The Gold Standard. Hot Wheels has RLC on one end, and Basic on the other. In between is Premium, taking some elements of both but adding other unique elements. Ever since Car Culture debuted in 2016, Premium has been the signature line of Hot Wheels collecting.
And 2023 was no different. Car Culture may have taken a slight back seat to Boulevard this year, and due to some production delays all the 2023 mixes haven’t been released. But no matter where the premium models come from – CC, BLVD, 2-packs, Diorama, Team Transport, F&F – the models are always some of the most anticipated.
So that is what the Premium New Models polls are always interesting. As always, a lot of variety to choose from, and this year especially no distinct favorite to take the cake. So let’s see what happens. 
Watch the video, check out the pics, and vote in the polls below. Good luck.
(Please note, I forgot to take pics of the two licensed Haulers, the Chevy C10 and Mercedes-Benz Blue Wonder, so please refer to the video to see them.)
Was quite unusual to see them butcher the Japanese cartoons for once.
I loved the Pixar Cars Citreoën Type H, the Hot Wheels casting is an abomination.
Okay, I’m going to be very honest, this year’s assortment of new models as a whole has been quite mediocre. A lot of misses than hits – something that’s never happened before. However, on the flip side, it does mean the really good ones manage to stand out from the rest. The Group 5 Capri (which I see is winning a lot of votes already), the Escort Cosworth (a damn shame that not many people are excited about this) and the M5 are my top 3. And I’ll give the vote to the M5. Yes the casting isn’t perfect – it looks like bits of E32 7 Series mixed in with E34 5 Series, the proportions on certain parts are also off (like the front grille, wheel arches etc.) and as for this release, it’s missing the licence plate, which is a major (but fixable) miss – but I still think it’s a great looking model, and I’m most happy to see a (fairly well done) stock E34 M5 in premium, and I can’t wait to see this in Car Culture or Blvd. in authentic BMW specs, and perhaps even some racing liveries down the line, as they did race the E34 M5 in IMSA, Bathurst and other touring car races.
Now for the most disappointing model, God this was more difficult to choose than the best model, because there were so many disappointments this year. The Countach LPI totally ruined by the stupid tiny front wheels, the Integra, Torana and MX-5 also ruined by those tiny wheels, the Corrado by the bizarre bodykit (I’m not against a modified Corrado, just that this bodykit looks horrible) and the Altezza missing its door handles (how did that even happen?), among many others misses. But I suppose the one that takes the cake is the Maxima. I don’t think I need to say anything that hasn’t been said already, nor do I have the words to express. The casting itself looks wrong, let alone it being the wrong model than what it was supposed to be. However, I must also say that anticipation-wise, I’m hugely disappointed by the Altezza not having door handles, as that’s the car I was personally really looking forward to.
It’s so hard to believe, and really sad, that this year’s premium line was filled with so many disappointments, especially since last year was great, but thankfully 2024 does seem to be better from what we’ve seen so far.
Best: Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
Honourable mention: 2004 Mazda Mazdaspeed Miata
Most disappointing: 1967 Ford Anglia Racer. The only one of the latest Boulevard set I didn’t buy.