Mattel‘s Hot Wheels brand and Nintendo are longtime collaborators, with characters from Super Mario Bros. previously reimagined into Hot Wheels Character Cars, in addition to making appearances on vehicles as part of the Hot Wheels pop culture assortments. Until now, one thing that’s been missing is an obvious entry, something previously held up by licensing: Mario Kart.
The Hot Wheels Mario Kart collection is an all-new range of die-cast vehicles and track sets that brings the long-running video game franchise to life by transforming the iconic Karts into high-performance toy vehicles.
Presented in classic 1:64-scale die-cast, the Hot Wheels Mario Kart vehicles are compatible with many existing Hot Wheels sets so that kids can race fan-favorite characters, such as Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Bowser, alongside their favorite traditional Hot Wheels vehicles. Additional characters, including Princess Peach, Koopa Troopa, and Toad, will join the line in future waves.
“Mario Kart and Hot Wheels are two of the most iconic brands in play, each with their own storied history and devoted fan base, so the combination of the two is something very special,” says Matt Brutocao, senior director of global brand marketing for Hot Wheels. “Our new Hot Wheels Mario Kart line creates an exciting Mario Kart play experience, complete with fun characters, authentic details and the type of out-of-this-world racing challenges that are synonymous with Hot Wheels.”
“Nintendo and Mattel have a shared goal of making people smile through different entertainment experiences,” says Tom Prata, EVP of strategic initiatives at Nintendo. “We’re excited to bring Mario Kart characters and game-inspired tracks to life in a way that’s fun for fans of all ages.”
At launch, three game-inspired track sets will be available, including the Piranha Plant Slide Track Set, Thwomp Ruins Track Set, and the Hot Wheels Mario Kart Circuit Track Set.
All items will be available at major retailers this summer. To launch the line, an exclusive Hot Wheels Metal Mario Kart die-cast vehicle will be offered exclusively at the Mattel booth at Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) or through the Mattel Shop.
