Hot Wheels Batch Q, the final 2015 Zamacs, and the first 2016 models have all been unveiled...

Here is just a tad bit of news.

Our favorite Texas seller yesterday just posted the contents of the 2015 Hot Wheels Q case, and a lot was unveiled.

First off, we know how 2015 will end.  We already knew the Toyota Race Truck would be the Super TH, and now we know the Tread Air will be the Regular.  We also get our first glimpse at the final batch of Zamacs in 2015, the Surf Crate and two Dodges, the Viper and Challenger.  Maybe not the most exciting group of Zamacs, but Mopar fans have to be a little happy.

And any lack of excitement with the TH's and Zamacs is made up with the New Models.  Two of the surprisingly most-anticipated New Models of 2015 make an appearance, the Nissan 180SX Type X and the recolored Ford Escort RS1600.  It is nice to see the Escort without its Fast and Furious duds, and we have already made known how much we can't wait for the Nissan.

Lastly, our first dive into 2016.  We have already seen a couple of models previewed, but now we have a better idea on the new cardbacks.  They are fantastic.  Still clean, but the little illustration next to the name of each subset is a really nice addition.  And how cool is the C10?

You can see all the models by following the link here:

Hot Wheels 2015 Batch Q

What are must-haves for you?

Just Unveiled: '77 Chevy LUV "Mighty Mike", the next Hot Wheels JDM pickup truck...

With all due respect to the Hot Wheels Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra castings, the true Japanese trucks in the Hot Wheels lineup are the Hilux-esque '87 Toyota and Datsun 620.  The 620 especially is the epitome of classic Japanese pickups.

Well, we get to add another.  Photos have just surfaced of the first New Model of 2016, the '77 Chevy LUV.

Yeah, it is a Chevy, but that is the only thing that isn't JDM about this one.  The Chevy LUV (Light Utility Vehicle) is actually a rebadged Isuzu Faster.  The Faster was Isuzu's response to the small Datsun and Toyota trucks, and they had GM distribute it in North America as the LUV.  The LUV actually stuck around for awhile until Chevy developed their own small truck the S-10.

And that makes this a very excited new casting around here.  I won't hide from being a JDM apologist, especially when it comes to unique castings like this.  The LUV is such a great choice, and a hefty kudos to whoever came up with the idea to produce it.

Of course the Hot Wheels version got the typical Hot Wheels treatment.  Instead of stock, it is a racing version.  Of course I would prefer stock, but I don't have any problem with this one.  It looks great.  Plus, the deco is actually (almost) stock.  This is actually a slightly modified "Mighty Mike" trim, as shown in the LUV's brochure:

It also came in red, which I would think is the next recolor.

Nonetheless, we cannot wait to have this one in hand.  2016 is off to a very exciting start...

Hot Wheels 2015 Batch P has been unveiled...

Yeah, batch P.  That means after Q, 2015 is done.  Crazy, eh?

Our favorite Texas seller has just listed the Batch P models, and there are many we had no idea were coming.  There are new models like the Racing Mustang (the upsloped chin strikes again), and a fantastic Fiat 500 police car, the BRAT, as well as some very cool recolors, like the white NSX and red Elmiraj.

But we will let you check it out.  Follow the link:

Hot Wheels 2015 Batch P

Some highlights:

The Super:

The Reg:

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels 2015 Batch N and the next round of Zamacs...

Our favorite Texas seller strikes again.

Batch N has hit the market and we now know what is coming.  As expected, the Super Treasure Hunt is the Toyota Supra, and the Corkscrew Buggy is the Regular.  We dig the Super, and look forward to pairing it with the AE86 Super released earlier this year.

But we knew that was coming.  What we didn't know about were the Zamacs, and they are fantastic:

The '52 Chevy and Challenger are great, but that Gasser!  The Gasser should be a little over the top, and the pink accents with the pink windshield get us giddy.  It is a must-have.

The entire batch can be found here:

Hot Wheels 2015 Batch N

There are others to get excited about.  Of course the Simpsons Family Car will get a lot of play, and the Jaguar F-Type and its upsloped chin will spark some chat, but the highlight of the batch for us is the recolored BMW M3.  That makes Hot Wheels 2-for-2 in their color choices on this model.  Some other highlights:

Just Unveiled: 2015 Hot Wheels '96 Nissan 180SX Type X...

Yep.  Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep.

This is that tasty treat we have been waiting for.

2015 has been an interesting year for Hot Wheels New Models, at least from a collector perspective.  There have been some models that have disappointed, some that have surprised, and some that have hit the mark that everyone set.  But when you look back, and ignore the upsloped chins and oversized rear wheels, you will see this has been a very good year for new castings.

We here at Lamley will go with the VW Caddy, Cadillac Elmiraj, BMW M4, Lotus Esprit, and Ford Escort as our faves, but we have seen collectors go batty for the Acura NSX, Hellcat Challenger, and McLaren P1, among others.

But since we definitely fell off the NSX bandwagon, we were missing that JDM New Model that would tickle our fancy.  We have it now.

Images have emerged of the upcoming '96 Nissan 180SX Type X, and we love what we see.  Mind you, these images appeared showing the model with the wrong wheels, so we edited them out.  The model will appear on the pegs with copper-lipped PR5 wheels, as was previewed at the Hot Wheels Nationals Convention in March:

But we get an idea of the body details and color, and it seems spot on.  This seems to be a model where, much like Jun Imai's Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines, as well as Ryu Asada's Honda Civic, attention to detail is the theme.  This one was meant for collectors.

The color is spot-on, the signature tail-lights get full tampo treatment, as do the side pillars, and how great are those sleepy eye headlights?

The 180SX is a worthy addition to the burgeoning j-tin collection piling up at Hot Wheels.  It is one of those "happy to be a collector today" models.  We are all in.