Ryu Asada, Hot Wheels' next great designer?

In the last week or so, two of the final models of the 2014 Hot Wheels year were unveiled, to much applause from collectors.  The Porsche 934 and 2015 Mustang both are making pretty big waves:

The response from collectors has been universal: These two models are fantastic.  One is a car that is as current as they come, the other a classic.  One American, one German.  Yet both are amazingly detailed for $1 diecast cars, from their appropriate stances, to side and hood details, to other era-appropriate design queues.

And they both share one other common thread: they were both designed by Ryu Asada.

Ryu has burst on to the Hot Wheels scene, and blue collectors are now learning something that Matchbox collectors have known for awhile.  Ryu is a tremendously talented designer.  He initially came to Mattel to design for Matchbox, and started strong there as well.  He designed a huge number of models from the 2005-2012 era of Matchbox that was defined by realism, both classic and current. Models like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Lamborghini Muira, Caterham Superlight, and last year's BMW 1M were all Ryu creations.  In fact, Ryu had a hand in almost all of Matchbox's output during that time.

Then in 2013, Ryu was transferred to the blue side of the Mattel Design Center, and has been making his mark ever since.  Here is just SOME of his output in 2014 alone:

1990 Honda Civic EF

Fiat 500

Rig Storm & Project Speeder

Mastretta MXT

Ryura LX

Other models include the Hi-Tech Missile, Snow Plow, and the C7 Corvette Convertible.  And that is just 2014.

In 2013, we saw Ryu's work in the C7 Corvette Stingray and Chevy C10:

And even before that, while Ryu was still designing for Matchbox, he churned out these two Honda gems for Hot Wheels, the S2000 and CR-X:

As you start looking at that output, you start noticing trends.  An ability to duplicate cars past and present, with a flare for the cool and interesting.  Ryu's 1990 Civic for example not only duplicates a car that many of us are familiar with, but more importantly is Hot Wheels' tribute to Kanjo Racing, a Civic-cominated car scene that originated in Ryu's hometown of Osaka, Japan.  

You also see very creative non-licensed cars, like the "in-process" Project Speeder.

And yes, this variety of cars does remind one of another Hot Wheels designer, one Jun Imai, who has deservedly gotten his fair share of attention lately.  The comparisons are obvious.  Like Jun, Ryu is as pure a car nut as they come.  While Jun zips around in his Datsun Wagon and 240Z, Ryu is equally as passionate about his S2000 and Subaru SVX.  They both have an appreciation for car cultures of any kind, and they both are encyclopedias of knowledge.  

And while designers don't make all the decisions on what models are going into each lineup, they definitely can leave their mark.  Jun did so with the 510 Sedan and Wagon, BMW 2002, Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines, Toyota 2000GT, and Mad Manga, among many.  Ryu appears to be doing the same with his output so far. 

When we ask readers to vote for their favorite models of 2014 later this year, we are certain the Porsche 934, Civic EF, 2015 Mustang and Fiat 500 will all be at or near the top.  That says a lot for what Ryu is doing.  And the great thing?  He is only getting started.

So Ryu, keep it up.  We can't wait to see what is next...

First Look: Hot Wheels Fiat 500 in white...

Recolors are cool.  We are always happy to see second versions of the castings we like, no matter what the color.  But there are times when a recolor is so good, and upstages the first color so badly, that it is almost like a do-over of the model's debut.

And that is exactly the case with the Fiat 500.  Designer Ryu Asada's little happy creation looked nice in red, but it ravishes in white.  Accent it with a burgundy interior, and you have one of the great debut models of 2014.

You get a better idea of how nice this casting is.  Hot Wheels collectors are getting more and more familiar with Ryu's work, after coming over from Matchbox last year.  There have been many Hot Wheels models that have that "Matchbox realism" feeling to them, with realistic ratios, intricate details, and side mirrors.  That was one of Ryu's strengths at Matchbox, and he has clearly brought it over to blue.  The Civic EF showcases it best, but so does the Fiat.  And we know there are many more to come.

But let's ogle over the Fiat for awhile.  You customizers are probably thinking turning this version into an Abarth should be easy, and we agree.  The pearl white is very sharp, and showcases how sporty the little Fiat really is.  It even makes the dreaded Y5 wheels look nice.

We imagine this model won't be as hard to find as the red version ended up being, as it will probably carry through at least a second batch, as recolors usually do.  Good thing, because the white will end up being the model to have...


Hot Wheels Fiat 500 (2014 New Model):

First Look: Hot Wheels 1990 Honda Civic EF in teal...

The first issue of a Hot Wheels model always gets the most buzz, and buzz was the name of the game when the Civic EF was unveiled.  Collectors went crazy, and even drove up the price on the first to hit ebay up over $200.  Since then it has flown off the pegs in some areas (SoCal), and hung on the pegs in others.

It may be more of the same with the recolor.  Or it may not.  Red was an appropriate first issue.  So many Civics of that era were found in red, but in diecast land the teal upstages the red in a big way.

Teal is also a very era-appropriate color, and it looks like Hot Wheels did its best to match the real thing.  It also added a few more colors to the mix.  The basically used black, white, and grey in its detailing.  The teal mixes in red and orange, and the result is fantastic.

Of course when you get only one model for your First Look on the blog, you are at the mercy of what is sent.  The Civic casting has had an issue with straight tampo hits, and the b pillar suffers if things are only slightly off.  While painting the pillar black is a nice touch, it does require effort to find one that sports a perfectly straight tampo.  As soon as the teal is in stores, we will search for one.  In the main time, ignore the off-kilter tampo.  Straight tampo or not, the teal Civic is easily one of the best models of the year.

Is there another recolor coming?  We don't know, but if there is, we are hoping for white.  Seems like a logical progression.  But nothing will beat the teal in our view.

(Find the Civic on ebay, and be sure to check out the shop that supplied the Civic for us, Grana Toys.)

...)


Hot Wheels 1990 Honda Civic EF (2014 New Models):

Lamley News: The three j-tin Cool Classics unveiled by Mattel at Nationals...

A quick pop-in here late on Saturday night to let you know of a few tidbits from the Hot Wheels Nationals Convention in Illinois this weekend.

During the Saturday evening dinner, Mattel will preview some upcoming models, and there were a few that surely had the audience oooooing and ahhhhhing.  But there were three in particular that interested us here at Lamley, and thanks to our friend John Falk, we have the images.  They are all from the Cool Classics line, and we are very happy with all three:

Datsun Bluebird 510

Honda S2000

Subaru BRAT

The Cool Classics line continues to come into its own, and these three models are great examples of that.  The Cool Classic wheels, designed by Jun Imai, are perfect for the 510, and that is bound to be a very popular model.  Ryu Asada's S2000 is also a popular model, and we are quite fond of the Cool is Cool is Cool Subaru BRAT.

What do you think?  Are you in on these?

First Look: Hot Wheels Mastretta MXR...

This one, if anything, is a major curiosity.  A sports car with a Lotus soul, made in Mexico, and they seem to be serious.  They got Top Gear to come and take a ride, and struck a deal with Hot Wheels to help get the word out.  Who approached who is not something we know, but both parties were game to creating a Hot Wheels version, and the mini version is out with Batch H.

Daniel Mastretta & Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada

We will let the car guys form an opinion on the real thing, and we will let our Lamley readers form an opinion on the mini version.

We will say this:  The real car is very nice looking, and the Hot Wheels version captures it perfectly, except for...wait for it...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

The fat lip syndrome that plagued the Lotus Evora GT4 from last year has taken another victim in the Mastretta.  Drat.

We know, we know, the raised front is done to make the model a true Hot Wheels track car.  A lowered front can cause problems on the orange track, and I am sure that both Mattel and Mastretta wanted this to be a true Hot Wheels plaything.  So from that perspective we are fine with it.  But from a collector point-of-view, its a bummer.  We are not delusional, these are toys, and should be played with, so we really can't argue it.  But it still is too bad this is the only solution.  It really changes the aesthetics.

But, other than this, it is really well done.  Just skip the first three images below and focus on the last five.  That is a fantastic-looling model.  For now, we will go race this on the track with the Evora, and then we will be fine with it.

Thoughts?

(You can get this and rest of Batch H on ebay...)


Hot Wheels Mastretta MXR (2014 New Models):