5 Best Hot Wheels Audi Cars

I only have four or five Hot Wheels Audis in my collection, but expanding has been on my mind lately. Mattel has been expanding its portfolio of German castings recently, and fans have been thrilled about it all. But there are considerably fewer Audis than Chevrolet or Ford models. Even with the newly launched Elite 64 RS 7, there are only 14 castings to collect.

Some, like the '09 Audi TTS, the Henson-designed R8, or the Avus Quattro, are already a thing of the past. The latter was available between 1993 and 2001 and was even part of the 1997 Treasure Hunt series, but I'll discuss that in a future story. I highlighted the five best Hot Wheels Audi cars in this story, which required some decisions. The '90 Quattro race car is one of my all-time favorite HW castings, but it has only been around for a short while. There are no Premium variations yet, but I can tell you that it will be part of the Super Treasure Hunt series in 2024.

The RS 5 Coupe and the RS e-tron GT are still Mainline items with little to show. And I've reluctantly decided against including the S4 Quattro on this list, as there are only three variations in total, even though they're all on Real Riders wheels. Your list might look different, and my preferences could change over the next few years. But for now, here's what it looks like.

Audi R8 LMS

Mark Jones designed the Audi R8 LMS for its 2018 Car Culture: Eurospeed release. That First Edition model featured a classic Audi livery in white, black, red, and grey with Hot Wheels decals on the doors and hood. It also had a Project Cars 2 logo, which is sadly just a thing of the past.

The 2019 variation switched to Real Riders 6-Spoke Mag wheels, and the livery improved over the original R8 LMS. Mattel used this casting twice in the iD series. The 2019 Nightburnerz variation was a Target-exclusive product. It looked better in Spectraflame Black than the 2021 World Race edition in Spectraflame Silver.

The most recent iteration of the R8 LMS showed up earlier this year for the third time in the Car Culture line-up. The Race Day collectible now featured a mix of blue, black, white, and red, marking the return to a 10-spoke wheel design. All of the five iterations are relatively inexpensive. So, you can add them all to your collection for less than $100.

'17 Audi RS 6 Avant

The '17 Audi RS 6 Avant is one of three castings on this list, which Ryu Asada designed before passing away. It debuted in the Factory Fresh Mainline series in 2018, and I remember picking it up as soon as I saw it in a store near me. Mattel gave the casting a significant boost at the start, including it in the Super Treasure Hunt line-up from the get-go.

It was brilliant in Spectraflame Red with black Real Riders Aero wheels, and I'd dare say it was in the top 5 best STH models for 2018. Two more Mainline variations later, the RS 6 joined the Premium series as part of the 2021 Car Culture: Fast Wagons set. It was a more discreet look, with the dark grey paint job and the black 10-spoke wheels.

But that color combo works well for a sleeper like the Avant. We have seen three more iterations of this casting since 2021, but it's not hard to guess which one will require the most significant investment. The STH can cost as much as $100, but if you don't mind buying a loose model, it can go for as little as $30.

'84 Audi Sport quattro

Since 2014, Dmitriy Shakhmatov has designed several spectacular Hot Wheels castings, including the '96 Nissan 180SX Type X, the '16 Mercedes-AMG GT3, and the '84 Audi Sport Quattro. If I could ever afford a three-car garage, it would feature an FD RX-7, any kind of Porsche 911, and the '84 Quattro.

When this casting debuted in the 2019 Baja Blazers series, I immediately bought two for me and one for a close friend. The second variation in Dark Green looked even more exciting, and I was happy that Mattel decided to use the Aerodisc wheels again. That has been a recurring theme for this model, as it has used them three more times since.

Even better, one was a Wal-Mart exclusive, ZAMAC Audi, which is always a popular look among collectors. There are three premium iterations on the market, two of which were part of the Car Culture series. But the most expensive '84 Quattro is still the 2020 Super Treasure Hunt machine in Spectraflame Red. The red-on-white look was spot on, and the Real Riders Exotics were spectacular. And yet, I am surprised that its market value is still below $100.

2019 Audi R8 Spyder

The second R8 on this list is the road-going, convertible version. Its 2020 Factory Fresh debut revealed detailed headlights and taillights, which is decent given the price of these items. Mattel introduced a second variation, in red, that same year. But the big breakthrough arrived in 2021 with the Santorini Blue R8. The Spectraflame variation turned up the heat, as collectors are always looking for the next best Super Treasure Hunt item.

It took many years for the diecast manufacturer to realize that a clean design always goes a long way, and the chrome Real Riders 5-Spoke Modern wheels were just what this car needed. With prices ranging from $25 to $60, this is still one of the more affordable STH collectibles on the market, providing great value for money.

There's no telling what Mattel's plans are for this casting, as it has only released two more iterations since 2021. And one of them is a rehash of the non-STH Santorini Blue supercar. I could see this as part of the Car Culture series in an Exotic Convertibles set alongside similar vehicles. But only time will tell if that's ever going to come true.

'94 Audi Avant RS2

The last item on today's list is also the newest one here. The '94 Audi Avant RS2 might be 30 years old already, but the Hot Wheels casting debuted in 2021. Despite being around for only three years, we have already seen five iterations, two of which are particularly special. The first two Factory Fresh were pretty good, and both the Nogaro Blue and Polar Silver RS2s were fine, even with simple 5-spoke wheels.

I was even more impressed about the 2022 HW Wagons release in Brilliant Black (I have the same color on my FC RX-7) as it switched to the classic Aerodisc wheels. This casting also benefits from a Super Treasure Hunt release; you can buy one for less than $70! Mattel finally decided to upgrade the RS2 to premium status earlier this year. The Replica Entertainment: Forza set introduced a white Avant with an iconic Audi livery, alongside items like the '75 Chevy Blazer Custom from Jaws and three more hero vehicles we have seen before.

The best part about the latest iteration of the '94 Audi Avant RS2 is that it features white Real Riders 10-Spoke Modern wheels. It would have been a much better choice for the STH, as those collectibles must shine to stand out. I'd like to see a replica of the Tropic Green RS2 next. That would be perfect as a future Car Culture release.