By Brad Bannach
Hot Wheels releases dozens of New Models every year. In 2020, there are over 50 being introduced in the mainline alone. Have you ever wondered what the story is behind them? Why the licensed models were chosen? How the designers came up with the Hot Wheels original designs? Let’s take a look at the latest creations to come out of El Segundo, and see what the designers who designed them have to say.
Big-Air™ Bel-Air™
Hot Wheels Designer: Brendon Vetuskey
First Appearance: 2020 Hot Wheels mainline, Mix K
Mini Collection: Rod Squad
The Big-Air™ Bel-Air™ is a throwback in all sorts of ways. First, that name. It's a throwback to when Hot Wheels were named – not only based on the model of car, but also their presence. This Baja-racing Bel Air is designed to catch some major air as the Baja 5-spoke wheels are orange track compatible. Hot Wheels designer Brendon Vetuskey reimagined the original Hot Wheels ‘56 Chevy® casting design when he pulled inspiration from modern throwback trends for this Baja-racing beast.
What makes this brand-new casting super cool is that Brendon decided to forego the standard window piece that most Hot Wheels basics have in favor of an additional “interior” piece that allows for some great color breaks in the casting. Doing this made the exposed shocks, roll cage, light bars, and fuel tank protruding from the casting’s body possible. It's details like these that are going to make this casting a collector favorite in the years to come. Will it rival the ‘55 Chevy® Bel-Air® Gasser in terms of popularity? Those are big shoes to fill, but this is another design by Brendon that seems destined for stardom, as collectors will certainly be giving him another "Tri-Five Hi-Five" at the next convention.
While you’re at it, you might as well give his wife, Coco, one, too. She's listed as the “driver” of the Big-Air™ Bel-Air™, as her name is tampo-printed on the roof in white. Brendon’s name is in the co-pilot spot on the passenger side. To further emphasize that Baja racing is definitely a team sport – and a “marriage” of ideas – their anniversary date (July 18th) is on the side as this car’s official number (718).
Erikenstein Rod
Hot Wheels Designer: Eric Han
First Appearance: 2020 Hot Wheels mainline, Mix J
Mini Collection: HW Hot Trucks
As the name implies, this rat rod is a melting pot of ideas, “frankenstein’d” by designer Eric Han. He is a huge fan of the Hot Wheels (2019 New Models) design, the Mod Rod. When its designer, Hot Wheels Design Manager Dima Shakhmatov, approached Eric to do another rat rod design for a “family of rats,” he jumped at the idea of designing a unique vehicle.
Eric’s love of rat rods extends back to his days in Detroit. In his spare time he watches the TV show Roadkill, which can be found on MotorTrend's streaming service. Earlier this year, we offered a subscription to that service along with a two-car set inspired by a Roadkill project, and Eric went into his design with the Roadkill mentality, that this could literally be anything.
Since Eric wanted to make the design something he would actually love to drive, he made a “to-do list” much like you would for an actual 1:1 build. He began to research ‘50s and ‘60s trucks, and immediately knew that the vehicle had to have a super-wide front with bulging fenders. Being from Detroit, Eric said this design had to have a “Detroit drop,” which is essentially the slamming of a 2WD pickup. In addition, the truck couldn’t have a hood, as he wanted to have a specific supercharger on a big blown engine. Eric made sure wheels on the Erikenstein Rod were designed to be the max width a Hot Wheels basic car would allow, while also incorporating a rear-mounted radiator, some nitrous, and a rat – all things to look for in this design!
Eric spends the majority of his time designing track and playsets, but when he got his opportunity to design something that didn’t need to be track compatible, he personified his inner spirit by caging the beast known as Erikenstein – a name given to this creation by fellow designer Ryu Asada. This first thing Eric did when he received his first sample? He shot it through a slam launcher and a booster, likening the experience to that of a cannonball.
The Erikenstein Rod is the second of three cars in the “family of rats” mentioned earlier. The third is yet to come, but as it stands, this rat pack – which also includes the Mod Rod – is going to be highly collectible, with an ultra-cool, matching matte steel blue and gold motif.
Grand Cross
Designer: Lindsey Lee
First Appearance: 2020 Hot Wheels mainline, Mix K
Mini Collection: HW Race Team
The brand-new Hot Wheels Grand Cross is a design that Lindsey Lee holds close to her heart, as it was a design that could be traced back to her college days. She actually designed the basis for the Grand Cross as part of her personal thesis project, giving it a name that meant “Little Fiery One.”
While meeting with her design manager, fellow Hot Wheels designer Dima Shakhmatov, Dima suggested Lindsey’s Crossover Utility Vehicle be reworked for its inclusion into a specific category the design team had been looking to fill. Lindsey made some updates to her original design that represented “femininity and fire,” and the end result is what we now know as the Grand Cross – a grand touring, crossover utility vehicle.
Lindsey is extremely excited to see what the Hot Wheels Graphics Team does with her design in the years to come, while her original 1:5 scale model of the “Little Fiery One” currently is on display in her home.
‘91 GMC Syclone
Hot Wheels Designer: Brendon Vetuskey
First Appearance: 2020 Hot Wheels Mainline, Mix H
Mini Collection: HW Hot Trucks
Hot Wheels has always had a deep appreciation for custom cars – and trucks for that matter. That’s why, when you see the release of a stock model, it’s usually because that car is already pretty “syck.” Enter the Hot Wheels ‘91 GMC Syclone. Based off the 1:1 of the same name, the Syclone was the high-performance version of the GMC S15/Sonoma. The first Hot Wheels release comes in the same standard black all 2,995 1:1 Syclones were painted in 1991, and the Hot Wheels RA6 wheels were used to mimic the original pattern of the Syclone’s alloy wheels.
Party Wagon
Hot Wheels Designer: Manson Cheung
First Appearance: 2020 Hot Wheels mainline, Mix H
Mini Collection: HW Screen Time
Thirty-three years after its debut in the animated TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the iconic Party Wagon finally becomes a Hot Wheels vehicle. This pizza-slingin’, mobile party machine is a must-have for any fans of the original TMNT series, as it was the Turtles’ crime-fighting vehicle of choice for much of the 10 seasons the show was on the air. It was always a popular choice of ‘80s/’90s pop culture fanatics to make into a Hot Wheels vehicle.
Thankfully, collectors first got their wish fulfilled at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). Hot Wheels designer Chris Colangelo, is a long-time fan of TMNT – since the start of the comic book days, long ago – and it was his idea to make the TMNT Party Wagon for SDCC. The 2019 SDCC release is very different from the Party Wagon that is now appearing in the 2020 HW Screen Time mini collection. With opening and moving features AND all four Turtles sculpted into it, the SDCC release will pretty much be a special one-off. The level of complexity, along with the size, made it impractical for standard retail lines – despite the original plan to remove the figures and seal the door. So, Hot Wheels designer/sculptor Manson Cheung designed this new tool to fit the requirements needed for it to be part of the basic range. So, while the SDCC piece certainly has an absurd amount of detail, it's this mainline release that has a ton of play value – and you don’t need to attend a special event to get one.
Manson has long frequented the forums here on HWC so it should come as no surprise that his favorite Turtle is Michaelangelo. Mikey was the cool, goofy jokester that loved pizza – so it's clear Manson sees a little of himself in his favorite Turtle. The Party Wagon is the latest casting in Manson’s portfolio of epic vehicle designs from your favorite TV shows and movies.
Which of these are your favorites from 2020 so far? Let us know in the comments!
Items and dates subject to change. Production cars may vary from the photos shown. Mattel reserves the right to modify the color, decorations and wheel type.
2020 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
By BIGBADBRAD01
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New Models Update #1: a Baja Racing Bel Air®, Frankenstein’d Truck & MORE!
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