Over the years, we’ve seen Hot Wheels toys inspired by characters from every facet of pop culture, from Star Wars to Beauty and the Beast. Now, Hot Wheels and Nintendo are announcing the ultimate mash-up of both brands, with the global release of Hot Wheels Mario Kart die-cast vehicles and track sets. A mixture that seems like it was always meant to be, the iconic and beloved Nintendo characters and karts from the hugely popular Mario Kart franchise have been transformed into authentic, high-performance die-cast toy vehicles.
The Hot Wheels replica line features 1:64th scale die-cast Mario Kart vehicles that can race, stunt and crash on a variety of Hot Wheels Mario Kart track sets that bring the gameplay to life. The die-cast karts are also compatible with existing Hot Wheels sets. At launch, the assortment will include Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Bowser with many additional characters coming soon such as Princess Peach, Koopa Troopa and Toad. Three game-inspired track sets will also be available, including these Hot Wheels Mario Kart Track Set Course-Inspired Assortments: the Piranha Plant Slide Track Set, the Thwomp Ruins Track Set, and a Hot Wheels Mario Kart Circuit Track Set.
Hot Wheels’ Matt Brutocao had this to say on this about the iconic pairing: “Mario Kart and Hot Wheels are two of the most iconic brands in play, each with their own storied history and devoted fan base, so the combination of the two is something very special. Our new Hot Wheels Mario Kart line creates an exciting Mario Kart play experience, complete with fun characters, authentic details and the type of out-of-this-world racing challenges that are synonymous with Hot Wheels.”
To celebrate of this historic pairing with Nintendo, Hot Wheels will feature Mario Kart at San Diego Comic-Con from July 17-21, 2019. Attendees will have access to an exclusive Hot Wheels Mario Kart “Metal Mario” die-cast vehicle, available for purchase only at Mattel’s booth or for pre-sale at shop.mattel.com.
The Hot Wheels Mario Kart die-cast vehicles and track sets will be available in the U.S. exclusively at Target.com and select Target stores starting June 23rd, 2019, as well as at select retailers around the globe this summer. You can check out images of these cool new Hot Wheels/Mario Kart toys down below.
Images: Mattel
