Just last year, Hot Wheels collectors were introduced to “Mad” Mike Whiddett, a drift car racer from New Zealand. His Mazda REPU named “PITBUL” was featured in the 2017 HW Daredevils series. It was quite the debut for the Hot Wheels #Mazda REPU casting given its extensive graphics that certainly had a premium feel to them. This year, the Hot Wheels world is introduced to another #Mad Mike car, the “RADBUL” Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (white colorway, side view)

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (satin blue colorway, side view)

Call it one of the more “loosely-based” replicas out there since a new casting wasn’t tooled-up for this #Mad Mike creation. Rather, the existing #Ryu Asada Designed, Hot Wheels #’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata was used — which isn’t a far cry from the real RADBUL.

“RADBUL”, you say? Yep, Mad Mike is sponsored by #Mazda and Red Bull so all of his drift vehicles — at least the four I know about — use the “-BUL” motif: Mazda REPU (PITBUL), Miata (RADBUL), RX-7 (MADBUL) and RX-8 (BADBUL).

Since Mattel and Hot Wheels don’t license energy drink brands, the Red Bull sponsorship on the real car had to be updated to a generic Hot Wheels livery. I’m sure many collectors would have preferred this release look as authentic as possible, but I can tell you one niche group that was ecstatic to see these released: #Hot Wheels Race Team collectors — a group that includes myself.

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (both colorways, satin blue rev)

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (both colorways, top-right view)

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (both colorways, package view)

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (both colorways, head to head)

Hot Wheels “Mad Mike” ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 2018 Night Burnerz Series (both colorways)

When the white colorway of this #Night Burnerz #’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata was first released as part of the #2018 Hot Wheels “B” case late last year, #Hot Wheels Race Team collectors eagerly awaited the unveiling of a blue colorway. The #Mad Mike “RADBUL” had been blue before it was white, so it had only made sense that we would have to see a blue colorway…

RELEASE DETAILS: White Body (metal). Light Blue Tinted Windshield. Dark Gray Interior. White Wire-Spoke Wheels (front) and Dark Gray Open-Hole 5-Spoke Wheels (back). Metalflake Gray Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FJX66. Released in 2018 as #3 of 10 in the Night Burnerz Series (#40/365 in the 2018 mainline).

Sure enough, that blue colorway was just released as part of the #2018 Hot Wheels “G” case assortments and #Hot Wheels Race Team collectors have been quickly adding these to their collections.

Like many other #Drift Cars Hot Wheels has produced, both colorways feature mismatched wheel styles. I know many traditional collectors can’t stand this but the crowd that enjoys this genre certainly fancies this method.

The #2018 Hot Wheels year is nearing the halfway point so given that we have already seen two colorways of this #Night Burnerz #’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata, a third seems imminent. I am most likely wrong, but I have a strong feeling we will see this one show up as a ZAMAC. Guess we will have to wait and see. For now, to the #Hot Wheels Race Team collection this blue colorway goes!

RELEASE DETAILS: Satin Blue Body (metal). Light Blue Tinted Windshield. White Interior. Blue-Chrome 10-Spoke Wheels (front) and Blue-Chrome Open-Hole 5-Spoke Wheels (back). Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FJY96. Released in 2018 as #3 of 10 in the Night Burnerz Series (#167/365 in the 2018 mainline).