Hot Wheels model of Rimac Nevera created by U.S. toymaker Mattel
- by croatiaweek
- in Business
Introduced by the U.S. toymaker, Mattel, in 1968, the Hot Wheels brand holds cult status in the automotive world both among young car enthusiasts and serious collectors. Now in its 55th year, the Hot Wheels die-cast car model is the number one selling toy in the world with roughly 16.5 Hot Wheels models sold every second.
The Rimac Nevera is now one of the latest entrants into this rich tradition. The car’s sculpted lines and carefully balanced aerodynamic design – the work of Adriano Mudri and his team – have been delicately miniaturized by 3D Modeler, Manson Cheung.
Best known for his sculpting work, Cheung has been with Mattel since 2000, responsible for scaling down some of the most iconic works of automotive design.
Cheung has captured the Nevera’s unique profile, deliberately designed to evoke power at both axles – in a nod to the car’s unique Rimac-developed four-motor powertrain – as well as its cravat-inspired motif, incorporated into its flanks. Since the 17th Century, the necktie or cravat has been a symbol of Croatian strength and identity and, like every element of the car’s design, it is there to provide a key function of the Nevera’s performance, serving as an air intake for the rear cooling systems.
“Creating and building the Nevera has been a dream come true for someone like me who has been obsessed with cars since I was a kid. I know there are thousands of young people out there who – just as I did – are currently finding inspiration in the world of Hot Wheels and it’s a privilege to know that some of them will be inspired by what we’ve built. Although only 150 examples of the Nevera will ever exist, many thousands of other miniature versions will now find their way into the homes of Rimac fans around the world thanks to this collaboration with Mattel and Hot Wheels,” said Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Group.
Since the casting of the brand’s original 6® vehicles in 1968, Hot Wheels has continually created some of the most iconic cars in the world. This collaboration cements the Rimac Nevera as the ultimate electric hypercar – one of only 100 models of electric vehicle developed by Hot Wheels.
Collectors and enthusiasts can now find this miniature Nevera in Hot Wheels distribution stores worldwide, where it’s bound to be a hot commodity. Additionally, for those who prefer the convenience of online shopping, the Rimac Nevera Hot Wheels model is also available in limited quantities on the official Rimac e-store.
Developed to offer next-generation hypercar performance, Nevera is officially both the fastest accelerating production car in the world and the fastest EV production car, marking a new era in the evolution of automotive performance, achieved using technology designed, developed and produced in-house at the Rimac Group.
The Nevera’s 1,914hp is produced by four bespoke Rimac-engineered electric motors, enabling 0-60mph in just 1.74 seconds, and 0-100mph in 3.21 seconds. While it offers up performance unseen in all hypercars before it, it’s been designed to enable all-electric grand touring previously deemed near-impossible with present-day technology.