2024 Hot Wheels Fast & Furious Mix 1 Is Here for Your Money

Mattel is one of the most successful companies on Earth for many reasons. We get so many castings and variations from El Segundo that it's impossible to get bored of this hobby. Repeats are annoying when they happen, but people will buy those, too, if they have a strong motivation.

The first Premium Fast & Furious set for 2024 is on its way, and I'm already mesmerized. There are five cars inside, but there is no chase item here. And I've already singled out the ones I need to have on display.

Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno

Mark Jones is the only man who designed two castings in this new set. The Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno is one of them. Since its debut in 2020, we've seen ten variations.

So far, it has been a 50:50 situation, with five premium iterations and five mainline ones. Five-spoke wheel designs have been the most popular, with six-spoke ones coming in second. This time, the Hachiroku is rolling on Real Riders eight-spoke rims, a perfect fit for the Japanese icon. Despite its status, the AE86 was not one of the hero cars in Tokyo Drift.

But it did pop up in at least one scene when the Evo was drifting through the parking lot. For once, I'm not mad about the simple gray finish. It works with a car like this, and I like the contrasting tinted windows.

Ford RS200

The Ford RS200 feels like a rocketship next to the AE86. But we must acknowledge that these cars serve different roles and are not playing in the same league. This casting has been around for the same time, but there are only five variations to collect.

Unlike the Hachiroku, it's a Premium-exclusive model if you don't consider the iD variation. At this point, white is slightly overused as a base color for the rally-legend. But it's not annoying yet. I imagine licensing deals aren't always accessible. But I would like to see a replica of Liam Doran's black RS200 soon.

1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda

Phil Riehlman designed the 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda for its 2009 New Models release. The casting underwent multiple Mainline iterations before graduating to the Premium class in 2011. The Vintage Racing Cuda looked spectacular in Metallic Blue with white eight-spoke rims, but Mattel only produced two more similar iterations over the next decade.

Sadly, we've already seen a black Fast & Furious release before, in 2020. I will need to have both models before me to see their differences. And that might not happen too soon. I'm not saying this isn't a cool car. I'm just pointing out that it's the last vehicle from this set that I would spend my money on. I can already hear some older collectors yelling: "Sacrilege!" so please forgive me for my unwavering love for Japanese sports cars.

Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR32)

People will likely be fighting for this one when it arrives in stores. I wonder if collectors will ever get tired of the Skyline GT-R. Chances are, it will fade away in 20 or 30 years from now when the automotive industry looks very different. Jun Imai designed the BNR32 casting, and it's wild to think that it has only been around since 2019.

A complete collection will still entail 13 vehicles, most of which are highly desirable. Even though we've had an almost identical version of this car in 2019, Mattel has changed the card art. That alone could convince collectors to make another purchase. But if you didn't get the first model, you will likely pick this one up. I'm in the same situation here.

2003 Honda NSX-R

Here comes another repeat model. If Mattel didn't have other NSX castings on offer, people would have been mad with this new release. Coming up with the same design after all these years makes you wonder: is the diecast manufacturer trying to eliminate leftover stock?

Or did the NSX-R perform so well in the first round that it's back for more action? It could be either option. I'm thrilled we had a Mountain Drifters version in 2022, and the white-on-white color combo was perfect. But how long must we wait until Mattel starts using the remaining color pallet that Honda offered for the NSX-R?

Think Indy Yellow Pearl, Sebring Silver, and, of course, Monte Carlo Blue Pearl. I guess we should treat Mix 1 as an appetizer for 2024. But it's about time we get to see a Premium version of either Paul's Evo VII or Sean's Evo IX.