EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,
Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot Wheels announced
Luis Rodriguez and his 2JetZ custom
car as the winner of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, a 15-stop tour
that scoured the nation in search of a custom car worthy of being
made into a 1:64 die-cast toy. The tour was launched in celebration
of the brand's 50th anniversary.
Rodriguez's 2JetZ, an open-wheeled jet car, was chosen from more
than 3,600 custom cars entered in the Legends Tour and selected for
its originality and arresting design. The announcement was made at
the 2018 SEMA Show, world-renowned auto show in Las Vegas, where all 15 finalist cars are on
display alongside Hot Wheels' fleet of life-size vehicles.
"All our Legends finalists on display at SEMA are winners — each
custom build embodies originality, authenticity and the garage
spirit," said Chris Down, SVP &
General Manager, Hot Wheels. "The 2JetZ looks like it performs and
everything about it was built from the ground up. Its forward
design aesthetic will add variety to the Hot Wheels line and is a
car that both adult fans and kids will love."
The 2JetZ design is inspired by a fighter plane in honor of
American veterans. With more than 600 horsepower and a driver's
seat in the middle of the vehicle, the car is crafted with a focus
on high-performance and high-end design.
"Hot Wheels has crowned me as a winner, and I get the chance to
represent some of the most creative and beautiful designs that I've
seen," said Luis Rodriguez. "With my
car, I wanted to create something from scratch that tested my
ability as a builder and I am happy that the 2JetZ has taken me on
this journey."
A team of judges, including Hot Wheels designers and automotive
influencers, chose the Legends Tour winner for its authenticity,
originality and garage spirit. The final team of judges included
Jay Leno host of Jay Leno's Garage; YouTube influencer
Tanner Fox; legendary Hot Wheels car
designer Larry Wood; and car
enthusiast Magnus Walker, among
others.
"Hot Wheels has always been about variety and this year's 15
Legends finalists are a perfect example of that," said Down.
"While 2018's winner is an open-wheeled jet car, who knows
what we will see from next year's Legends challengers!"
SEMA Show attendees are invited to visit the Hot Wheels Pavilion
(Booth #61045 in Silver Lot 1) to see all Legends Tour finalist
cars and vehicles from the Hot Wheels Fleet. Also on display are
Hot Wheels' 50th anniversary collaborations, including
PUMA's custom sneakers inspired by the life-sized Hot Wheels cars
and MOMO's Hot Wheels 50th anniversary-inspired high
performance steering wheel and shifter.
The Legends Tour winner's life-size car and die-cast version
will be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends, a
collection of one-of-a-kind cars immortalized as Hot Wheels
die-casts that meet the brand's high standards of style and
performance.
To learn more about how Hot Wheels is celebrating its
50th anniversary, visit www.HotWheels.com and
follow #HotWheels50.
To check out the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends visit
www.HotWheels.com/GarageofLegends.
About Mattel
Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) is a leading global children's entertainment
company that specializes in design and production of quality toys
and consumer products. We create innovative products and
experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through
play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic
franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®,
American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas &
Friends® and MEGA®, as well as other popular
brands that we own or license in partnership with global
entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television
content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations
and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with
the world's leading retail and technology companies. Since its
founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in
exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach
their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.
Media Contacts:
Marissa
Beck
Mattel Global Communications
Marissa.Beck2@Mattel.com
310-252-4974
Seagren Doran
Weber Shandwick
SDoran@webershandwick.com
212-836-3012
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SOURCE Mattel