Mercedes-Benz 500E Meets BMW M5 and Three More Cars in New Premium Hot Wheels Set

Mercedes-Benz and Audi's castings are increasingly more popular with collectors today, given that Mattel has focused chiefly on American cars for many years. As much as I've tried to cut down on buying diecast vehicles lately, I can't help but get one or two every other week. These things bring joy to my inner child and keep me going through better or worse.

I last bought Premium collectibles a few months ago, though, and it's starting to itch, especially with the new Canyon Warriors set. The name makes me think of another Car Culture set, the Mountain Drifters. Whereas that was an all-Japanese collection, we're looking at an all-European affair today.

BMW M5 E39

The BMW M5 E39 is the first collectible inside this new set. Many fans of the German brand say that this is the ultimate M5, but then again, that might be down to nostalgia. I still remember driving the V8-powered sedan in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, but I've never sat in one in the real world before. BMW built over 20,000 units of the M5, and its 1/64th-scale Hot Wheels replica is rare too.

Phil Riehlmann designed the casting for its 2022 release as part of the BMW M Seris Collector set. That means we have only seen one iteration of this casting until now, which makes it all the more exciting. Both variations use the same type of Real Riders Five Spoke Modern Wheels.

The first car had a white finish with a distinctive M livery, while the new release has a more straightforward red paint job. M5 fans will be happy to learn that a Collectors Convention model will also be available this year, but it's likely costly.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

The BMW M5 E39 was a product of 21st-century automotive engineering. But it's time to dial things back a bit, as the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth took the world by storm in the late '80s. Ryu Asada designed this casting, and it too appeared in 2022. As opposed to the Bimmer, we've already seen five iterations of it so far.

But all of those were mainline releases, which means this is the first Premium version thus far. You can't help but like a clean livery like this, as the blue striping only adds to the racing vibes. Mattel fitted the Sierra RS Cosworth with Real Riders 10-Spoke Modern Wheels, which might have been even more stunning in a particular shade of blue.

'90 Porsche 944

Speaking of which, along comes this 1990 Porsche 944. It, too, bears the mark of the late Japanese diecast designer and has been around since 2020. It took several years before it entered the Premium club, and Porsche fans will already tell you that a Toy Fair edition is in the works too. While that one features a Spectraflame Orange finish, the Canyon Warriors iteration is a simpler blue.

The Real Riders Larry Wood 5-Spoke wheels are somewhat reminiscent of the rims used by Porsche in that era, but it's a shame they're black. This model might not be more collectible than most 911s, but it doesn't stand a chance of becoming a peg-warmer.

'74 Volvo 142 GL

The oldest car in this new Hot Wheels Premium set is the '74 Volvo 142 GL. Mattel had Mark Jones working on this project, and some of you may already know that this casting has yet to make it to the mainline series. It debuted in the Car Culture: AutoStrasse collection in 2022, and a few lucky collectors could even find a Chase version.

The latter one was black as opposed to the standard teal iteration. Hot Wheels decided to switch things up and bring some color to the game, so the latest Volvo 142 GL features an orange/red finish with no unnecessary livery to ruin the classic look. The former Real Riders 6-Spoke Mag wheels made way for the 8-Spoke line.

Unless you're a fan of the Swedish manufacturer, we doubt this will be the most popular casting of the Canyon Warriors set. Which means we've saved what's best for last.

Mercedes-Benz 500E

Look at the Mercedes-Benz 500E, a casting that has attracted much attention from Hot Wheels collectors worldwide. Lindsey Lee designed this, and it came out in 2021. I own two variations of this, the First Edition black model and the second iteration, which had a Metalflake Silver finish. Promoting this casting to the Premium line was to be expected of Mattel, and they even raised the stakes on this one.

If you can buy a sealed case of 10 Canyon Warriors from your local store, you might be lucky to find two different 500Es inside. The normal one features a Silver, two-tone finish with grey Real Riders Exotic wheels. The Chase version has that murdered-out, all-black look, giving it a menacing air. Choosing between the M5 and the 500E is tough, but the latter has a better chance of taking center stage for the latest Hot Wheels Car Culture set.

Finding this collection in a toy store near you may take a while. You can pre-order one from a hobby store online, costing you less than $40. You can always spend more for the sealed case of 10 cars. Finding the Chase variation of the Mercedes-Benz 500E might require purchasing two or three cases, which is still worth it. Some eBay sellers are asking as much as $100 for last year's Volvo Chase iteration. But the Ronin Run RX-7 is almost twice as expensive. And we expect the 500E to be on par with the Japanese sportscar. If you find one, you should keep it instead of using it for profit.