Mattel has announced the list of 2016 Hot Wheels. Among them are a few new castings that may be of interest to JNC readers. We already know about the Nissan Fairlady Z modeled after designer Jun Imai’s real car and the Custom Acura Integra designed by Ryu Asada (come meet him at the JNC booth at the Street Neo Classics show this Sunday!). But now we know there will be a 2016 Acura NSX (to go along with the 1990 NSX with similar colorways in a “Then & Now” pairing) and, excitingly enough, a Honda Monkey!
The Honda Z50 Monkey is a small 50cc bike that got its name from the way the rider looks when she or he is riding one. Naturally, being a Honda, it sprang from the mind of Ryu Asada.
From the list below, it’s also clear that many of the JNCs from the last several years have moved into the premium lines like the upcoming Japan Historics. Looks like we’re movin’ on up! It should be noted that there are 13 cars listed “to be determined,” though we know one of them will be the 2016 NSX. Here’s the list of Japanese cars known thus far. The full list can be found at the official Hot Wheels website.
2008 Lancer Evolution (HW Race Team)
Honda Racer (HW Digital Circuit)
Subaru WRX STI (HW Digital Circuit)
Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 (Night Burnerz)
1985 Honda CR-X (Night Burnerz)
Custom 2001 Acura Integra GSR (Night Burnerz)
1990 Acura NSX (Then & Now)
2016 Acura NSX (Then & Now)
Honda Monkey Z50 (HW Moto)
Toyota Off-Road Truck (HW Daredevils)
’96 Nissan 180SX Type X (HW Speed Graphics)
Toyota Supra (HW Speed Graphics)
Nissan Fairlady Z (HW Speed Graphics)
Custom ’72 Chevy LUV (HW Hot Trucks)
no mention of the first gen celica…. ? we need a new version of that one too..
it certainly belongs in the “japan historics” line as well.
hopefully its on the to be determined list… :]
MONKEY! GIMME!
I eagerly await 2016.
For me the list starts with Z, but the Monkey is not far behind. When I was in Japan, I would see the Japanese military officers entering the base, typically in standard fare. However, there were a couple that would roll in on Monkeys/Gorillas and salute as they went by.
So Imai is all about the Datsuns/Nissans (and the AE86), and Asada is about the Honda’s. I wondered who “ASADA” was…the first S2000 I got had that written along the top of the windshield. Or was it “R.ASADA”? Yellow paint. Just like his real S2000, but with body kit.