This was a great year for Hot Wheels premiums, especially as a lover of German cars. There were many contenders, and I’m only considering cars I actually have (which disqualifies the E36 Estate), but I was finally able to narrow it down to five!
Number 5: Nissan Z Proto
The new Z appeared in both mainline and premium within a few months of each other, and as good as the mainline version is, this Car Culture version takes it a step further. The color is noticeably paler than the mainline, which I believe is more accurate to the color shown on the Nissan press car. As you might imagine, the premium also received much more detailing.
Along the side, there is a silver trim piece above the window and the small Z logo above the wheel arch. I love the roofline on this car, it looks low and sloping and sporty – everything a Z should be. These Real Riders compliment the yellow paint surprisingly well, and the wheel fitment is excellent.
My favorite detail is the Fairlady Z badge on the back of the model, which is complimented by those retro, 300ZX inspired tail lights. Sadly, you can see the rear rivet post through the back window, but they are smoked dark enough that it’s not overly noticeable. Overall, an excellent model wearing its press color scheme, which I always love.
Number 4: Lamborghini Essenza SCV12
Since I’ve already done a full writeup on this model, I won’t go into too much detail on the SCV12, but the reasons it made the list should be obvious. The spectraflame style green paint absolutely pops, all the graphics are so well done, and it’s a reminder of how good Hot Wheels premium models can be. Who needs to pay resale on a super treasure hunt when premiums this good exist for 1/10th of the price?
Number 3: 2001 BMW M5 E39
I love German cars, so it’s no surprise this new M5 made the top five. This brand new casting is everything the E46 casting isn’t – sleek, realistically proportioned, and perfect wheel fitment. The front end is a beautifully detailed reminder that BMW’s design hasn’t always been the mess that it now is. Remember when angel eye daytime running lights were all the rage? The E39 does.
The back of the M5 is clean and simple, just as it should be. I love the little decklid spoiler that adds just a touch of aggression to an otherwise clean design. Again, check out how well proportioned this casting is, and how great of a stance it has.
The only place I find this car lacking is the livery. The M theme is certainly cool, but I prefer my cars to look clean and stock. Had this model been a factory color, it probably would have been my number 1. Fingers crossed we see that next year!
Number 2: ‘95 Toyota Celica GT-Four
Who would have thought we’d ever see Hot Wheels make the Celica GT-Four? Certainly not me, but I’m sure glad they did. While the Supra gets all the attention, the Celica GT-Four is peak 90’s tuner car. Hot Wheels did an excellent job replicating it. While I certainly wouldn’t call the Celica pretty, it is an intricate design which is very well detailed on this model. The color choice surprised me, as I typically think of more neutral grays and blacks on the GT-Four, but this yellow is great! Interestingly, this model has a roof scoop, though I don’t believe the road versions of the GT-Four had one.
The WRX and Evo might be known for their boy racer wings, but this Celica sure gives them a run for their money! The coolest part: it says GT-FOUR on the side of the wing.
Apart from the wing, the back of the car is relatively plain, with only one exhaust tip and the fairly basic tail lights that were common on Toyotas at the time. The rear bumper feels a bit too high, which makes this model look a bit too tall from the back. Still, it’s an excellent model that I suspect will get some rally liveries in the near future!
Number 1: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series
That’s a mouthful of a name, but one heck of a cool car. I was obsessed with the C63 growing up, as it was basically a luxury version of a V8 muscle car, and this Black Series version of the most muscular of them all. What a cool model and what a great color choice for its debut. I love the canards and flared wheel arches that make the Black Series so distinctive. The front end is perhaps a little squished, but it’s well detailed and aggressive nonetheless.
The chrome trim around the windows is a nice touch, and Hot Wheels included the 6.3 badge that so many Mercedes of this era have (even though the engine is a 6.2L). Even though most C63 Black Series I’ve seen came with black wheels, these chrome ten spoke Real Riders look great and pop much more than black ones would have.
Speaking of chrome, check out those exhausts! I’ve always been a big fan of the squared off look of these exhausts, so I’m glad Hot Wheels colored them silver rather than leaving them black like they do on so many of their models. Plenty of badging adorns the trunk, along with that big spoiler. Technically, the spoiler should be black, but I imagine that would have been too difficult to get total tampo coverage on.
I hope we see a lot more of this casting in the years to come, perhaps in the yellow factory color? Frankly, I’d be happy with any clean look, as this is my favorite premium model of the year!
If you haven’t already, check out my Top 5 lists for Matchbox basic models and Hot Wheels basic models. Here’s looking forward to what Car Culture has to offer in 2023!
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