The Hot Wheels 992 Porsche GT3 is an Instant Classic

A new Hot Wheels Porsche is always a big event, so the fanfare surrounding this new 992 casting is no surprise.  This casting is also the follow-up to one of my all time favorite Hot Wheels Porsches – the 991 GT3 RS, so it has some big shoes to fill. 

When I first saw pictures of this model online, I wasn’t sold on the proportions of it.  I thought the car looked too swollen and chunky.  However, those concerns disappeared as soon as I saw it in person.  While the rear fender flares are perhaps a tad too wide, the overall dimensions are nearly identical to the old GT3 RS casting.  

Hot Wheels’ choice of blue for the debut color was an excellent one, as I’m always a fan of using the manufacturer’s main press color for a model car (Porsche calls this color Shark Blue).  Additionally, this bright color does an excellent job of highlighting the curves and details of this new casting.  I appreciate the decision to use the window section to form the headlights, just as they did on the 991 casting.  The tampo details forming the badge and “nostrils” are appreciated, though I would have liked to see detailing in the DRLs on the front bumper as well.  

From above, it’s clear how wide this car is.  The black roof is a nice touch as well, though it doesn’t really look like the carbon fiber it’s attempting to imitate. 

GT3’s are famous for their massive rear wings, and this car earns its nameplate.  Porsche introduced a new “hung” wing design for the 992 generation, which Hot Wheels has done an admirable job of replicating given the need for it to stand up to children.  I can’t help but think this wing design would have looked better in the days of plastic spoilers, but sadly we will never know.  The casting details of the engine cover are a nice touch as well. 

The rear of this model is the weakest point on this otherwise excellent model.  I love the lightbar on the back (and the fact that we actually get rear lights at all) which looks suitably angular and modern, and the marker lights and license plate make this model feel more premium than a $1 model has any right to be.  However, the rear bumper looks too tall and flat.  On the 1:1 992 GT3, the rear ducktail is both narrower and taller, with a more pronounced dip back down into the lightbar.  On the 1:64 model, there is definitely a spoiler, but those aggressive body lines have been smoothed over.  It’s not all bad – the rear diffuser is made using the base section, which allows it to stick out a little bit past the bumper just as it does on the real car, and the classic GT3 twin center exhausts are present and accounted for.  

Despite its minor shortcomings, this new 911 is an excellent model and I will definitely be adding some future recolors to the collection.  While it doesn’t eclipse the 991 GT3 RS casting, it’s definitely worthy of a spot on the podium.