Hot Wheels, the beloved toy car brand, is launching a new TV show on NBC. This is not the first time the diecast Vehicles have been on filterbut this time it is not an animation program aimed at children. Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge Seems like a reality show about building life-size cars that captures the spirit of orange track-tested toys.
If we understand the premise correctly, each of the episodes will feature Hot Wheels “superfans” competing against each other as they “[turn] a nostalgic car from their past into the life-size Hot Wheels of their dreams.” The show is hosted by former Top of the line WE presenter and car guy Rutledge Wood, while the finished creations will be ranked by different celebrity judges on each episode. The personalities will be guided by Dalal Elsheikh, designer for Fordand Hert Eugene Jr., an influencer in the drifting scene.
Of course, as a reality show, not everything will be as simple as it seems. The producers will throw a spanner into the build with something called the Inspirationator 5000, which is described as “a larger-than-life vending machine that will rev up through each episode to present Superfans with a twist on the road.” No other details were provided.
The winner of each episode receives $25,000 in cash and the chance to be in the season finale. The final episode will see a three-way competition with $50,000 up for grabs. The winning build at the end of the 10-episode season will not only take home cash, but their car will be immortalized in miniature as a a Hot Wheels toy car that you can purchase.
Unlike many other die-cast model car brands, Hot Wheels has carved out a niche for itself. Rather than replicating small-scale cars with pinpoint accuracy, the toys should give the impression of speed. They’re designed to be raced on endlessly configurable plastic tracks, and Hot Wheels designers create many fantastic designs that have no real-world analogues. Even Hot Wheels versions of popular cars – which include everything from Mustangs to Skyline GT-Rs – tend to feature custom stances and spoilers that aren’t exactly stock.
“Everyone remembers their first car, the life experiences they had and the friends who drove them,” said Corie Henson, executive vice president of NBCUniversal, “Hot Wheels is a legendary brand that has created a space for the imagination to express itself freely.”
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