With the Gathering just a few short weeks away, I’ve had Matchbox on my mind. A couple years ago, I wrote a blog post about the cars I’d like to see at the upcoming Matchbox line preview, and since most of those cars have now made their way into the Matchbox lineup, it seemed due for an update. This isn’t just a list of my favorite cars; I chose to focus on models that I think would fit the Matchbox brand. That means these models are interesting, obscure, electric, or some combination of all three.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Let’s begin this list by doubling down on one of my picks from last time. In 2024, I called out the Ioniq 5 as a good fit for the Matchbox brand given their then-new focus on electric cars and the Ioniq 5’s quirky 80’s design. In the years since, the N version has been released, which managed to make one of the coolest EVs on the market even cooler. If Matchbox wants to continue to focus on electric cars, a car with enthusiast appeal like the Ioniq 5 N seems like a great option. I know Matchbox was burned by Hyundai/Kia on the Kia Seltos casting a few years ago, but with the EV6 now appearing in the Hot Wheels line, maybe it’s time to give them another chance?
- Lexus IS500
We move from the absolute cutting edge of performance cars to a decidedly old-school recipe. Somehow, Lexus ended up being the last manufacturer to make a classic V8, rear wheel drive sport sedan, and it’s very cool. Given the increasing number of Lexuses (Lexi?) in the Matchbox lineup over the past few years, it seems very possible that we could see a car like the IS500 join the LX, GX, and LC500 in 1/64 scale. Matchbox has a proud tradition of making cars that look like regular traffic, and the IS500 looks subtle enough to fit into that tradition while also bringing some enthusiast appeal. With all the special editions that Lexus loves to make, there’s near-infinite recolor potential, and it would serve as a lovely send-off for a car that’s likely to end production soon.
- Cadillac Escalade V
Matchbox loves to make models with significant brand heritage, and the Escalade certainly has plenty! The original Escalade body style debuted in the Matchbox line back in 2003 and received over a dozen recolors. Then, the Abe Lugo designed 2015 Escalade casting was released in 2018, only to receive a mere two decos over the last 7 years (landing it a spot on my list of castings that most deserve another recolor). Given Matchbox’s history with the Escalade, it seems only fitting for Matchbox to make a model of the new 2021+ Escalade, and I think the Escalade V is the most interesting option. Plus, it would also fit in with the existing CT5-V casting! I’d be happy with a mainline version, but it would also fit in well with the SUVs in the Moving Parts line that have opening tailgates.
- BMW Z8
Just like the Escalade, the BMW Z8 has a fair amount of heritage with the Matchbox brand. They actually already released a model of the Z8 back in 2002, but casting design and printed detailing have both come a long way since then. As a result, none of those older Z8 releases hold up that well among modern castings, and I think an updated version would be incredibly cool to see. The Z8 feels like a car that has been underappreciated among car enthusiasts for years, and I’ve noticed more people starting to talk about them, so it seems like the perfect time for Matchbox to bring it back. This time, I’d hope to see it with better headlight detailing and hopefully some brake light detailing, as the neon brake lights have always been one of the Z8’s coolest design features.
- Polestar One
The Polestar One may not have much Matchbox heritage, but it makes up for it by being a perfect fit for the direction of the brand. It not only satisfies Matchbox’s need for more electrified vehicles, but it’s also exactly the kind of obscure car with a cult following that Matchbox is known for. We’ve already seen pictures of the Polestar 3 and Polestar 5 coming to the Matchbox line, so why not also make the halo car for the Polestar brand? If Matchbox really wanted to go the extra mile, they could give the Polestar One an opening trunk to show off the bright orange electrical cables that always grab attention in reviews! Personally, I would like to see it debut in the pearl white color that was also used on the Lexus LX’s first release.
- Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
Admittedly, this is probably the least likely to actually happen of any car on this list, but Matchbox has shown a willingness to replicate hypercars with the Divo and 918 Spyder, and I’d like to see that continue with the convertible version of the iconic Bugatti Veyron. The Bugatti diecast models on the market are almost always hardtops, and I think there’s a ton of options for cool decos and interior colors with a model like the Grand Sport Vitesse. Given how much collectors like myself like the Divo, perhaps Matchbox has seen the interest and would be willing to add another Bugatti to the lineup?
- Chevy Trailblazer SS
With SUVs like the Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Excursion, and Toyota 4Runner making their way to the mainline, Matchbox has shown an interest in making cult-classic SUVs. Like the IS500 and Escalade V, the Trailblazer SS perfectly straddles the line between looking like regular traffic and attracting the attention of enthusiasts, which would make it a great fit for Matchbox. Granted, an SUV from the 2000’s with an LS2 V8 under the hood is about as far from the current EV focus as you can get, but the Trailblazer is exactly the kind of car that doesn’t get enough diecast love, and the SS version is by far the coolest variant Chevy ever released.
- Maserati Quattroporte GT-S
The return of the Maserati license to the Mattel brands has been a very exciting development, and where Hot Wheels chose to honor Maserati’s return with the Shamal, Matchbox seems willing to run with it. The MC12 is one of the craziest Maserati models of all time, and the upcoming Granturismo in the Moving Parts line looks set to finally end the drought of 1/64 scale Granturismos. I would love to see Matchbox keep the Maserati love going with a QP5 Quattroporte GT-S! To me, this is the coolest version of the Quattroporte ever released, and I always envision it in the black-on-black color scheme driven by Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. I haven’t watched that episode in years, but I can still hear that 4.7L V8 echoing off the walls in the tunnel! While I would accept no color other than black for a debut version, there’s plenty of recolor potential, with Quattroportes being available in white, a lovely deep blue, and even the burgundy Neiman Marcus edition!
- Acura Integra Type S
This year’s Acura Integra Type R showed just how popular an Acura can be, so why not make a modern Type S version? I admit, the hype level for the new Type S falls far short of the old Type R version, but I still think it’s an incredibly cool car that’s criminally underrepresented in the diecast world. Plus, it would make an awesome then-and-now pairing with its older sibling! Countless diecast designers have spoken about the difficulty of shrinking a car down to 1/64 scale, and I think the cartoonish flared fenders and triple exhaust tips would translate perfectly to a miniature model! An Integra Type S would also be a great fit for a future “Japan Cruisers” 5 pack…
- 2025 Bentley Flying Spur
Between the new and old Bentley Continentals and the Bentayga, we’ve seen some awesome Bentleys from Matchbox over the years. I’d love to see the Flying Spur in the Matchbox line next year, because I trust Matchbox’s ability to make this epic luxury flagship in 1/64 scale. This would probably fit best in the Collectors series, to ensure there’s sufficient detailing budget to do a two-tone finish (though a single-color mainline version would also look cool). Matchbox’s tampo prowess feels like a good match for all the chrome detailing at the front of the Flying Spur, especially since they’ve done such a good job on previous Bentleys. Plus, Matchbox always loves a model that honors their British heritage.
Honorable Mentions:
I have to give some quick honorable mentions to the cars from my previous wishlist that still haven’t made the cut, as I still think many of them would be a great fit for the Matchbox line.
It’s astonishing to me that we haven’t seen the new USPS NGDV in Matchbox form yet, as it seems like a perfect fit for the Moving Parts line. Matchbox made a model of the Grumman LLV that the NGDV was built to replace, so I have to imagine the only thing standing in the way of the new model is licensing.
The Citroen DS3 Racing remains one of my favorite “forbidden fruit” cars, and its relative obscurity and cult following would make it a great fit for Matchbox, especially as they work to expand the line in more European countries. That said, I can understand if the pegwarmer status of models like the Citroen e-C4 and Ami makes Matchbox hesitant to add more models from the same brand.
The Koenigsegg CC850 was always a bit of a pipe dream (much like the Veyron Vitesse), but I would still like to see either it or the Chimera in the Matchbox line. I still view this as Koenigsegg’s most iconic body style, and we just don’t see enough of it from the Mattel brands. Even if we never see the CC850, Hot Wheels is at least releasing a CCXR which will hopefully correct the sins of the previous Agera casting.
That’s it for this year’s wishful thinking! Remember, this isn’t news – it’s a thought exercise and a chance to reflect on the direction I’d like to see the Matchbox brand go in the coming year. We’ll have to wait until the line preview at the Gathering to get a better view of where Matchbox is actually going, and I will be covering all the news from the Gathering right here as always. Hopefully some of these models will be there!
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