Mattel has released a new Hot Wheels range under its Brick Shop line this year. The collection includes seven buildable vehicles in three sizes, with models aimed at both display and play. All sets use a stud system compatible with Lego bricks.
The range consists of the Speed Series, Elite Series and Premium Series. Each set includes a matching 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast car.
The Speed Series includes the Cadillac Project GTP Hypercar, Maserati MC20 and ’68 Camaro. Each set is in 1:32 scale, contains between 236 and 289 pieces, and is priced at $19.99.
The Elite Series includes the Corvette Grand Sport, ’90 Acura NSX and ’62 Chevy Pickup. These sets are in 1:16 scale, contain between 858 and 918 pieces, and are priced at $49.99. Features include functional steering, opening elements and metal wheel covers.
The Premium Series currently consists of one set, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. It is in 1:12 scale, has 1,600 pieces and is priced at $119.99. It includes opening gull-wing doors, metal parts and decals.
So how does Mattel Brick Shop match up to Lego when it comes to build quality, diversity of pieces and overall appearance of the finished product?
History
Lego entered the dedicated display car segment in 2015 with its Speed Champions range, starting with Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche models in six-stud-wide form. A 2020 redesign to eight studs wide allowed for more accurate proportions and detailed interiors. Sets typically cost $24.99 to $29.99 and include 200 to 300 pieces.
The change to eight studs brought a significant boost in popularity, with the models now bearing a closer resemblance to their real-world counterparts.
For more advanced builds, Lego offers its Icons range (formerly Creator Expert), which has included the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and, most recently, the Shelby Cobra. These sets generally cost between $150 and $250 and exceed 1,000 pieces, with more complex building techniques and display-focused features.
In terms of pricing, Mattel’s Speed Series comes in below Lego’s Speed Champions, though with slightly fewer pieces, offset by the inclusion of a die-cast bonus car. The Elite Series sits between Speed Champions and Icons, offering larger scale and functional elements at a lower price than comparable Icons models. The Premium Series Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is markedly cheaper than Lego Icons cars of similar scale, while adding metal detailing and a die-cast counterpart.
Mattel’s previous brick-based Hot Wheels sets, produced under its Mega brand, used a different system with limited Lego compatibility and were aimed at younger children.
Build quality
Brick Shop sets use standard stud geometry, allowing full compatibility with Lego pieces. Colours and certain specialised parts differ, particularly those with integrated steering or metal detailing.
One notable distinction is Mattel’s extensive use of bespoke parts created for specific models. Lego seldom produces pieces for a single set, favouring versatility. This approach gives Brick Shop cars a smoother, more realistic appearance – often resembling a solid model rather than an assembly of bricks. Lego’s designs, in contrast, embrace the visible brick-built aesthetic.
Which should you buy?
Mattel’s Speed Series and Lego’s Speed Champions cater to younger builders and casual buyers, offering enjoyable, compact builds. The Elite and Premium Series, alongside Lego’s Icons line, target older hobbyists seeking larger, more complex models for display.
At present, Brick Shop sets are more affordable, though they can be harder to find due to high demand. Lego, meanwhile, offers a far broader catalogue, including this year’s tie-up with Formula One to produce all ten cars from the 2024 season, as well as film tie-ins such as Fast & Furious and James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5.
Verdict
As a collector who only began building brick-based cars this year, I regard the arrival of a credible Lego rival as a welcome one. While Lego remains my primary choice, limiting myself to its releases would mean just 15 to 20 builds a year.
Mattel’s Brick Shop debut offers a well-judged mix of classic and modern supercars in multiple scales to suit different levels of commitment. It has some way to go before matching Lego in stature, but it is well-positioned to appeal even to loyal fans of the Danish brand.
For enthusiasts, more competition can only be positive. Lego remains the leader in brick-built cars, but the arrival of Mattel’s Brick Shop means that lead may not go unchallenged.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
LUKA CHUPPI
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
Rating: 3/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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AWARDS
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Company%20profile%20
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
