It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish—an adage that has circulated the zeitgeist since before anyone can remember. Cliché? Maybe. But behind the banal dictum—as seen plastered on motivational posters or employed to rile up trailing Little League teams—there is a definitive truth that inspires some to dig deep for one final stretch. Whether passé or poignant, it really doesn’t matter. Either way, Mattel Creations certainly understands what it means to finish strong.
Refueling for the last leg of its imaginative and multi-dimensional pursuit, which merged the neo-archaic aesthetic of leading contemporary artist Daniel Arsham—decayed, crystalline detailing and all—with Hot Wheels’ classic imagery, Mattel Creations is ensuring that the collab’s final release concludes with a proper first-place finish. Catching a flight from Southern California—El Segundo, to be exact—to the bubbling East Asian archipelago of Japan, the historic toy brand and the virtuosic artiste are setting up shop in Tokyo, kickstarting the grand finale in international fashion.
With decades of industry-defining lore that has solidified the model car brand as the top-selling toy in the world, Hot Wheels is no stranger to the global stage. After hitting the market in the late 1960s, the iconic die-cast collectibles quickly spread worldwide, uniting car connoisseurs and race enthusiasts of every creed and color under one flame-accented banner. From timeless German Porsche models to replicas of souped-up F-1 mega rides, there is not one sector of automotive culture that Hot Wheels has not scaled down to 1:64 its original size.
And with Tokyo’s longstanding racing traditions—be that professional, underground, or other—along with the clear Japanese influences seen in Arsham’s heralded works and art practices, the country’s capital makes the perfect setting to launch Lap 4 of Hot Wheels x Daniel Arsham. Beginning with the classic Z-Whiz in 1977—the first Japanese imported car to receive a dedicated casting—Hot Wheels and Japan go way back. Now, as we sift through the diverse range of Japanese-themed race packs, it’s clear that Mattel Creations and Hot Wheels are still giving their legion of adoring international fans special treatment to this day.
On May 11, the exclusive Lap 4 launch event will take place at the Arsham-designed KITH flagship in the heart of Tokyo. Serving as both a culminating moment for the collaboration and an ode to Japan’s distinct affinity for collector’s culture, the activation will feature the bespoke cars from the final collection before its official launch at creations.mattel.com on May 16 as well as a limited run of sold-out pieces from the first three drops available for purchase. Being the final destination globally where anyone can buy models from Laps 1, 2, & 3, true fanatics won’t want to miss out.
Further immersing guests into the opulently calcified world of Hot Wheels x Daniel Arsham, those in attendance have the unique opportunity to meet the man behind the design of the magnificently moribund motor vehicles. By entering a raffle on KITH’s dedicated blog before the event, a handful of winners will receive a guaranteed spot to have a piece of purchased product signed by Arsham during an exclusive meet-and-greet on the event day. Additionally, secondary winners will have their names secured to purchase pieces from the collection following the conclusion of the signing event. Have no fear if your name is not selected, though, as the general public is invited to explore the space until the store closes once both activation windows have ended.
Succeeding in the collaboration’s goal of blurring the lines between fine art and play, the curated gallery space will include a custom-built Hot Wheels track reminiscent of the first Arsham-ified event hosted in celebration of Lap 1’s release back in October.
As we rapidly approach the finish line, the newest addition to the Hot Wheels x Daniel Arsham catalog will go down as a landmark moment for all who were involved—from the dedicated design team to the Hot Wheels enthusiasts patiently waiting for release day and everyone in between. Christened by this journey to Tokyo, Lap 4 is already shaping up to be the perfect end to an already fantastic run. Now, someone queue up the Teriyaki Boyz, and let’s get this thing rolling.
