Exciting Hot Wheels Set of Five Cars Is Up Next, Pays Tribute to the Fast & Furious

I've been planning to watch the first movie in the series with my car-obsessed buddies for some time now. I've seen it at least 30 times before, but quite a few years have passed since the last time. While Tokyo Drift has had a more substantial effect on me from a driving perspective, considering it focuses on the art of going sideways, the original film still has a nostalgic feel to it.

So you can imagine my surprise when I saw the newest set Mattel is about to release in stores worldwide. We've already seen all the cool cars in the series replicated at a 1/64th scale, but some have evaded the process. But we'll get to that in a second.

Mia's '96 Acura Integra GS-R

Most people will probably forget about the four-door Integra GS-R when thinking about cool Hondas. The DB8 is quite the sleeper compared to the DC2, at least if you won't go crazy with aero and visual upgrades. Hot Wheels has been producing Premium Fast & Furious cars for a few years, so surprisingly, Mia's car from the first movie has yet to appear.

It's not a big part of that film, we'll give you that, but it's still a memorable appearance for anyone who is a big fan of the series. As expected, this car features a Metalflake Blue finish, and Real Riders Six-Spoke Mag wheels for that JDM look. You'll find larger-scale replicas of Mia's vehicles from other manufacturers, but we're happy to see one from Hot Wheels either way. And for most people, this will be the highlight of the third Fast & Furious mix for 2023.

'99 Nissan Maxima (A32)

Seeing a second brand-new casting in the same set is fantastic, indeed! While the character driving this Nissan Maxima A32 in the first movie was quite annoying, it's still a must-have item for enthusiasts. Reportedly, this car featured a supercharger, which meant it had a total output of around 250 hp.

That doesn't sound impressive, especially compared to the Supra or the Charger, but that was enough for a sidekick then. Mattel used the Metalflake Dark Blue color to mimic the original Dodge Viper GTS Metallic Blue paint. The Maxima is rolling around on Real Riders Five-Spoke Modern wheels, and we can certainly acknowledge it as one of the leading contenders for the Best Cars in the set.

BMW M3 E46

The BMW M3 E46 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting castings Hot Wheels has ever come up with, but there's one problem I'd like to address here. Mark Jones designed this casting for its 2020 release when it featured a white paint job and Turquoise Real Riders Ten-Spoke Modern Wheels. That was also a Fast & Furious release, so you should understand the problem here.

You will need help noticing any difference between the 2020 and 2023 iterations. Sure, this is a replica of a car that appeared in Furious 7, but it's still disappointing to see the lack of originality here. M3 fans will find five other variations of this casting on the market, and the 2021 Deutschland Design iteration in Laguna Seca Blue is the coolest. But the 2022 Mexico Convention release is slightly more notable given the context, although it will cost you more to get one.

Ford Shelby GT350R

The set's last two items are also the oldest castings here. Dave Root designed this Shelby GT350R for its 2016 Night Burnerz introduction. It was just a Mainline collectible for several years, but it entered the Premium series in 2021 as part of the Fast & Furious: Furious Fleet set. One look at that iteration will tell you everything you need to know about Mattel's marketing strategy.

It is identical to the 2023 variation, or at least it's hard to tell them apart without having both in front of your eyes concomitantly. This will feel like an excellent idea for people just taking up the hobby, but some veterans aren't happy about it. And there's always that dilemma: "Should I buy the whole set for collecting value or just the items I genuinely love?"

Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA

The last item in the new Hot Wheels Fast & Furious set is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA. Some of you may be completely unaware that this car appeared in a Fast & Furious movie, but those who have seen Fast X will probably recognize it. Mark Jones also designed this casting, and the best part about it is that it's a Premium-exclusive model! That makes it even more appealing to collectors, especially if they were already fond of the Italian brand.

It has seven variations on the market, including this new one. My favorites are the 2016 Forza Motorsport First Edition model, and the 2020 Door Slammers release. This new Orange iteration is the second one for 2023 and features the same Real Riders Steelie wheels as its "Spettacolare" predecessor.

I've only come across one seller on eBay that advertises selling Mix 3 of the Hot Wheels Fast & Furious set so far, and he is asking $73 for it. If you can be patient for at least two or three more weeks, you can buy it for half that price. In the meantime, you can look for other older sets. Or you can locate the recent non-premium releases that include vehicles such as Neela's RX-8 or Sean's drift-spec Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

One thing is for sure; you shouldn't worry about finding enough Hot Wheels Fast & Furious collectibles for your display at home. But remember that a complete series doesn't come cheap. We expect a cost of at least $2,000 for all of Mattel's Fast replicas in existence if not more.