Hot Wheels #Fast & Furious Premium is here! I, for one, am ecstatic that Hot Wheels finally decided to give these cars their own premium line at 1:64 scale. Nothing against the basic ones that have appeared at Walmart since 2013 as I have sought each and every release of those out to appease my inner-Fast&Furious-nerd, but as someone who loves the fact that Hot Wheels does #TV & Movie Cars, I always prefer the most authentic-looking replica I can get.

Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline R34 from the 2019 Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series (rear view)

The latest iteration of Brian O’Conner’s #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) from the 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) flick may have some Hot Wheels collectors saying, “Again???”; but when compared to the prior three releases, this #Fast & Furious / Fast Imports release leaves those so far behind, they are practically dusted with NOS fumes.

Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline R34 from the 2019 Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series with the other three 2 Fast 2 Furious releases (group)

If you have all four — go ahead, line them up. If not, feel free to take a peek at my pictures below. The #Fast & Furious / Fast Imports release’s details become even more apparent when you do. Let’s start with the obvious. #Real Riders on any car are essentially an upgrade, and while the #Real Riders 6-Spoke Mag Wheels aren’t necessarily a perfect match, they do have the same number of spokes as the movie car. Beyond that, you notice the headlights. Yes — just as any premium car should have — it has the full, front & rear detail. This release even carries over marker lights, badging, and sponsor logos.

Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline R34 from the 2019 Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series with the other three 2 Fast 2 Furious releases

One of the things I like about plastic-spoiler Hot Wheels castings is the color break it provides. The premium #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) casting that Hot Wheels uses has the metal spoiler. However, with a premium release, comes the ability to color that silver spoiler its rightful blue.

You’re a fan of rear detail? Great. All four releases have those signature #Skyline taillights, but its the #Fast & Furious / Fast Imports release that has the best. That taillight detail is only part of the full detail which is rounded out by the brake light, #Nissan logo, GT-R badge, and the “2F2F03” license plate.

Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline R34 from the 2019 Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series with the other three 2 Fast 2 Furious releases (rear view)

If the first series in the #2019 Hot Wheels #Fast & Furious premium line is any indiction of the cars to come, fans of both Hot Wheels and Fast & Furious are going to scoop these up — all of them! This line kind of seems long overdue. We have had that basic #Walmart-Exclusive line since 2013 and its produced some decent replica cars. But with the basics, you really don’t get the types of new castings that a premium line can introduce. As a result, we had to see a car like the #’70 Ford Escort RS1600 be introduced as a new model in 2015, before it could be in the Fast & Furious themed assortment in 2017.

We had also seen Mattel release a whole stand-alone line of #Fast & Furious vehicles, however, those were done in a larger scale and most Hot Wheels collectors — such as myself — did not gravitate towards those as I think Mattel had hoped.

Ultimately, this initial #Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series sets the tone for the new premium line. It is anchored by the #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) which has proven to be a hot commodity despite being released in the 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) deco several times before. The #Nissan Silvia (S15) is done with the popular, new casting in the highly-requested “Mona Lisa” deco from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) … and should be one of the more popular cars when this is all said and done. The #’70 Ford Escort RS1600 — just like the silver Skyline — blows away its previous releases with its full deco and #Real Riders. As far as the #Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera and the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32), they aren’t really iconic Fast & Furious cars as they only appeared as props (non-moving vehicles) in two different scenes, but they are sure nice to have!

Hot Wheels 2019 Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series: Nissan Silvia (S15), Lamborghini Gallardo LLP 570-4 Superleggera, ’70 Ford Escort RS 1600, Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34), and Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32)

Personally, I cannot wait to see what other cars the new, premium #Fast & Furious line yields. I’ve been told that there are some great mixes in the fold so this may be a series you should reach out to your favorite hobby dealer for. Normally, I’m against doing the cars that have been done before, but with the kind of upgrade this line presents, I would actually be all for some — in moderation. Especially is they look as this #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)!

RELEASE DETAILS: Silver Body (metal). Tinted Windows. Dark Gray Interior. Chrome Real Riders 6-Spoke Mag Wheels. Matte Black Base (metal). Made in Thailand. Toy# GBW78. Released in 2019 as #1 of 5 in the Fast & Furious / Fast Imports series.

This new #Fast & Furious line offers the ability to appease Hot Wheels fans with some classic cars from the original, The Fast & The Furious (2001). With Toyota and Hot Wheels at an impasse over licensing, there are slim chances the Supras make it into the line for this year. However, its been rumored that we will finally see two new castings (’95 Mitsubishi Eclipse & Volkswagen Jetta MK3) as well as a retooled ’95 Mazda RX-7. Time will tell how many favorites we see by the end of 2019, but for now, if you’re wondering what has been released thus far, make sure you check out the video of the collection I posted on the OTD YouTube channel.