Hot Rod is an
Autobot warrior in the
Transformers cartoon series. Like his namesake, Hot Rod transforms into a futuristic race
car.
In
Transformers The Movie, Hot Rod is somewhat responsible for the death of Autobot leader
Optimus Prime. While
Decepticon leader
Megatron and Optimus are locked in a fierce one-on-one battle, Hot Rod tries to attack Megatron. Megatron grabs the young Autobot, using him as a shield so that Optimus cannot shoot back. Soon after, Optimus Prime dies, passing the Autobot
Matrix of Leadership to
Ultra Magnus.
But Ultra Magnus is not the true successor to Optimus Prime, because the Matrix will not unlock for him.
Galvatron aquires the Matrix, but in the final battle Hot Rod takes the Matrix from him. The Matrix unlocks, revealing Hot Rod as the true Autobot leader.
Placing the Matrix inside his chest, Hot Rod evolves into
Rodimus Prime, an older and more mature version of himself. He continued to lead the Autobots until Optimus Prime was ressurected several years later.