Rodimus Prime is brash and headstrong, with an overwhelming self-confidence that borders on arrogance. Kup has assumed the role of mentor and advisor to the impetuous young Hot Rod, offering him wisdom and advice when he needs it. Arcee, a female Autobot, also serves as a calming influence on Hot Rod, and tends to either worry about him when he is not around, or deride and tease him when he is. Their relationship some times seems to be antagonistic, but often something more than friendly. Exactly how deep Hot Rod's feelings for Arcee might run is unclear.
In contrast, his Rodimus Prime persona - while still headstrong and stubborn - is more of a listener. However, he seems to suffer from a severe lack of confidence, often doubting his own decisions and expressing distress over his position as an Autobot leader and a partner of another Autobot leader, Ultra Magnus. Of course, much of this comes from having immediately succeeded Optimus Prime as commander, even though he never failed the Autobot cause, nor ever failed any of his mentors. Rodimus Prime, the last of the Primes in G1 remains well known as an intergalactic hero.
One thing that both sides of this Autobot's identity have in common is their impatience - neither Hot Rod nor Rodimus Prime can stand to wait around when they could be doing something instead. He is also very self-reliant, rarely sending others to do anything when he could be doing it himself. His Targetmaster partner is Firebolt.
And he is reprised by Paul Dobson, which he was in Transformers: Energon in the English dub and Ryotaro Okiayu in the Japanese dub.