Need a Lift? Optimus Prime Providing Rides to Promote ‘Transformers 4′

If you told your younger self about Uber, the app-driven car service that's still taking America by storm, Young You would think Current You was making up some science fiction gobbledy gook to mess with your own head. If you told Young You that Uber was offering a chance to meet Optimus Prime, Young You's head would explode, 'Scanners' style.

Although time travel doesn't exist, you can still meet Optimus himself if you get lucky (and, by lucky, we mean live in Dallas, Phoenix or Los Angeles).

According to Uber's official site this extremely limited event will allow lucky users to meet the leader of the Autobots (in his truck form, of course). All you have to do is be in the right city at the right time, fire up the Uber app, select the "Autobots" option and cross your fingers. There is only one Optimus Prime and while he can tear evil Decepticons in half, he can't be in more than one place at once. If you're lucky and/or persistent, the robot-in-disguise will show up and offer a "15-minute experience" (i.e., don't expect the usual Uber cab ride).

Sure, this is all marketing for 'Transformers 4,' but it's pretty cool as far as marketing gimmicks go. Unfortunately, this is not a huge engagement. If you're in Dallas, you have between 1:00 and 7:00 today to attempt to get a visit from Optimus Prime. Residents of Phoenix can attempt to meet Optimus on June 19 during those same hours. Angelenos can attempt a meet-up on June 21st.

It's a win-win-win. Fans get to meet their robotic hero, Uber gets a bunch of nerds to try out their service and Paramount gets to remind everyone that 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' opens on June 27, 2014.