Third Hot Wheels Car Culture Set for 2024 Is Coming Right Up

I have seen previews of most of the Hot Wheels releases in 2024. I am tremendously excited about some, like the 1994 Nissan 300ZX GTS coming up in Team Transport. But I can't say the same about every single new release. Since I saw a photo of the Car Culture: World Tour set circulating online, I thought this might be the worst one for 2024.

That was my initial impression, although others have voiced the same opinion. Either way, we all think differently, so this set could be a match made in heaven if you're into VAG models. That's because they make up 50% of the models inside, but let's get a closer look, shall we?

Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0

I would love to drive an Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0 in the real world, but I don't feel as excited about the Hot Wheels replica. Fraser Campbell designed this for its 2023 Mainline Retro Racers debut. The First Edition was pretty good in the Rosso Alfa livery, with the brand new L4 wheels. I didn't care much about the following two iterations, though.

But Mattel is trying to lure us in by upgrading the casting to Premium. The Real Riders 8-spoke wheels make the car look more appealing, and I'd love to get a glimpse of this collectible up close. The card art is pretty good on each of the five models, and it looks like a Matchbox approach to the whole thing.

The interesting part is that the designers chose this vehicle as the Chase model for the set. As a result, this collectible features a black-on-black finish, and it's no 0/5 for the set. I could only track down one seller on eBay offering it for $138. I'd suggest you wait a while and see if you can find one in the wild.

'82 Toyota Supra

The '82 Toyota Supra is Lindsey Lee's work. This casting appeared in the 2023 Mainline series and went straight for the Super Treasure Hunt collection. Expect prices of up to $325 for these items if you want the carded version.

In loose form, it can cost around $70. The World Tour release is the third iteration of the classic Supra and the first Premium one simultaneously. I'm not sure the Real Riders 10-Spoke Modern rims are what this car needed, but it could work if you look at it as more of a Restomod machine.

The RS*R livery is pretty basic, and I'd probably just ignore this item if I saw it in a store. I'm sure that could change, given the right color combo and wheels. But only time will tell.

Volkswagen Golf Mk7

I grew up in a community where people considered Volkswagen, the ultimate car manufacturer. People with "modest" incomes or sporty aspirations drove Golfs. Those who wanted a more luxurious approach went for a Passat.

As such, I was rather annoyed with the situation, even though my family bought a Seat Leon. I've driven a few GTIs, and they're not bad cars. But they're not in any way aspirational to me, either. I would rather not buy a Hot Wheels version of a VW Golf. Mark Jones designed this one almost a decade ago, and it's no stranger to the Car Culture line-up.

This casting has only had two Premium iterations thus far. So, VW fans will love this third edition. I'm usually fond of the white and blue color combo, but I'll leave it to someone else to buy this collectible.

Volkswagen Brasilia

I have never seen a Volkswagen Brasilia upfront. But I understand why Mattel wanted a tiny replica of it. After all, the car manufacturer sold over one million examples, so there's a cult following for this rear-engine compact car.

It's not as big as with the Beetle, but it's still there. York Bleyer designed the casting for its 2011 New Models debut, and you could collect seven different variations up until 2015.

And then there was silence. Almost a decade later, it's back more appealing than ever. I probably wouldn't have opted to paint the Classic 4-spoke Real Riders wheels black, but what can you do about it?

Audi S4 quattro

The Audi S4 quattro is the most enticing casting (to me) in the new World Tour set. I'm particularly a fan of the first two iterations in blue and yellow, but the 2023 Boulevard release isn't half bad, either.

As far as I know, we'll be seeing the S4 quattro in the Car Culture:2-Pack series this year, too. But if you'd like something different for your collection, you need the World Tour iteration.

Light Silver Metallic is a usual choice for an Audi like this, and I can finally accept the use of black wheels. I might pick it up if I ever come across it in a toy store. How about you? How would you rate this new Car Culture set?