New Hot Wheels Boulevard Set Is Up Next, Feels Like a Winner

Just like with Car Culture, we last saw a new Boulevard release almost three months ago. That one was Mix 3 for 2023, and I'm lucky enough to own the Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno that was part of the set. Still, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI was probably the most exciting car in the collection.

But of course, some of you might feel different about it all. Today, we're looking at a preview of Mix 4 for 2023, which contains three German machines, one from Japan and one from the USA. And I'd dare to give this set four stars out of five even before seeing them up close.

Audi S4 quattro

The first casting here is the Audi S4 quattro, and it might be the least visually appealing collectible in the set. The Audi Motorsport-inspired livery has worked great with cars like the IMSA 90 or the RS2, but something seems missing here. Mark Jones designed this casting for its 2021 Car Culture: Deutschland Design debut. I gifted that Nogaro Blue edition to a friend who's a huge Audi fan just last year. The casting looked even more spectacular in Imola Yellow.

The third iteration may or may not be as successful, but that's up to everyone to decide for themselves. The livery isn't the only new thing in the equation, as Mattel has opted for a set of Real Riders 10-spoke wheels. The previous two variations had six-spoke ones and didn't feature a black finish. We're bound to see many more iterations of this casting in the future, so now might be a good time to start collecting them if you're a fan of the design.

Porsche 930

This is the car every Hot Wheels collector has been waiting for for some time now. Sure, it has been around since its 2022 Replica Entertainment debut, but only some enthusiasts cared for the Cyberpunk-inspired livery. A second variation appeared earlier this year for the 23rd Annual Collectors Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. Don't be surprised to see one listed for $350, as Mattel only built 4,200 units!

The new Boulevard version will be more common, but it sure looks like one of the most incredible 1/64th-scale Porsches out there. There's no livery to get in the way of the simple, yellow paint job. And for once, I don't mind seeing that the Real Riders Exotic rims have a black finish. This could easily be one of the best Hot Wheels Premium collectibles in 2023, but who knows what other surprises the diecast manufacturer has? I might pick up two once they arrive in stores to keep one carded.

'70 Dodge Hemi Challenger

The '70 Dodge Hemi Challenger is the only American vehicle in the upcoming Boulevard set and the only one that Mark Jones didn't design. That was Phil Riehlman's job, and some of you might be able to tell that it's the oldest casting here. It first appeared in Metalflake Dark Purple, with the 2006 First Editions series rolling around on PR5 wheels.

Only a short time after, the Challenger received Real Riders wheels, with multiple variations coming out in 2007. The 2011 Dick Landy Vintage Racing model was pretty awesome too, and you can pick one up for less than $40. If you want the complete collection, there are over 40 variations of this casting. And the 2014 Collectors Nationals one is likely the most expensive at around $300 apiece.

But at least you'd have a rare one of 2,000 units on display. The new Boulevard release is the fourth one for 2023 and the first Premium model since the 2021 Pony Rides Collector Set. There's only a thin white stripe to contrast the black body and black Real Riders Steelies, and you can almost imagine the sound of the 426 CI V8 under the hood.

Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16

Most people will agree that the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 is as exciting as the 911 Turbo in this set. Mattel has been doing great with all the new MB releases as of late, and I've seen people fighting over some of them in stores. Interestingly, the company has mainly used this casting for the Car Culture series. It debuted with Modern Classics in 2017, then it was part of Eurospeed in 2018 before moving to Open Track and Team Transport in 2019.

Two more variations appeared in 2021, but nothing new for 2022. And yes, this is a Premium exclusive casting! Also, all the variations above will cost less than the rare Period Correct release! Mattel only made 750 of those; some might ask as much as $1,000 for their prized possession. But enough about the past, let's focus on the future! The new iteration of the iconic Mercedes-Benz features a spectacular Evergreen finish and sits on Real Riders Exotics. This is just what you'd imagine seeing on Saturday night at Daikoku Futo in Japan, and I wouldn't be surprised if this color combo is inspired by a real car.

Nissan Silvia (S15 NISMO R-Tune Proto)

The last collectible in Boulevard Mix 4 is a JDM icon that any drift fan will pick up immediately. Jimmy Liu helped Mark Jones design this machine for the Replica Entertainment: Forza Motorsport set almost five years ago. It arrived dressed up as the "Mona Lisa" from Tokyo Drift just one year later, and I still regret selling this one today. It's worth mentioning that Mattel has two more S15 castings in its portfolio, one of which is no longer in active use.

As for the Liberty Walk version, watch out for a Premium release in Boulevard by next year at the latest. The rarest variation of the 2018 casting appeared earlier this year. One of the more expensive listings on eBay is at $500 or Best Offer, as there are only 5,000 units to go around. That's rarer than most if not all RLC models today, and I can only imagine how much more it will be worth in 10 or 20 years if Mattel keeps growing its business at a similar rate.

You'll see the same Coppermix livery on RC drift cars, and it reminded me of Team DriftMonkey from Norway. The S15 is one of the most successful drift chassis ever, with multiple titles won in D1GP over the past 20 years! Mattel is coming up with new versions of this casting, and with any luck, we might see another version of Slide Street or Mountain Drifters shortly.

There's still one more Boulevard Mix in the works, and I've already seen an initial sketch of it if you're interested. There are two new castings inside, one of which is the '67 Ford Anglia Racer. The other is part of a trio of Japanese machines, two of which will make us reminiscent of the '90s. The final car is the Asada-designed Porsche 935, but I'll reveal more information about them in another story soon enough.