign prize toys. The story they used was that the figures were being put together at the Takara factories by workers during their lunch breaks and after hours. These figures, they went on to claim, were then being sold to local stores and direct to oversea collectors via auction sites such as Ebay. One of the best known sellers of these toys went by the eBay username of TinTinHappy.

There are, however, at least three other explanations that have been given for the existence of these toys which have come from fans/collectors who have later gone on to be connected to Hasbro, the Transformers Collectors Club and other Transformers Conventions.

The second story is that the items are simply testshot which have been produced in clear or chrome plastic, in varying colours, in order to highlight any flaws within the mould. It has been suggested that every toy, or recent toy, goes through this process.

The third story suggest that the items are produced as "Staff Items" by Takara and given to their employees as rewards. The items are never intended for the general public.

The final story is that the toys are produced as samples by Takara / Hasbro and offered to stores / magazines as potential exclusives / prizes. The figures are said to be produced in clear and chrome and if true, would explain the origin of the Lucky Draw Transformers.

The one thing that hasn't helped is the production of higher quality fake Transformers in clear and alternative colour schemes. One of the most well known of these was the clear Optimus Prime that was producd in 2007. You can find a gallery of that figure, along with comparison images to the "Lunchtime" clear Optimus Prime on this website.

Box and loose versions of many of the toys have been seen, along with variations on the amount of clear plastic that was used.

Which of these stories, if any, is the genuine origin of these toys no body can say for sure. Until Hasbro or Takara come forward and make an official statement regarding these figures you simply have to make up your own mind.

Three previously unseen Transformers Universe recolours appeared recently on eBay. The auctions have now ended but the listings can still be seen. The auctions were for Universe Whirl, Universe Sandstorm and Optimus Prime.

Thanks to Break for letting us know that Toys R Us UK are now selling the first wave of the Transformers Universe Deluxe figures (Sunstreaker, Prowl and Tankor) as well as Wave 3 of the Transformers Animated Voyager figures (Grimlock, Lugnut and Blitzwing).

Seibertron.com member Star_Ling pointed out a few eBay auctions of the upcoming Transformers Universe Treadbolt toy, the recoloured version of Transformers Classics Jetfire based on the Air Partol Micromaster from the original Transformers toy line.

Here's the link to the eBayAuction, and for a couple more eBay auctions for the same toy.

TFW2005 has received an official image of the Canadian packaging for a Universe "Ultra Twin-Pack" containing reissues of Galaxy Force Optimus Prime and Crumplezone from the Transformers Cybertron line.

You can see the stock image here

The TakaraTomy website has been updated with a campaign page showing the Suntory Boss Coffee Limited transformer figures. Suntory coffee is a "coffee in a can" product sold in Japan and the campaign will run from the26th August. As well as the 10 normal coloured figures (Convoy, Megatron, Starscream, Astrotain, Shockwave,Soundwave, Wheeljack, Jazz, Bumblebee and Ironhide, there are five other limited figures. First up are a metallic gold coloured versions of the Convoy, Megatron and Starscream along with two repainted minicons ｸﾚｲﾀﾄﾞﾝ (kureidon) and ｼｰｳｴｲﾌﾞ (shiiuebu).

Credit to Snakas for the report and Nevermore for the link

PerformanceCar.co.nz has been updated with an article on the Transformers Alternity Nissan GT-R including concept art.

Although this diagram may at first seem irrelevant, take a closer look and you might just recognize a few bits and pieces from the R35 GT-R hidden amongst this new transformer toy, especially those unique, angular doors and vented guards on the shoulder blades.

Toymaker Takara has announced the inclusion of the Nissan GT-R into its Transformers Alternity lineup, making sure to point out that the new product will be out in time for Christmas – we can see the fanboys lining up already.... You know you've made a great car when it gets the Transformer treatment!

ACToys have posted a gallery of yet another yet to be released Transformers figure, this time it's the Transformers Universe Silverstreak toy.

Silverstreak is, of cause, the new name given to the Bluestreak character, due to trademark issues, and is a recoloured version of Universe Prowl.

Actoys has been updated with the first in and out of box images of Transformers 25th Anniversary Optimus Prime. The toy shows the lighter blue colour scheme previously only seen on a testshot featured in an issue of Hyper Hobby (more on this in a future gallery).

The gallery includes comparison shots with the Toys R Us Commemorative Series Optimus Prime from 2002.