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Mattel Launches New Hot Wheels 'id' Smart Track Kit and NFC Cars Exclusively at Apple Stores

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Mattel's Hot Wheels brand is getting a major digital upgrade with the launch of the Hot Wheels Smart Track Kit, Race Portal, and Hot Wheels id vehicles, all of which are available exclusively from Apple starting today.

With the Hot Wheels Smart Track Kit, Hot Wheels id vehicles can be raced on a track that incorporates digital tracking elements through an app on the iPhone or iPad. The system allows users to keep track of speed, count laps, build a digital garage, and more, providing a mix of physical and digital play.

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The new Hot Wheels id setup includes 51 die-cast cars with NFC tags that are going to be released in six mini collections throughout 2019, with each vehicle to be priced at $6.99. Each car can be leveled up digitally, with challenges available to break race records.

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Launch vehicles include the Corvette C7R, SRT Viper GTS-R, 2016 Mercedes AMG GT, Aston Martin One-77, Howlin Heat, Motosaurus, Shark Hammer 2.0, and Arachnorod.

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There's a Hot Wheels Race Portal ($39.99) for connecting classic Hot Wheels track and scanning Hot Wheels id vehicles to measure speed and count laps via infrared sensors, and then there's a Hot Wheels Smart Track ($179.99), which provides a whole kit so kids can jump right into racing.

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The Smart Track has been designed to boost speed and enhance racing, jumping, and crashing, while also keeping track of total distance traveled by each car. Mattel says the track includes the most powerful booster the Hot Wheels brand has ever made for maximum speed.

hotwheelsportal-800x532.jpg

Each component can be purchased separately, but the Race Portal includes two id cars (and can be used with existing Hot Wheels track you might have), while the Smart Track is a set that includes the track, a Race Portal, and two exclusive id cars.

hotwheelstrack2-800x533.jpg

You can use the Hot Wheels id system with the free Hot Wheels id app, which provides a virtual garage and features for racing, collecting, and more. Gameplay modes include Collection, Portal play, Smart Track play, and digital racing.

Hot Wheels id vehicles, the Race Portal, and the Smart Track Kit can be purchased today from the Apple online store and from Apple retail locations. Vehicles are priced at $6.99, the Race Portal is $39.99, and the Smart Track Kit is $179.99.

Article Link: Mattel Launches New Hot Wheels 'id' Smart Track Kit and NFC Cars Exclusively at Apple Stores
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/14/hotweels-smart-track-kit-nfc-cars-apple-stores/
It's interesting that Hot Wheels do well while Lincoln Logs don't... it seems like they're both rather expensive toys that lack in variety of what you can do with them.

Maybe Hot Wheels mostly do better for brand/aesthetic/collector reasons? I own a few Tesla Hot Wheels that decorate my cubical at work. They've never been on a Hot Wheels track, and probably never will be.
 
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ArtOfWarfare said:
It's interesting that Hot Wheels do well while Lincoln Logs don't... it seems like they're both rather expensive toys that lack in variety of what you can do with them.

Maybe Hot Wheels mostly do better for brand/aesthetic/collector reasons? I own a few Tesla Hot Wheels that decorate my cubical at work. They've never been on a Hot Wheels track, and probably never will be.
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What a weird comparison.

Lincoln Logs, created 1916
Hot Wheels created 1968

Lincoln logs superseded by Lego.
Hot Wheels superseded by?

Not gonna try to address why Hot Wheels do better as it seem from other post of yours you never played with toys.
 
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macguru212 said:
I'd buy this if the cars had streaming wireless cameras in them.
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That would be cool

dinojr said:
Confused: How can the cars "race"? The track is only one lane wide, no overtaking?
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Maybe do heats, like they do in swim meets? Unfortunately, no crashing with that, so what's the point? :p
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RedRaven571 said:
$179.99 for a Hot Wheels track? LOL, now I really feel old.....
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jagolden said:
Me too! When they were introduced, the basic10 foot track with clamp and 1 car was $2.74 US.
I remember begging my mother to get it for me. Great birthday that year.
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Probably all the digital components. Maybe I'm just old, but why does everything have to be "Smart" and have an app now? Heck, there's even smart toothbrushes! Whatever happened to playing outside, or playing board games?
 
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guzhogi said:
Probably all the digital components. Maybe I'm just old, but why does everything have to be "Smart" and have an app now? Heck, there's even smart toothbrushes! Whatever happened to playing outside, or playing board games?
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Yeah. I like some digital games/smart stuff but prefer playing Pass the Pigs, Exploding Kittens, or Ship/Captain/Crew to all the fancy electronic stuff.
 
guzhogi said:
Probably all the digital components. Maybe I'm just old, but why does everything have to be "Smart" and have an app now? Heck, there's even smart toothbrushes! Whatever happened to playing outside, or playing board games?
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Playing Outside and playing board games have both gotten smart. Outside play now involves Pokemon Go, and board games now have a companion app for buying digital expansion packs (so instead of having to go buy more cards to facilitate playing with more people at once than the base version allows, you buy digital cards on your phone.)

I think a big part of it is actually price anchoring. Mattel knows most people won't buy the $170 version of the track, but by having that version plus another version that's only $100, they make you feel like you're getting a great deal on a pile of plastic that cost them under $10 to manufacture.
 
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Fender2112 said:
What does being 9 have to do with it? I'm 53 and I'd get one just because i can. ;)
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Ditto here! My husband and I are in our early 50’s and never stopped collecting Hot Wheels and Matchbox. Of course nothing beats our old cars from the 60’s and 70’s. Those had incredible workmanship. We did stop racing them in our early 30’s but this will get us back to that.

We already have a racing set. I think it’s *Anker. I can’t remember the name. I bought it a couple of Christmases ago. It never really caught on with the family as it was glitchy. I hope this set is much better.

*Edit: Was told it’s Anki.
 
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Seems little more than a celebrity edition of a childhood favorite, for the rich kids of parents with bottomless wallets, or for the hipster who has no clue about money management. My now 9yo son absolutely loved Hot Wheels 3 and 4 years ago, but thankfully he has moved on to more "mature" toys; and soon will be even past that to the things that matter... friendships, relationships, community, and just living a happy life... sure a few more expensive "toys" may be involved, but those will be secondary... just optional, unimportant accessories.
 
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The original non smart device Hot Wheels cars and track are still available if you don’t want to spend $100 to $200 dollars on a set. I would imagine that sales have been slow for a while. People, and not just kids, want the latest gadgets to play with.
 
GrumpyMom said:
Ditto here! My husband and I are in our early 50’s and never stopped collecting Hot Wheels and Matchbox. Of course nothing beats our old cars from the 60’s and 70’s. Those had incredible workmanship. We did stop racing them in our early 30’s but this will get us back to that.

We already have a racing set. I think it’s Anker. I can’t remember the name. I bought it a couple of Christmases ago. It never really caught on with the family as it was glitchy. I hope this set is much better.
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Anki, not Anker. Sadly, they (Anki) have filed for bankruptcy and are shutting down.
 
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