Any other UK collector of Hot Wheels/Matchbox (or many other brands for that matter) will agree that the US have it best when it comes to actually finding models. It's no surprise, as there's far more scope and space there. However, it does become frustrating when excellent models go their way - and not ours. That's the case with almost all of HW's premium lines, and they usually are finding batches a month or more before us (though that has actually thankfully begun to change).
When I found out Hot Wheels was doing this set I became very childish with excitement, and even more so when it was revealed that they had hit our stores (namely ASDA) first! This hasn't ever happened before that I'm aware of, so it was hugely refreshing when I walked into ASDA only two weeks later to find 6 of the 8 models. Now owning a complete set I can showcase them here, car by car. Let's start with the Nissan:
The Nissan Skyline R32 has been a firm favourite with collectors for many years, so it is surprising that it hasn't returned sooner thanks to the current JDM craze. The casting, a replica of the 1990 car, has been around since 2002 and has been reproduced many times since, the most recent of which in 2011 - my only other version is well worn and from the 2003 Flag Flyers five pack. This version is brilliantly detailed with plenty of tampos, as is the case with many of the models in these 8 car sets. Plus, it is a great replica of what you can drive in the game:
So, the first car in this set is a welcome return for a much-loved casting, and one that couldn't return to the mainline without modification thanks to its plastic spoiler (which it keeps here) - rear printing is great too.
Now on to car 2, the Jaguar XJ220:
Until the F-Type Project 7 last year, this and 1998's XK8 were Hot Wheels' most recent Jaguar castings. It's brilliant that the licensing has been rekindled, and I personally would really like to see a model of the CX-75 featured in Spectre, with grey Y5 wheels. Anyway, back to the XJ220. The casting is 23 years old now and still going strong, designed by Larry Wood. This version in pearl white is stunning and reminiscent of what a racing XJ220 would've looked like in the 90s, and a clear replica of one you can drive in the game:
Car 2 of the set then is another casting returning after a half-decade (was produced last in 2011 like the Skyline) to the happiness of collectors. And, like the Skyline again, my only other version is from that same 2003 5 pack!
The third car in the set doesn't disappoint either:
Hot Wheels launched its casting of the Ford GT LM in 2010, and it has enjoyed immense popularity since then due to its accurate proportions and great execution. The only thing was, in reality the car looked like this:
HW's First Edition, however, did not. This is most likely due to to Mattel/HW not having the right licensing agreements at the time but now they do, so we can see what is (in my opinion) the best version of the casting after 6 years of waiting. Better late than never eh? There's not much more to be said as the model speaks for itself, apart from that wing. It's plastic! Like many other castings, for its return to the mainline in 2016, the casting had received a metal spoiler as that is how policy goes these days. Whilst it isn't bad by any means, it just isn't as crisp as the plastic wing. So, after thinking it was gone for good, it's back for another (and maybe one last) time:
The car is of course playable on the game too:
It's yet another welcome return (spoiler alert, that's the case for all the cars in this set) for the Ford GT LM and its plastic wing - for me, it's the best of the bunch. Here it is again for your enjoyment:
Now on to the notoriously hard to pronounce Pagani...
This casting is Hot Wheels' first Pagani (still hoping for a Zonda in the future) and Pagani's second car, the immaculately crafted, ballistic, beautiful Huayra. The Hot Wheels model debuted in 2013 and has had five outings so far (this being the sixth). Completists of the Huayra like myself initially questioned this version's deco; dark blue again? However if you're a Gran Turismo fan you'll know exactly why. The Huayra features in the 15th Anniversary car pack, and all of them are painted blue with that design:
Plus, when sat with the existing dark blue Huayra from 2014 there are subtle differences in the colour. Yet another welcome return, and a nice one at that with the Huayra sporting MC5s and side detailing for the very first time.
Next up, the Viper:
Conveniently, this Gran Turismo set has cars from all three decades the game has been released in (1990s, 2000s, 2010s) and the Noughties' first contribution is the Dodge Viper SRT10. Technically it is also the decade's only contribution, but the Gallardo Superleggera is only just in the 2010s and was seen throughout the preceding decade due to first being released in 2002. Anyway, this is one of the best versions of this Viper casting, and though it would've been nice to see the much better looking current generation I've no problem with an excellent version of this one, as my only other is a well worn 2006 First Edition recolour. It doesn't sport a livery you can find in the game I think, but look what it's stock colours in the game are:
Something else I've spotted with this casting is that Hot Wheels really needs to make it's mind up on which year to assign to this model, something you'd assume they'd done already 10 years into its production run. On the packaging for this model, it is the '05 Dodge Viper SRT10. However, this is the packaging for its most recent appearance in 2014:
Weird eh? It doesn't matter really, just thought I'd point it out. This is a nice model...
The second British entry to the lineup now...
One-77. The 1:1 of this car is named so because Aston Martin only made 77. Straightforward enough. The car is a beauty, and Hot Wheels have been making one since 2011. The First Edition sported OH5s, an awful wheel choice for this model. Thankfully, since then it has only reappeared once more with those wheels, and all the other times it has been the likes of PR5s, J5s and 10SPs. The latter are the wheels on this model and in my opinion the best choice for any Aston. This one is one of the best versions, and although (just like the two Lamborghinis) there isn't a specific livery on the game like this for the car, I'm guessing it wouldn't be that hard to replicate.
Lastly, the two Lamborghinis...
Lamborghini and Hot Wheels' relationship, much like BMW and Porsche, is the best it's ever been. So it's no surprise then that the final two cars of the Gran Turismo set are the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera and the Lamborghini Aventador. Both have been popular since their introduction in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and both have great liveries here, with the Gallardo getting the rear printing treatment.
All in all, this is an awesome set, and it would need some fearsome competition to not be set of the year for 2016...
