Is Optimus Prime now working for Wal-Mart?
On Friday, Wal-Mart unveiled its futuristic truck at the Mid-America Trucking Show, and it looks like a vehicle out of a Transformers movie. The tractor-trailer, which has taken the Internet by storm, is causing auto geeks to drool with its advanced turbine powertrain, electrified auxiliary components, leading edge aerodynamics, and more.
"When Wal-Mart began our sustainability journey, I never thought it would lead us to trucks like this," said Doug McMillon, president and CEO at Wal-Mart.
The concept truck is called W.A.V.E. (Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience) and is said to be 20 percent more aerodynamic than the company's current trucks.
"Wal-Mart is continually looking for innovative ways to increase our efficiencies and reduce our fleet's emissions," said Tracy Rosser, senior vice president of transportation at Wal-Mart.
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In addition to Wal-Mart, the prototype's builders include Great Dane Trailers, Peterbilt and Roush Engineering.
It "looks like a truck cabin on top of a Bugatti," wrote Reddit user Sloth_Bacon.
Those looking forward to seeing the truck on the open road may be in for disappointment, though.
"It may never make it to the road," said McMillon, "but it will allow us to test new technologies and new approaches. I share it because it gives you a sense of how sustainability is helping us see things in new ways."
Wal-Mart Stores has 11,302 locations in 27 countries.
—By CNBC's Eli Langer. Follow him on Twitter at @EliLanger.