Hot Wheels Chevrolet Camaro

(Monday 30 October 2012)

Chevrolet is about to become the first manufacturer ever to offer a full-sized production car based on the Mattel Hot Wheels model range. A prototype version of the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition made its debut at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas earlier this week, and a small production run will start, and shortly afterwards stop again, in the first quarter of 2013.

As with the regular Camaro, this one is available with a 432bhp 6.2-litre V8 engine and manual gearbox or, as reviewed here (though that car was a convertible and the Hot Wheels ones will all be coupés), a 405bhp version of the same engine and automatic transmission.

The Hot Wheels Edition differs from regular Camaros in that it has black 20" wheels, the front upper grille and rear spoiler from the even more powerful Camaro ZL1, a perhaps optimistically named "ground effects package" and lots of cool graphics including an abundance of Hot Wheels logos.

Inside, the leather upholstery, instrument panel and door inserts are all black, though with some contrasting red stitching, and there's yet more Hot Wheels branding.

Pricing hasn't been confirmed yet, but is bound to be some way north of the £35,025 and £36,525 cost of the standard manual and automatic respectively. European-market ordering opens on November 8, and Chevrolet has confirmed that the car can be bought in the UK, though it also points out that blister packaging and an orange race track will not be included. On a similar note, looping the loop is probably best avoided.

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