Paul A. Eisenstein at the TheDetroitBureau writes that a life-size Hot Wheels-edition Chevy pony car is debuting at SEMA Show in Las Vegas. General Motor’s (GM) Chevrolet division and Mattel (MAT) have combined to put the Hot Wheels name on a special edition of the 2013 Camaro. Chevrolet and Mattel have had a long and prosperous relationship. The toy company has produced matchbox-sized replicas of the pony car since 1968, a year after the real Chevy Camaro first landed in showrooms.
Chevy has used the Hot Wheels theme for several years at its SEMA stand, last year positioning a bright yellow version of the Camaro at the base of a life-size track. The blog reports that Chevy plans to actually add a Hot Wheels edition to the line-up. It will come as a $6,995 upgrade on both the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro and Camaro Convertible, sales scheduled to begin early next year.
For the money, the special edition will get a bright metallic paint scheme that could come from the local toy shop – special graphics, red-lined 21-inch wheels and Hot Wheel flame badges on the fenders and trunk lid.
The Hot Wheels Camaro will feature matte-blac
k touches around the hood and tail light surrounds. And the upgrade will also borrow some trim pieces from the high-performance Camaro ZL1 package, including the rear spoiler, front grille and front splitter.
The black leather-trimmed interior will boast Hot Wheels logos embroidered on the front seats, which are finished in red and black stitching. The Hot Wheels flame will adorn the door interiors with special Hot Wheels Edition sill plates completing the package. Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment package will come standard.
The Hot Wheels Camaro can be ordered with either the Chevy 2LT package with its 3.6-liter V-6, rated at its stock 323 horsepower, or the 400-hp 2SS package featuring the 6.2-liter L99 V-8. The 2SS will be delivered with a dual-mode exhaust system, as will the 2LT equipped with a manual gearbox.
Chevy can only hope to match the success of the 1:64 edition Camaros that Mattel has sold by the millions over the last 44 years. The pony car was one of 16 original Hot Wheels models – a favor being returned as the Chevrolet Hot Wheels Camaro becomes the first production car to carry the toy series’ name.
The project was launched in 2010 and initially was focused on the concept model unveiled at the SEMA Show last year. The final production design for the 2013 street car was taken from one of five sketches worked up by Hot Wheels chief designer Felix Holst.
“It’s been nearly 20 years since I started designing cars for Hot Wheels and I have yet to drive one home,” said Holst, the vice president of creative for the Mattel Wheels Division. “Personally, I can’t wait to open the doors and see the Hot Wheels Camaro sitting in the garage.”
