10 Best Hot Wheels Mainline Cars of 2023

The diecast manufacturer released 15 mainline cases in 2023, which equates to about one every 24 days. That adds up to 1,080 Hot Wheels cars, about three per day. But in today's dynamic market, you always need something new to keep the customer interested. So, with every new case, we'll see at least one brand-new casting and several recolors.

And I was curious to see how many new cars appeared in the 2023 mainline series. I counted 58 of them, only 22 of which are fantasy models. That leaves us with 36 brand-new licensed vehicles, an average of just over two per case. I initially planned to select the five best ones, but it felt like an impossible challenge due to all the cool designs. I decided to bump up the number to ten instead.

The following list reflects my preference, and yours might look different. Some of you may be shocked that I haven't included the Bugatti Bolide year, but I never even saw one live. The 'Tooned cars were exciting, but cuteness alone wouldn't have helped them make it onto this list. Despite my love for the Mazda 787B, it's not on this list, as we have seen it in the premium series.

And I get all the hype surrounding the '82 Supra, but I'm just not a fan of the classic Supra shape. I last wanted to include Mad Mike's new 787D drift car. Yes, you read that right. The tiny Hot Wheels casting came first, and I'll try to cover the topic more extensively in a future story. But let's get back to our topic of interest.

Audi '90 quattro

There's something unequivocally exciting about the raw sound and power of a turbocharged, inline-five-cylinder engine. I loved the Group B Quattro from the first day I saw it, and it's only natural that I felt the same way about its racetrack-going sibling: the IMSA-monster '90 Quattro. Fraser Campbell designed this casting, and in 2023, Mattel delivered two iterations as part of the Retro Racers Mainline series.

The first featured the iconic Audi livery, while the latter had a slightly different color combo. With AeroDisc wheels on all four corners, this is one of my favorite Hot Wheels castings ever. And the upcoming Super Treasure Hunt version will undoubtedly cause a commotion when it arrives in stores.

Rimac Nevera

I've been following Mate Rimac's project since he was still driving the electric BMW E30, and I somehow feel like I've been part of his journey, if only from the outside. So when the Croatian company finally revealed the Nevera, I was more than stoked to see the fruition of over a decade of hard work.

Manson Cheung designed the tiny Hot Wheels replica of the electric hypercar, and the first iteration looked spectacular in Riviera Blue. I'm surprised the designers from El Segundo opted for Galactic White on the second variation, but I'm sure we'll see some more exciting colors in 2024.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7

Mattel introduced three different Porsche mainline castings in 2023. But the 911 Turbo 3.6 is a 'Tooned model, and I'm not a big fan of the 928S Safari. On the other hand, I would cry happy tears if I even had the chance to drive a 911 Carrera RS 2.7 for ten minutes.

It's not the most powerful Porsche ever made, but there's more to cars than simple numbers. The Fraser Campbell-designed casting arrived with two variations in 2023, and there's one more on the market for 2024. I've bought all three of them, and I can't wait for the following color combo.

'89 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG

Undoubtedly, the car that caused the most considerable stir in the Hot Wheels community in 2023 was the '89 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG. I've seen people hoarding dozens of these, some trying to sell them for as much as ten times their market value. Sonny Fisher designed the casting, and it almost looks like a premium model with detailed headlights and tail lights.

Black was the perfect choice for the First Edition model, as it also had black Retro Slow Wheels with a chrome lip. The second variation arrived in Metalflake Silver, but collectors are eager to get their hands on the upcoming Super Treasure Hunt variation in Spectraflame Red.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution

There were several Hot Wheels SUVs to choose from in 2023, but is any of them as unique as the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution? The Japanese manufacturer reportedly sold less than 3,000 units, which might be rarer than the Tommi Makinen Evo!

Dmitriy Shakhmatov designed this casting, and it first appeared in the Mud Studs Mainline series featuring the iconic Ralliart livery. I didn't necessarily enjoy the white variation, but Mattel is betting big on this casting for 2024. That's right, it will join the Super Treasure Hunt series and might arrive in case J.

Volvo P1800 Gasser

We covered the topic extensively when "Ain't No Saint" won the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour. Lee Johnstone worked with his three daughters to build the Volvo P1800 Gasser, and I remember I couldn't wait to see it in the palm of my hand. Mattel had Lee Johnstone and Manson Cheung working on the project before its HW Dream Garage debut.

I think the Hot Wheels Legends Tour concept is one of the best ideas the diecast manufacturer has implemented recently, and it all adds more realism to one's collection. Of course, the First Edition model is an accurate replica of the actual car. But sadly, I'm not sure if any of the upcoming iterations can be as exciting.

Nissan Patrol Custom

The same man who designed the Pajero Evolution also handled the Nissan Patrol Custom; the result is almost as good. Who doesn't remember seeing videos of these monsters drag-racing up some random dune in the desert? One of the best things about this casting is that you can see the engine, which is similar to the Nissan Maxima Drift car.

The Custom Patrol was quite popular among fans of the genre this year, so it comes as no surprise that Mattel released three variations in less than 12 months. We've already seen a fourth one for 2024; all use BLOR wheels.

BMW 507

The BMW 507 is yet another impressive appearance in the HW Mainline series. But it may be too rare and old for the masses to appreciate. It wasn't very successful as a car when it debuted in the '50s, but it did enjoy a lot of popularity with collectors in 2023. When I found them in stores, I immediately picked up two white ones but skipped the red ones.

I will undoubtedly add the upcoming yellow model to my collection, and I hope to find the Super Treasure Hunt model for 2024. The latter is the only one so far not to use the Deep Dish 8-Spoke wheels.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

I have yet to drive the Volkswagen ID. Buzz yet, but some of my colleagues did, and they seemed to enjoy it. While I'm still not rid of the range anxiety that comes along with EV ownership, I would love to have one in my garage as a fourth or fifth car.

Lindsey Lee designed this casting, and we've only had one variation. As it featured a yellow paint job, I instantly bought one for my display at home. For some reason, I feel we might see it in a Premium series next, and it might work as part of a Team Transport set alongside the I.D. R.

Ford Escort RS2000

I couldn't forget about the Ford Escort RS2000. Fraser Campbell designed this one, and we saw three variations in 2023 alone. The white and red ones are my favorite, but I guess the black ones aren't half bad, either.

Mattel has had a fast production line for this casting, with two more iterations arriving in 2024. One is a Super Treasure Hunt model, a peak point for the Escort RS2000, no doubt. Good luck finding one for less than $40!