Every Once in Awhile a Hot Wheels Mainline Seems More Valuable than $1...

You know the Hot Wheels mainlines I'm talking about. The ones you pick up every time you walk past them in your man-cave. Or the one you take a 2nd look at before stashing it in a Rubbermaid bin. Worse yet, when you see it in the stores it's nearly impossible to leave behind, even though you have 5 at home already. You're at the pegs desperately wracking your brain for a possible nephew you might give your 6th VW Caddy or Datsun Bluebird Wagon to.

With Mattel putting out nearly 400 basic $1 models a year including re-colors and zamacs, it's hard to keep track. Yet every year there seems to be 5 or so models that stick out like a sore thumb. They're so well cast, so well detailed and perfectly decorated that the $1 price point boggles your mind. I find myself asking how such a work of art is only $1? Of course I'm aware of all of the plasticky Micky-Mouse models that feel like 50 cents would be too much to ask, but I can't help but marvel at some of the absolute gems Mattel has included in the mainline over the years.

I've picked out a few such gems from the past 4 years (2013-16) that have me stopping and staring. I don't know if it's the extra tampo work, perfect decoration or spot-on casting choices, but at $1 these Hot Wheels are a good kind of head-scratcher...

 Happy Collecting!!

via : http://thewesterndiecastreview.blogspot.com/

Jeep Launches The Wrangler And The Grand Cherokee In India

Mr.Kevin Flynn, President and MD, FCA India

The legendary 75 Year old Brand, Jeep has made its debut in the Indian Automotive Industry. Jeep is known for its authentic tough SUV style looks, carrying forward this heritage the brand has launched the Wrangler and The Grand Cherokee in India recently. Jeep is a brand owned globally by FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) and the company would be introducing this lineup in India as direct imports (Completely Built Units). The company will add another vehicle to this line-up, an all-new, premium Jeep SUV, when local production starts at its Ranjangaon manufacturing facility, near Pune, next year.

The Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Grand Cherokee will be sold through 10 Jeep distribution outlets called Jeep Destination Stores, in nine Indian cities by the end of this year.  These Jeep Destination stores are expected to provide complete all-round premium experience for the customers. FCA plans to focus a lot on providing the original Jeep experience to customers, as part of its retail strategy in order to bring them closer to the virtues of the Jeep brand and its Product Capabilities. In addition, Branded Jeep Assist, a 24/7 helpline and roadside assistance program is being offered which will cover the vehicles for a two year, unlimited mileage period. Toll free assistance will be provided 24/7 in case of accidents and breakdowns and additionally, customers will be provided with a return journey Business Class air ticket or a hotel stay.

As far as the lineup of the cars being introduced goes, Jeep will be offering the Wrangler in a single variant with four-door trim called as the Wrangler Unlimited, the Grand Cherokee lineup will include the fast and aggressive version called as the Grand Cherokee SRT, the luxurious Grand Cherokee Summit and the classy and refined Grand Cherokee Limited. As far as the prices of these cars are concerned, Jeep has not compromised on pricing at all and the Jeep Wrangler comes at a price of Rs.71.59 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom) while the Grand Cherokee lineup’s price range between Rs.93.64 Lakhs (for the Grand Cherokee Limited) to Rs.1.12 Crores (for the Grand Cherokee Luxurious).

Commenting on the launch, and celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Jeep Worldwide Mr.Kevin Flynn President and MD, FCA India said that,

Jeep pioneered the SUV segment and the concept of off-roading . Now we are providing our Indian customers with access to what Jeep has to offer by launching the Jeep Wrangler, the most capable production 4x4 vehicle in the world and the luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most awarded SUV of all time.

via : http://www.motorzest.com

Audi allroad shooting brake

The brand with the four rings is extending its design language in the Audi allroad shooting brake. The compact two-door show car combines a host of visual elements of future sports car models with the Audi-typical allroad concept and "shooting brake” car body form. Its user interface strategy also offers an outlook on future production solutions.



“The show car combines sex appeal, highly efficient e-tron-quattro technology that produces 300 kW of power yet only consumes 1.9 l/100 km (123.80 US mpg) of fuel and cutting-edge electronic applications,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of AUDI AG, Technical Development. “We are offering very concrete glimpses of the near future in this show car.”

via : http://zumzumauto.blogspot.com/

The symphony of the future

Electric cars do not output any sound themselves. At most a quiet hum. Dr. Ralf Kunkel, Head of Audi Acoustics, and Nick Mason, drummer for Pink Floyd, have a few ideas about the future sound.



Dr. Ralf Kunkel – Head of Audi Acoustics

Instead of reducing engine noise and transforming it into a pleasant noise level, Dr. Ralf Kunkel is currently working on getting the electrically powered models of the Audi e-tron family to make any noise at all.

“Until now, pedestrians could simply localize a normal combustion engine by its sound. This is different with electric cars. At speeds under 25 km/h you can hardly hear it at all,” explains Dr. Kunkel. “Of course, that is associated with certain safety risks. Above all for people who rely on sounds, such as those with visual challenges.”

But what sound should be used for orientation here? A beautiful and full quattro sound? Or the potent roar of a Le Mans winner?

“In the future, we will not simply be able to rely on the sound patterns of the past. A petrol engine should sound like a petrol engine. A diesel like a diesel. Every car has its own character. What is essential to us is that an electric car should make an unmistakable sound."

“I find that the sound used for vehicles of the future in science fiction movies is an interesting approach,” admits Dr. Kunkel. And he refers to a blockbuster in which an electrically powered Audi inspired the fantasy of the year 2035 back in 2004. “The Audi RSQ from the Hollywood movie “I, Robot” reveals just a bit of what might lie ahead.”


Nick Mason – drummer for Pink Floyd

The drummer Nick Mason, founder of the legendary band Pink Floyd and a first-class sound creator makes the following recommendation on a visit to Audi Design in Ingolstadt: “Perhaps customers could download the sound for their electric car like a ring tone.” However, a look at today's current hit list of ring tones is not especially promising.

"Is an Audi even an Audi without engine sound?” asks the competent race car driver in the discussion session. The Audi design team presents a movie for :Nick Mason, in which the highlights of Audi racing history are shown with a soundtrack of high-tech sound that comes very close to what Dr. Kunkel imagines.

Mason is speechless; the effect is fantastic. A designer from the team casually expresses a great truth: “When driving is fun, you don't even think about the sound after a few seconds. It is simply there, and it is magnificent."

But Nick Mason offers one more small tip as a joke. “Actually, all you need is string and a tin can. Then you would have your sound.”

via : http://zumzumauto.blogspot.com/

The Strange World of Hot Wheels 'Regular' Treasure Hunts...

How do you feel about Hot Wheels Regular Treasure Hunts? How's that for a loaded question? I have mixed feelings about them, but ultimately the program makes sense. I quit collecting back in 2007 when Hot Wheels first introduced the super/regular Treasure Hunt dichotomy for reasons that had nothing to do with Treasure Hunts. When I came back to collecting in late 2013, the first thing I started looking for were Treasure Hunts.

Greenlight, M2 and Majorette hadn't yet penetrated the Canadian market, so it was either Hot Wheels or Matchbox. I still didn't get the whole Matchbox thing then and was ignorant about Boulevard/Retro/Pop Culture lines. So I started looking for Treasure Hunts. I quickly figured out that Regular Treasure Hunts were just basic mainline cars with a 'circle-flame' logo printed on the vehicle. Since Supers were so hard to come by for me at the time, I decided to make a go of finding Regular Treasure Hunts.

They were pretty easy to find and I was having a ton of fun. Half way through the year I decided to see if I could find 100 Regular T-Hunts in a year. Come New Years Eve, I had 95. (I lived in a town with 1 Wal Mart) Then came the not-so fun realization that I had nearly 100 worthless cars and some definitely weren't very cool. Others, like the El Camino, LaFasta and Mazda RX-7 were worth buying regardless of that little flame logo. On the other hand, models like the Night Burner and Fangster had me wondering what I'd done.

I ended up getting rid of my extras. I'd found 14/15 of the 2014 Treasure Hunts. Only the Subaru eluded me. I also learned an invaluable lesson: LEAVE THE REGULARS BEHIND. My new rule is I buy only 1 of each Regular Treasure Hunt. If it's unusually nice, I allow myself a 2nd to crack open. Of course I believe you should BUY WHAT YOU WANT. So if you want to buy 12 Regulars, I couldn't care less.

Ultimately, Regular Treasure Hunts are FUN for beginning hunters like I was in 2014. I had a blast with Regulars back then and finding them was a thrill. They're great for kids too, provided the kid actually realizes what they've got. I've taken opportunities to teach kids what they are at the pegs.

What about the models themselves? Most are duds. I believe Mattel does this somewhat intentionally to ensure peg-warmers become hot sellers. Other times, they throw us collectors a bone. Look at the recent Corvette, or 2014's El Camino next to 2015's Tread Air. You'll see what I mean...

Happy Collecting!!

via : http://thewesterndiecastreview.blogspot.com/