Woof! …has been the reaction by a lot collectors towards most of the fantasy cars Hot Wheels has produced as of late. While you can’t fault the collectors who love real looking vehicles with minimal graphics, you have to realize the Hot Wheels mainline is as diverse of an assortment of cars as you can get. These cars must appeal to people, all over the world, from small children to the extreme collector. Slide the scale on the #Hotweiler towards the children category — which encompasses the big kids too — and that right there should make you understanding of why Hot Wheels does it.

I classify myself in the big kid category as I tend to buy what I like and if that means buying #Castings that Resemble Animals, so be it. Truthfully, I had actually been considering collecting at least one of each of these, as it would be kind of cool to get the whole animal kingdom together. Not sure if that will ever happen, but I do have a good start.

The Hot Wheels #Hotweiler makes its #First Edition debut as part of the #Street Beasts Series (2017). The name #Street Beasts has been around a while and is commonly a name applied to the original Speed Demons castings from the 1980s as well as referencing more realistic cars with animal graphics — there were even a couple castings that went by the name of “Street Beast”. The Hotweiler clearly fits the mold of the original Speed Demons with classic castings such as the Fangster, Vampyra and Turboa.

Hot Wheels Hotweiler from the 2017 Street Beasts Series (rear)

What makes the Hotweiler so cool is that its white hood is a #Moving Part thanks to a cog in the #5-Spoke Wheels (in the front). When in motion, the cog raises the hood up and down which ultimately creates a biting/chomping effect when racing down the orange track. The graphics and light bar on top lends the notion that there may be some police vehicle inspiration here. Behind the cab is a chrome dog collar which is attached to a chain that links to a small dog tag that one could assume serves as a spoiler for the vehicle. Cast into the dog tag are the Hot Wheels initials, “HW”. Lastly, underneath the hood is probably the coolest aspect of the casting: a bone-shaped radiator.

If you also think the #Hotweiler is pretty rad, make sure to grab this one at retail as its showing up in the “J” case assortments that are hitting stores now. This casting is definitely one that should be played with so if you like to keep your cars in the packaging, make sure to pick up an extra and give it a run down the orange track! …and pick up some more for the neighborhood kids while you’re at it.

RELEASE DETAILS: Metalflake Dark Blue Body (metal). White Hood (plastic). Chrome Windows. Red-Chrome 5-Spoke (5SP) Wheels on front, and Red-Chrome Rim, Black Open-Hole 5-Spoke (OH5) Wheels on the back. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DTX25. Released in 2017 as #3 of 10 in the Street Beasts Series … also part of the 2017 New Models (#206/365 in the 2017 Hot Wheels mainline).

For more images of your favorite Hot Wheels cars, check out @orangetrackdiecast on Instagram!