NBC Orders Hot Wheels-Inspired Competition Series

NBC has ordered Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge, a car makeover competition series based on the popular Mattel toy brand.

The ten-episode series will give Hot Wheels superfans the opportunity to turn a nostalgic car from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams. The winning creation will launch as an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge is an original format developed and produced by Endemol Shine North America in association with Workerbee under license from Mattel. Rutledge Wood (Top Gear US, Floor Is Lava) will host and serve as one of the show’s judges.

A rotating panel of celebrity guest judges will join resident experts Hertrech (“Hert”) Eugene Jr., an influencer in car culture and the drift scene, and Dalal Elsheikh, designer for the Ford Motor Company and Hot Wheels Brand Ambassador.

Wood, Eugene and Elsheikh, along with the celebrity guests, will review the transformations and crown a winner. The winner of each episode will take home $25,000 and the chance to get into the finale, where three lucky finalists will transform another car in hopes of winning a legendary prize: an additional $50,000 and the honor of having their design made into an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.

“Everyone remembers their first car, the life experiences they had and the friends who came along for the ride,” said Corie Henson, executive VP of unscripted programming at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Hot Wheels is a legendary brand that has created a space for imaginations to run free. Our prolific partners at Endemol Shine North America and Mattel have created larger-than-life family viewing with edge and humor, all led by car enthusiast Rutledge Wood, whose creativity, credibility and passion for Hot Wheels makes him the perfect person to drive this wild competition.”