Quick Look: Hot Wheels 2017 Ford GT, McLaren P1, Matchbox 2005 Ford GT, and Hot Wheels 2015 VW Golf Mk 7

This quick look examines a few vehicles reviewed here before either as different variations or from different diecast manufacturers.  Here the star is the new 2017 Ford GT along the recolor of the McLaren P1, an older release of the Matchbox 2005 Ford GT worth looking at, and an all-new VW Golf for Hot Wheels.

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Hot Wheels Volkswagen Golf Mark 7

This was a car that cause some interest for many, but after this review and a fantastic review of the Golf GTi by Majorette this Hot Wheels casting seems less appealing.  While it may not look like new this is the seventh-generation of the Golf that has been in production since 1979.  Hot Wheels has produced the second-generation GTi in the early 1990's, then introduced the fifth-generation GTi in 2007 with a wider track.  This time it returns to a stock Golf platform, but surprisingly without the GTi trim.  This is a standard Golf with the 1.8L turbocharged I-4 that produces 172 hp through a 5-speed manual transmission.  Still, this should be a fun Golf, right?  Sort of.

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The exterior in blue with the new gold lace wheels looks nice, but lacks front and rear-end details.  I added them myself and you can see how much that improved the look of the car.  The front has quad headlights with U-shaped running lights, grille with VW logo, lower grille that is part of the metal base, and side bumper scoops that have three scallops (the GTI models have one more).  The sides have the typical three-door hatchback layout, while the rear has large taillights and dual exhaust.  The base does not show much aside from company information.  The interior has the proper four passenger layout and dashboard setup, but the center stack is too low and causes the shifter to be pushed farther back.  Also on versions with lighter window tint you can see the rear rivet post in the window.  I really expected more out of this casting, but what I ended up with is a casting that lacks any interesting details and looks rather plain without any front and rear end details.  Majorette 1, Hot Wheels 0.

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Hot Wheels 2017 Ford GT & affiliates

Hot Wheels is so far has the only 1:64 2017 Ford GT out there and it looks excellent.  Finished off in dark blue with dark gray PR5 wheels it looks ready for the track.  The front has detailed headlights with deep hood vents and a large lower grille and spoiler that is part of the gray base.  The sides have the deep vents after the B-pillar and lower trim to add visual interest.  Sadly those large buttresses do not have see-through openings to the rear like the real car.  The rear lacks any details but the body makes up for it with the round taillights and the dual central exhaust.  At least the rear spoiler sections are see-through here.  The clear engine cover with side vents show off the twin-turbocharged 3.5L DOHC V6 and 7-speed automated manual transmission.  The interior is very basic with seating for two and a smooth dash layout with digital gauges, center touch screen, and small racing-style steering wheel.

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Against the McLaren P1 is no match as even in its latest recolor it still looks impressive!  The yellow really screams out of this car to grab your attention, accented with gray multi-spoke wheels and the rear spoiler in the up position.  The front has detailed headlights, hood vents that are not as deep, and a lower bumper in black with integrated vents.  Note that the Mclaren seems to sit lower at the front than the GT (it's gotta be something with the way the lower bumper shape of the GT that gives it that higher stance at the front).  The P1 has side scoops that are recessed into the side doors and a full clear roof with scoop, while the rear has a wrap-around LED taillight bar around the vented rear grille and central exhaust.  The interior, like the GT, is race-car basic with seating for two, digital gauges, and racing-style steering wheel.  Both cars offer doors that swing up and forward.  On the track the P1 has more power thanks to the twin-turbo V8 and electric flywheel assistant that brings power to about 900 horsepower.  So not only is it powerful it also handles better with a smaller length and handling that feels more planted to the ground while the GT seems to be loose in a few areas.  The GT, on the other hand, is a vast improvement over the 2005 version.

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Which brings me to old and new, with the Matchbox 2005 Ford GT as the comparison.  I heard about this variation of GT that was sold in a 5-pack around 2008.  Aside from the Superfast version this was the only GT variant with front and rear lighting detailing.  The pearl white looks good in person as well with lower side red GT stripes.  The 2005 GT is more like a retro version of the original GT40 race car, compared to the 2017 GT that is entirely new and stylisitcally unrelated to the original GT40.  The front of the 2005 has detailed projector headlight and signal lights, lower grille with detailed foglights and lower scoop with twin nostrils.  The hood has dual vents, the gas cap is at the front, and the door handles are part of the front fenders.  The sides have larger fenders with scoops to feed the rear motor and nice multi-spoke wheels.  The rear has detailed round taillights with central reverse lamps, center vent grille, and central dual exhaust above the lower air diffuser.  The interior features seating for two in a retro layout that has the gauges spanning 2/3 of the dashboard with the tachometer in front of the steering wheel and the speedo at the other end.  Toggle switches replace normal buttons across some locations in the interior.  The engine is a 5.4L DOHC V8 and 6-speed manual from the Shelby GT500, classic old-school and not the new-school tech of the new GT.  Handling is far better with a shorter length, but it is rather wide.  My tester was a bit crude after years of play when I found it at a flea market.  Even with the chips and marks it still looks good.

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While the Golf was a disappointment, the new Ford GT looks to be a nice fit in the Hot Wheels line.