The 2016 Hot Wheels Mainline has been unveiled. Proceed with caution?

This is always an interesting time, and to be honest a little bittersweet.

I actually prefer not knowing what is coming from Hot Wheels.  It means there are always little surprises every month.  But inevitably the list comes out, and that happened today.  There are still some “TBA’s” on the list, so we can still be surprised by some, but for the most part we now know what to expect.

Or do we?

Collecting Hot Wheels has been a bit of a mixed bag of late.  Some of the best castings Hot Wheels has ever done have been released in the last couple of years, but so have many of the most disappointing.  I am not talking about the fantasy models, as they are always part of the line, and I have no opinion about them good or bad.

I am talking about the models that on paper are incredibly exciting, but are executed poorly.  Hot Wheels has their reasoning, and I frankly can’t argue with it.  Hot Wheels were meant for the track, and that means they have to be compatible with the track.  I get that, but the amount of distorted models with upsloped chins that are based on real cars has been disappointing.  Hot Wheels doesn’t have to push realism – that is Matchbox’s job – but they don’t have to make cool cars unrecognizable either.

That is honestly enough complaining from me, because Hot Wheels MORE than makes up for it in their premium lines, and with unique car scene models like the 180SX and Honda Civic.  But when looking at the 2016 Mainline, history says to proceed with caution, because a model you are excited about may not turn out exactly how you think it will.

But I am optimistic.  There are some new models that are real pleasers, starting with the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car.  It is about time we see that one, and I certainly hope it debuts in licensed BMW Racing graphics.  Past that, the 2017 Ford GT, 2016 Porsche 911, and Renault Sport R.S. 01 are others, although I am petrified the upsloped chin syndrome could target the Ford.  Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen.

There are also many existing models to get excited about, including some mainline first-timers, like the Honda CRX.  Something about that one screams Super TH, but I promise I have no idea if that is true or not.

Anyway, on with the list.  Lots to digest, so take some time, and let us know what you think.  What are excited about?  What do you think of the list overall?  We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

2016 Hot Wheels Collections & Cars

HW Race Team
Corvette C7.R
SRT Viper GTS-R
Custom ’12 Ford Mustang Bull Whip
Carbonic
2008 Lancer Evolution 

(Name TBD)*
(Name TBD)*
(Name TBD)*
(Name TBD)*

X-Raycers
Stockar
Rig Storm
Clear Speeder
Speed Slayer
Bullet Proof
Vandetta
Cloak & Dagger
Pharodox
Aero Pod
Blitzspeeder (New Model)

HW Digital Circuit
2005 Ford Mustang (New Model)
’11 Corvette Grand Sport
Chevy Camaro Concept 
Ford Shelby Cobra Concept 
Honda Racer
Winning Formula
GT Hunter
Epic Fast
D-Muscle
Subaru WRX STI

Tool-In-One

Tooligan 
Carbonator
Night Burner
Fast Cash
Tee’d Off 2

Super Chromes
Teegray
Hot Wheels High
Mig Rig
Nitro Tailgater
X-StreamTM
Two Timer
Rev Rod
HW Poppa Wheelie
Monteracer (New Model)

Glow Wheels
Twinduction

F1 Racer
Formul8r
Voltage Spike (New Model)
Rip Rod
Wattzup 
Arrow Dynamic 
Loop Coupe 
Spectyte
Chicane

Mild To Wild
Aston Martin V8 Vantage 

Bone Shaker
Corvette Stingray
’10 Camaro SS
2010 Ford Mustang GT
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 
Baja Bone Shaker
’76 Greenwood Corvette
’10 Pro Stock Camaro
’13 Ford Mustang GT

HW Ride-Ons

Let’s GO
Pedal Driver
Fig Rig
Grass Chomper (New Model)
Minecraft Cart (New Model)
HW Exotics
McLaren P1
Lotus Esprit S1
2017 Ford GT (New Model)
Porsche Carrera GT
Cadillac Elmiraj
Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 
Bentley Continental Supersports 2
’16 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (New Model)
Renault Sport R.S. 01 (New Model)
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Night Burnerz
Driftsta
(Name TBD)*
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)

’69 Dodge Charger 500 
1985 Honda CR-X
Night Shifter (New Model)
Ford Shelby GT350R (New Model)
(Name TBD)*
Custom 2001 Acura Integra GSR (New Model)
2016 Ford Focus RS (New Model)

HW Flames
’69 Dodge Charger
’67 Chevelle SS 396
’77 Pontiac Firebird
’69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 

’66 Ford 427 Fairlane
’41 Willys
’52 Hudson Hornet
’70 Camaro
’65 Pontiac® GTO
’69 Mercury Cyclone

Then and Now                                                                                                                                                                                        
Aston Martin 1963 DB5
Corvette® Grand Sport Roadster 

’90 Acura NSX
’71 Dodge Challenger
’68 Shelby GT500
Aston Martin DBS
’14 Corvette® Stingray
(Name TBD)*
’15 Dodge Challenger
Custom ’15 Ford Mustang

HW Showroom
’15 Jaguar F-Type Project 7 

Aston Martin DB10 (New Model)
Volkswagen Caddy
Porsche 993 GT2
(Name TBD)*
Great Gatspeed 
Gazella GT (New Model)
Hi-Roller (New Model)
Side Ripper (New Model)
Porsche 356A “Outlaw” (New Model)

Muscle Mania
2015 Ford Mustang GT
’72 Ford Gran Torino Sport 

’73 Pontiac® Firebird®
’69 Dodge Charger Daytona 
’70 Plymouth AAR Cuda 
Camaro Z28
Muscle Speeder (New Model)
’63 Chevy® II (New Model)
(Name TBD)*
’15 Dodge Charger SRT (New Model)

HW Moto

Ducati 1199 Panigale 
Ducati Diavel
Bad Bagger
Fly-By
Honda Monkey Z50 (New Model)

Sky Show

Cloud Cutter
Skyfire
4ward Speed
Jet Threat 4.0 
Mad Propz

HW Hot Trucks
’15 Ford F-150 

Lamborghini Urus
’67 Chevy C10
Dodge Ram 1500
Bad Mudder 2
Off-Duty
Turbine Time
Custom ’72 Chevy LUV (New Model)
Dawgzilla (New Model)
’17 Ford F-150 Raptor (New Model)

HW Daredevils 
Land Crusher
Toyota Off-Road Truck 

Custom Ford Bronco 
Terrain Storm (New Model)
Tanknator (New Model)
OldsTM 442 W-30 
Skate Brigade 
Mountain Mauler
HW450F
Cruise Bruiser (New Model)

HW Snow

Stormers
So Plowed
’12 Ford Fiesta
Hover Storm
Ice Shredder
Snow Stormer

HW City Works
Speed Dozer

Fast Gassin
Repo Duty
Street Cleaver
The Haulinator
Chill Mill
Time Attaxi (New Model)
Crate Racer (New Model)
Loopster
’67 Austin Mini Van

HW Speed Graphics
’96 Nissan 180SX Type X 

Toyota Supra
Dodge Challenger Drift Car
’13 Chevrolet COPO Camaro 
’14 Corvette® Stingray
Porsche 934 Turbo RSR
Ford GT
’66 Ford Torino Talladega 
Nissan Fairlady Z (New Model)
’70 Ford Escort RS1600

BMW

BMW 2002 
BMW K 1300 R 
BMW Z4 M
BMW M4
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car (New Model)

HW Art Cars
’65 Chevy Impala
Custom ’69 Volkswagen Squareback 

Morris Mini #24836
Chrysler® 300C
Muscle Tone
Combat Medic
Custom ’77 Dodge Van
’07 Ford Mustang
Boom Box
Chevy Silverado

Street Beasts
Knight Draggin’

Bad Ratitude
Howlin’ Heat
Scorpedo
Speed Spider
Vampyra
Steer Clear
Shark Bite (New Model)
Turbot (New Model)
(Name TBD)*

HW Rescue
’10 Camaro® SS (w/Light Bar) 

Sky Knife
Chevy Blazer 4×4
Mad Splash
Dodge Charger SRT8 
HW Rapid Responder
Rapid Response 
Humvee
Street Stealth
Backdrafter

HW Screen Time

Back to the Future Time Machine – Hover Mode 
Snoopy
Grease Rod
Cool-One
(Name TBD)*

BATMAN

Classic TV Series BATMOBILE 
THE BAT
THE DARK KNIGHT Batmobile 
BatmanTM: Arkham Knight Batmobile Batmobile (New Model)

HW Games
Maximum Leeway
(Name TBD)*
Velocita Rrroadster 

Quick N’ Sik
MR11
Scoopa di Fuego 
Nitro Doorslammer
Amazoom
(Name TBD)*

HW Green Speed

Tesla Roadster 
Tesla Model S
Super Volt
Power Surge
HW Formula Solar (New Model)

Dino Riders 

Sting Rod II
Dragon Blaster
Double Demon
Fangster
T-Rextroyer

33 Replies to “The 2016 Hot Wheels Mainline has been unveiled. Proceed with caution?”

  1. Wow, I feel like all the interesting new models have already been revealed, other than the BMW. I think the adult lines are the really exciting news for 2016. Happy to see the squareback finally join the mainline.

  2. well, apart from the DB10, '73 BMW, '17 Ford F-150 Raptor, 15 Dodge Charger SRT, Porsche 356A “Outlaw”, 2001 Acura Integra GSR, 2016 Ford Focus RS, '16 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Renault Sport R.S. 01, 2017 Ford GT, and a few recolours, i am a bit disappointed, but the new stuff i have listed is great, really looking forward to the RS Focus and Raptor, the Charger and Old Porsche.

    be nice to know what the missing models are though.

  3. The CRX, though… The premium ones released were already half plastic as it was… I hope they keep the metal base, but my hopes aren't high.

    The Blazer appears to be returning to the mainline, but I am 99.999% certain it will have a plastic base…

  4. Absolutely fucking scared for the 991-spec 911 GT3 RS (may be too much, though, as Porsche is tight when it comes to this) and the lone Renault (the right measure). The New Ford GT, though? Nope. Highly confident. It's Ford's halo car, HW would be pretty hard-pressed to do it correctly. Besides, the RS, the Renault and the GT are in the Exotics sub-theme. I say they'll do fine.

    Also… GT350R, Raptor and Focus RS GAH!!! The Big 4 for Ford Performance is in full bear.
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    Wait. T-hunted says that the “Now” pairing for the Then & Now NSX is a new casting too, which isn't based on the 2012 NSX Concept. I didn't see it on the list.

  5. I can't wait for the 991 GT3 RS, the Shelby GT350 R and the Focus RS, I know that the Porsche is going too be just amazing, since Porsche doesn't allow hot wheels to do crazy unrealistic stuff to their cars, but as for the Shelby and the Focus (mostly with the Shelby) i am affraid they will screw them up, Ford has allowed them to make some really horrible castings lately, however, if the Shelby gets done the same way the 2015 Mustang did, then it will be my favorite new model

  6. Seems like its going to be a decent year. Dont see any of my favorite Hot wheels brand such as Fast Fish or Mad Manga but I do like some of the models they got out. I few of the new models I like are the Custom '69 Volkswagen Squareback (nice to get a cheap variation of it), Honda Monkey Z50 (gonna be silly), and definitely the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car as well as other. There are 2 parts of the mainline that i am still confused. What is the Tool in one and Mild to Wild? And what is thier concept?

  7. Minecraft cart? Looks like Mattel is having fun with video games this year, first the Super Mario Cool-One, then the Need for speed (2015) Nissan Fairlady Z and now this, I'm OK with it because I love Hot Wheels and video games.
    2016 looks like it's going to be amazing, I can't wait for that 2017 Ford GT! (Maybe Mattel talked with the Forza Motorsports Team and Ford for that one)

  8. I noticed the cart too while building a list of cars to look out for. (Mostly new castings that interest me).
    I may or may not get it. It's having an influence on both my personal/academic and gaming/hobby lives.

    I'm going to grab the Gt40 only because it's made locally. (By Multimatic in Markham to be precise)

    But I'm skipping on the Fairlady even though I'm a fan of part of the NFS universe. (Classic era, Shift series and NFS:W)

    HW Formula Solar is interesting to me… wonder how it's going to look compared to the Formula E spec cars from the first year. (Been following Formula E news for a few years now..)

  9. The only 2016 Hot Wheels product that I so far purchased on eBay that was eventually delivered to my front doorsteps was the Cruise Bruiser so therefore other 2016 HW products that appeal to me are the Renault,another type of blue Cadillac Elmiraj (currently I own a red & metal flake blue or at least a darker blue Cadillac Elmiraj) and I like to purchase the blue Backdrafter that's said to be part of the 2016 line up.

  10. One thing I wonder, do all the Tool-in-One cars have some kind of usable practical function? I use Fast Cash as a money clip (as it was intended), Night Burner I remember from my childhood had a fan/whistle that worked if you blew on it, Carbonator's spoiler is to be used as a bottle opener, and Tooligan has both a wrench and bit driver. What is the feature of Tee'd Off 2?

    The Honda Monkey, a mini-bike sounds great! The Raptor and Mustang GT-340 are interesting as well.

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