Hot Wheels 2016 Batch H, brought to you by blue...

Both are dark blue. Both are fast. Both have grey wheels. Both debut in Batch H of the 2016 HW Mainline. But that's where the similarities end...not that that's a problem. It's rare for both of the licensed models of any batch to sport colour schemes this similar or both be as perfect as these -  but here we are, the 2017 Acura (Honda) NSX and the Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R.

Let's start with the NSX. In 2012, and in 2013 via Hot Wheels, the world was treated to this:

That is of course the 2012 Acura NSX Concept, a preview of a potential future successor to Honda's legendary 1990s supercar. Three years on from its HW debut we have the beautiful Ryu Asada designed production model in dark blue with grey Y5 wheels, and it is a stunner, especially when sat aside its matching Then & Now counterpart, Asada's 1990 NSX which debuted in 2015 and the 2015 version of the Concept (above). Front and back tampos just add a cherry to the cake.

From concept to reality...

Then & Now...

Evolution:

If you've got down this far, let's talk about that Mustang:

It's the second of four Ford Performance new models that Hot Wheels will churn out in the mainline this year, the first being the '17 F-150 Raptor and we'll soon see the Focus RS and GT join them, likely also in signature Ford blue.

The casting is proportionally sound and looks every bit as awesome as the real thing, described as 'as hardcore a production car you'll find these days' by Speedhunters (it's a shame it won't reach UK shores), so it's a model that I'll happily add to the collection, and once all four have been released I'll be sure to photograph them here...

What a pair...