Highlights (and Letdowns) from the 2027 Matchbox Line Preview!

A bit of inside baseball: in order to try to turn around this blog post as quickly as possible, I had the intro pre-written.  No specifics of course, since I didn’t know what would be announced.  It was just a general statement about how we saw a bunch of cool new models and how I couldn’t wait to see them on shelves.  After that perplexing Line Preview presentation, I had to scrap it and rewrite this whole intro…because, frankly, we just didn’t see a bunch of cool new models.  Instead, we got one of the most disappointing preview presentations of the last decade.

This year, Matchbox decided to do their presentation Hot Wheels-style, where they only showed the first few mixes of the year.  Traditionally, Matchbox has shown the entire planned lineup for the year, with the understanding that some models may get cut or shuffled around as licensing and production limitations popped up.  The reasoning given for this change was that despite the Matchbox team growing to seven members, the upcoming Matchbox movie took up so much of their time that they hadn’t yet finalized what the rest of the line would look like.  It’s clear they’re behind on the modeling work too, because we saw only one display case of 3D printed prototypes where there would traditionally be two. 

It’s a bit worrying to see them so far behind, but perhaps it’ll be a blessing in disguise because what precious few models they did show were largely disappointing.  At least the unfinalized line should allow the Matchbox team to course correct more quickly…

We all know Matchbox has been struggling with distribution issues and slow inventory turnover, and Matchbox claims to be aware of those issues too.  Yet so many of the new models we saw during the presentation seemed destined to warm the pegs, which leads me to worry that we could see another situation where we get a few cases that just won’t leave the pegs to make room for new products. 

To make matters worse, many of this year’s new castings feel like they have far too much overlap with existing castings.  We already have great castings of models like the Ford RS200 and R32 GT-R from the blue brand down the hall, so it feels wasteful for Matchbox to reproduce them.  Other models like the Toyota Tacoma and Land Rover Defender already have existing castings in other Matchbox lines, which feels like an even more unnecessary use of a precious production slot.  Heck, by my count there will now be four Unimog castings from Matchbox alone! 

Another big change for the Matchbox lineup this year is the addition of several new wheel designs, and this announcement could be good or bad.  There has definitely been a need for more wheel designs, especially for the Collectors series, but some of the prototype wheels don’t look that great.  It’s obviously too early to fully judge them, but my stomach dropped as soon as I saw these giant monster truck wheels on this 4Runner Surf.  That’s Hot Wheels stuff, it looks stupid, and I want it nowhere near the Matchbox line.  Matchbox has a reputation for perfectly-proportioned, realistic replicas of real trucks, and I would hate to see them follow Hot Wheels into the land of cartoonishness. 

There were plenty of cool recolors on the display board, at least, but I see cause for concern there too.  While I’m glad to see desirable models get issued recolors quickly to keep hype for the brand going and to allow more collectors to get their hands on those desirable models, I worry that Matchbox might be going a tad overboard with some of the recolors this year.  Case in point: the new McLaren F1 GT.  After debuting this year to much fanfare, it is now scheduled to appear three times in the first half of 2027.  The flames that burn brightest burn out the fastest, and while the F1 GT is a supremely cool car, there are only so many realistic paint colors to put on it.  Matchbox seems determined to blow through as many of them as possible as quickly as possible, which might hurt them in the long run. 

From what I can gather from the reactions of other collectors online, it seems like I’m not alone in my disappointment this year.  Hopefully Matchbox can learn from these reactions and get back on track in the later part of the year, but for now that’s enough ranting from me.  Let’s take a closer look at what they did show.  This won’t be a comprehensive list (I’ll leave that to David Tilley), it’s just a collection of the models that I found noteworthy – good or bad.  Let’s jump right in with:

Mainline: New Castings:

2024 Ford Raptor T1+ & 2024 Audi RS Q e-Tron E2

Meet this year’s hottest new pegwarmers!  Sure, they may both be licensed models, but they look nothing like any vehicle you would see out on the street.  Purpose-built rally trucks like this have historically been poorly received by both Matchbox and Hot Wheels collectors, so I’m not sure why Matchbox decided to double down on them.

Meyers Manx EV 2.0

Speaking of a history of being poorly received, remember when Hot Wheels released a green Meyers Manx in the Boulevard line?  Of course you do, because odds are there is still an assortment of them at your local Walmart!  Granted, Matchbox’s version does look a bit better to my eye, but I’m still not sure it’ll sell well.  I know I’ll be passing it up. 

2004 Subaru Impreza WRX

This is easily the model I’m most excited for next year.  These blob-eye WRXs were everywhere in my high school parking lot, and I’ve always had a soft spot for them.  During the presentation, Matchbox explained that they didn’t have the rights to the STI this year, but I think that’s okay.  The “standard” WRX is also an interesting car, and it’s much more common to see out on the road than the STI.  Plus, medium-performance models like this are so often overlooked by diecast companies that it feels like a breath of fresh air to get one like this.  I can’t wait to see a prototype once it’s ready. 

2027 Ram 1500 SRT (TRX)

By Matchbox’s own admission, this model is a TRX in everything other than name.  Matchbox has a history of making great trucks, and the TRX is among the coolest trucks on the market, so I think this was a good choice for the line.  However, I’m a little underwhelmed by the prototype.  The back doors look a bit too long to me, and I also don’t like the look of the rollbar in the truck’s bed.  I know it’s an option on the real TRX, but I think it looks a bit silly on the real truck too.  Plus, Hot Wheels included one on their TRX, so it would have been nice to see Matchbox omit it just to help differentiate their model.  Perhaps we could see a bed variation on this casting? 

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250

In what is a bit of a theme this year, Hot Wheels also already has a model of the new Land Cruiser, but I’m still excited for Matchbox’s version.  I wasn’t a huge fan of the cartoonishly oversized wheels on the Hot Wheels Land Cruiser, so I’m hopeful that Matchbox will give us a stock one with better proportions.  There was no prototype of this model shown, so we’ll have to wait and see.

2024 Nissan Skyline GT-R

The first of two new GT-Rs from Matchbox this year is a facelifted R35 GT-R.  While I’m not necessarily sure we needed another R35 GT-R in the diecast world, I am glad that Matchbox went with this facelifted look, rather than the 2017 GT-R that all the other diecast brands have made.  It’s a bit too close to the R35 GT-R Nismo that now exists in both the mainline and Moving Parts lines, but I’m still looking forward to it nonetheless. 

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

My feelings on the R32 GT-R are very similar.  Did we really need yet another R32 in the diecast world?  The Hot Wheels R32 is already a great model with several fully-detailed, premium releases, but maybe Matchbox will surprise me with something even better. 

Scout Traveler & 1976 Scout Terra

It’s become a bit of a meme that car companies fail as soon as Matchbox makes a model of them, so perhaps Scout should be worried by Matchbox’s decision to include two Scouts in the lineup this year.  After all, it didn’t work out so well for Polestar or Fisker.  Omens aside, I can’t help but question the wisdom of adding another electric SUV to the Matchbox mainline. 

1986 Ford RS200 & 1987 MG Metro 6R4

It seemed fitting to group these two together, since they’re both rally cars that have been made into excellent Hot Wheels premium castings already.  Since even the Hot Wheels premium MG Metro doesn’t seem to sell that well, I’m not sure what makes Matchbox think it will work for them.  At least the RS200 has a lot of heritage with the Matchbox brand, since they made a model of it back in the 80’s.  Still, I think I will probably pass on both of these models since I already have the Hot Wheels versions in my collection.

Slate Truck

While I don’t personally have a ton of interest in the Slate truck, I think that this is one of the best executed prototypes in the display case this year.  It looks basically perfect – fittingly small and square, with very apparent panel gaps.  All it needs is a primer-gray paint job and it’s ready to go!  To make it even more appealing, it will have variations for either the pickup “halo” or the SUV topper randomized during production.  So cool!  Since the Slate only comes in one color, I’m not sure what future recolors will look like, but the debut version should be a must-have.  (I just hope Slate can break the Matchbox curse!)

2025 Toyota GR86

I’ve wanted a GR86 in the Matchbox line since the new generation debuted in 2022, but this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.  Unfortunately, Matchbox decided to make a lifted rally version of the GR86 with a giant wing on the back and rally lights at the front.  Based on the prototype, it also appears to be lifted compared to a stock car.  As a result, I’m just not that excited about it, but I’m sure some collectors will be.  Perhaps some customizers can turn this one into the version I wanted. 

2024 Ford Bronco Raptor

We didn’t see a prototype of this Raptor so it could go either way based on what wheels it gets.  The presentation slide doesn’t specify “new wheels” so hopefully it won’t get those new monster truck wheels from the 4Runner Surf.  Matchbox did specify that this Bronco will have doors, which is great to hear! 

1986 Renault R5 Turbo

The R5 Turbo feels like a perfect Matchbox model choice.  It’s obscure, a bit weird, and very cool.  Based on the prototype, it appears that Matchbox chose to make a rally version of the R5 Turbo, rather than the stock version I would have preferred, so whether I pick this model up or not will likely come down to the deco. 

Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023

This Unimog isn’t particularly interesting to me in and of itself, but it’s significant in what it represents.  Look at the size of this thing!  Matchbox announced a focus on right-sizing the line, with this model as the first example.  If we have more big trucks like this to look forward to, count me in!  That said, how many Unimogs do we need in the various Matchbox lines?  With this and another one coming this year in Moving Parts, we’re up to four different Unimog castings (5 if you count the Creations fire truck), which just feels like too many to me. 

2019 Volvo V90 Cross County 

I’m not sure if this will end up being this model’s first release, as the way it was presented seemed to imply it was a recolor, but it’s my first time seeing this casting in a production-ready deco.  It looks fantastic!  A clean paint job on a cool enthusiast wagon, what more can you ask for?  This is classic Matchbox brilliance and the kind of model I wish we saw more of during this presentation. 

Multipacks & Exclusives:

Target Red Editions

Amazingly, the Red Edition line isn’t dead!  Matchbox acknowledged how difficult these models have been to find and claims to be working on solutions.  They also had two new ones to show off: a McLaren F1 GT in mix B and a Civic Type R also labeled as mix B.  I have to assume somebody mistyped a slide and that we aren’t actually seeing two Red Editions in one case.  The McLaren looks great, but the Civic Type R is pretty disappointing.  It lacks any front or rear detailing, which just makes the model feel exceptionally cheap.  Not what I expect from a store exclusive, which are theoretically supposed to have a higher detailing budget. 

Themed Walmart-Exclusives

Apparently Matchbox is incapable of learning from past mistakes, because the first themed set of 2027 is an off-road set with two of their least popular generic castings.  Most Walmarts around me still have cars from the Off Road Rally set hanging on the pegs, which leads me to believe that this set will make it difficult to find the sets that release after it. 

Which is too bad, because this European themed set looks a fair bit better!  I don’t think it’s quite as good as this year’s European themed set with its deliciously detailed Porsches, but it’s cool to see the Aston Martin Vanquish returning already, and I hope it gets more detailing this time.  Sadly, the 911 Targa still doesn’t get detailing on its rollbar – something I had hoped would be upgraded in the transition to a themed set. 

5 Packs

There’s some cool stuff coming in 2027’s 5 packs, which I will take a closer look at in the recolors section.  For me, the European Motorway and Import Classics sets look to be the stars of the show. 

8 Packs

This assortment of 8 pack exclusives looks pretty weak, with nothing interesting enough to prompt me to pick up a pack…which is probably for the best, given how hard 8 packs are to find these days. 

Working Rigs

The Working Rigs section of the presentation featured one lone model: a recolor of the Mercedes Actros truck from the Matchbox movie, alongside some disappointing news.  Despite my hopes, it sounds like the Matchbox team is not planning to release more Convoys in the Working Rigs line going forward.  However, they signaled some openness to it based on collector demand, so consider this my first of many pleas to give us Convoys in Working Rigs! 

Mainline: Recolors/New Decos:

1997 McLaren F1 GT

I referenced this model in this article’s intro, but I figured they were worth a closer look.  We are expecting a whopping 3 additional versions of the F1 GT in the first half of 2027 alone, though the silver is the only one that’s actually part of the regular mainline.  

2023 BMW M2

The M2 is another model that seems to be getting a ton of use all of a sudden.  I really like this model, so I’m not upset to see more of it, but I do find it a little odd that we’re seeing four versions within a year.  There are dark blue and purple versions releasing later this year, alongside this excellent Zandvoort Blue version in the mainline and this gray one in a 5 pack.  I’m not sure how it took so long for the M2 to finally get its signature blue color, but I can’t wait for it as it’ll easily be the new definitive version of this casting.  It’s also worth noting that the blue version features a return of the black roof, while the gray one has a body-colored roof. 

2002 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R

This is another fan-favorite model that Matchbox seems eager to capitalize on, and I can’t say I blame them.  The red version seems to be a straight recolor, while the black one switches to 10 spoke wheels.  That’s interesting because this model was used to debut the new, smaller five spokes with the premise that the existing five spokes were too big, yet I think these bigger wheels actually look better.  They do a far better job of filling the wheel wells and the ride height doesn’t look all that much taller.  I’ll definitely have to do a comparison when I get them in hand! 

2025 Audi RS5 Sportback 

We certainly didn’t have to wait long for the RS5 to return!  Red seems like a fine color choice for this model, though I might have preferred a Nardo Gray.  Unfortunately, this Audi still seems to be stuck with these tiny six spokes that are both too small for an RS5 and a design that doesn’t fit an RS5.  I had hoped we would see future versions swap to the larger five spokes, but no such luck so far. 

2023 BMW i4 Police Sedan

I was skeptical about the potential for future recolors when this casting first came out, but Matchbox continues to find new decos for it!  This deco appears to be based on an actual police livery used on an i4 police car in New Zealand, though bizarrely the green stripe at the bottom of the doors has been swapped to red on this Matchbox version.  It probably doesn’t have a spot in my collection, but it’s a cool recolor nonetheless.

2019 Toyota 4Runner

So far, I’ve resisted picking up any examples of this offroad-modified Toyota 4Runner.  I just prefer the stock version, but this red example is definitely the most tempting release of this casting yet.  

1990 Nissan 180 SX Turbo

New Matchbox drift car incoming!  Supposedly this is a recolor, though I haven’t yet seen the debut version so it must be coming late this year.  This is our first proper look at the model, and it’s not bad.  It actually feels a bit weird to see a stock 180SX, as they’re such a rare sight in the real world now.  The ride height feels a tad high, but I like the look of the casting otherwise.  It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like the yellow on the roof might actually be printed rather than painted.  This yellow version is scheduled to release in the Import Classics 5 pack.

2025 Aston Martin Vanquish CHASE

Now this is a chase that catches my attention!  I was really looking forward to the Aston Martin Vanquish casting when it was previewed at last year’s Gathering, only to be disappointed by the lack of any front or rear detailing.  This chase version fixes those shortcomings, making it a must-have model.  I don’t love the premium wheels on it, and I find it frustrating that the only properly detailed version of this casting is a chase which means most collectors won’t get the chance to own one, but I can’t help but like it anyway. 

MBX Field Car II Convertible

There’s something diabolical about Matchbox using one of their least desirable generics for a Gathering anniversary tribute model. I can’t decide whether to tip my hat to them for making an undesirable model slightly more interesting, or to feel offended because it feels like they’re pranking their own collectors.

Moving Parts: New Castings:

Land Rover Defender D7X-R

I’m a bit torn on this model, because I really like the look of the new Defender and think it’s a cool truck, but this is now the third iteration of it in the Matchbox lineup, and I get less excited with each additional model.  Plus, this is another Dakar-ready rally truck.  If Matchbox wanted to add another Defender to the lineup, I would have preferred the Defender Octa, which is effectively Britain’s version of a Bronco Raptor.  Still, this casting looks pretty good and doesn’t have any particularly crazy mods, so I’m optimistic about it.  Also, this appears to be a new set of wheels, and I don’t hate them.  They’re a little big, but not offensively so, and they could be a decent fit for crazy offroad trucks like this. 

1975 Lancia Stratos

After being announced at last year’s Gathering and getting delayed, we finally have a prototype of the Stratos to look at!  It looks promising, which should be no surprise given that it was designed by fan-favorite Hot Wheels designer Ron Wong.  Even though Hot Wheels already has a Stratos casting, I’ve never been a big fan of it, so I’m excited to see what this Matchbox version looks like with a production-ready coat of paint! 

2025 Toyota Tacoma

I must admit, I’m really not sure what the point of this model is.  We already have a Tacoma casting in the mainline.  This doesn’t even seem to be a different trim, so all it’s adding is an opening hood.  Given that the engine has never been the star of the show on a Tacoma, this model just feels a bit pointless and lazy.  I can’t help but wonder if some of these duplicate models are a result of the Matchbox team being behind from the Matchbox movie and looking for a quick way to churn out some models.  

2021 Honda Acty

This has the potential to be a cool model, especially with the opening bed.  However, I just can’t help but think of the Subaru Sambar that became one of the mainline’s most notorious pegwarmers a few years ago before disappearing from the line entirely.  Hopefully this Honda doesn’t share the same fate. 

2013 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U530

Somebody on the Matchbox team definitely has a thing for Unimogs.  The first couple were cool, but even I am bored of them at this point.  Also, the decision to give this model opening doors rather than a moving bed is perplexing to me. 

Moving Parts: Recolors/New Decos:

2024 Acura Integra Type S HRC

As soon as Matchbox showed off the Integra Type S HRC at last year’s Gathering, I knew it would quickly run into a recolor problem.  Where the standard Integra Type S has a range of paint colors to choose from, the HRC is a concept car that only exists in bright yellow.  That means that Matchbox had to get creative for a deco, and they certainly were creative.  There’s a lot going on with this deco, and I’m not 100% sure I like it.  Between the red and white paint, black hood, and gold wheels, it just feels a bit too busy.  It’s definitely still a cool car though, and I expect it to be popular despite its deco. 

Lotus Esprit Sport 300

It’s hard to argue with this red recolor of the Esprit Sport 300 though.  It’s just as clean as the debut yellow deco, and it’s always the color I picture an Esprit in.  No notes.  

Land Rover Defender 130 CHASE

I’ve been a bit frustrated that we can’t seem to get a good, clean deco on this casting.  While this still isn’t the silver or frosted gray that I would like to see, I have to admit that it’s pretty cool.  The rubber tires and detailing on the roof box make it even cooler, so I hope to be able to get my hands on one of these! 

Collectors/Premium:

The big news for the Collectors series is the addition of five new wheel designs.  This is a huge and sorely needed upgrade to the line, but that’s not all!  The Collectors line will also feature exclusively metal bases, which should make the models feel much more premium (though it might limit the ability to use the Collectors series to add much needed detailing to mainline models).  Hopefully we’ll see some existing metal-based models like the Subaru BRZ return with new wheels this year! 

2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Surf 

This has to be the single most cartoonish Matchbox car I’ve seen in the modern era.  Even disregarding those giant wheels, the bash bar and fender flares feel wildly exaggerated.  I know it’s a concept car, but this model just doesn’t resonate with me. 

1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Targa

While it isn’t my era of 911, I can’t find any fault in the execution of this model.  The silver rollbar is detailed, the casting’s proportions look great, and the removable surfboard on the roof is just plain cool.  Even the new wheels look decent, though the tread looks a bit too chunky for my tastes.  Hopefully that gets refined a bit before this model hits production. 

2007 Porsche Cayenne

I definitely didn’t have this one on my bingo card!  Matchbox already made a mainline first-gen Cayenne, which is one of my favorite castings from the early Mattel era.  I can’t wait to see what Matchbox does with this new Collectors version!

2003 Subaru Impreza WRC

Now that’s one rally car I’m not upset to see!  Hot Wheels technically already has a casting of the blobeye STI, but there’s tons of room for improvement.  My hopes are high for this model, and I think we can all agree it needs to debut in the classic blue and yellow Subaru rally livery. 

That’s it for my rundown, but there’s still plenty of models I didn’t cover here so be sure to check out the full presentation over on the Lamley Youtube channel if you haven’t already.  Plus, I have to give a shoutout to all the creators at the Gathering sharing pictures: @nms_collection; @matchboxluke; @lamleygroup; @davidjtilley to name just a few.  I’m curious to hear what you think about this year’s preview – were you as disappointed as I was, or are you feeling more optimistic?  Of course, I’ll be covering any additional Matchbox news as it comes out over the coming months, so get subscribed so you don’t miss it!