When I posted that Amazon had Hot Wheels #Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E available this last Monday, I did not think they would be on my doorstep by the end of the week. But alas, they were! Fortunately, I did not have to order a whole case as the case breakdown for mix E is (1) JDM-Legends #Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X & Sakura Sprinter, (1) NISMO #Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 & Aero Lift, and (2) MOMO #Porsche 356A Outlaw & #Volkswagen T1 Transporter Pickup — meaning half the case would be extra for me. The JDM-Legends set is a carryover from Mix C, so only the NISMO and MOMO sets are the new releases for this mix — and we are going to take an in-depth look at those.

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X & Sakura Sprinter (JDM Legends), Nissan Skyline R34 & Aero Lift (NISMO) and Porsche 356A Outlaw & Volkswagen T1 Transporter (MOMO)

I have to say that this is the mix I have probably been least excited for. All four new vehicles in this mix are essentially monotone, coming in black & silver. Once they arrived, it was another story. After seeing these four vehicles up close for the first time, and not some grainy photo from the content-stealing Instagram accounts, the first thing that stood out was the detail. Premium-level detail has been an added bonus for the last few years in the Hot Wheels premium lines, and it really carries the cleaner graphic designs like these. Plus, the body lines on both the #Porsche 356A Outlaw and the #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) are some of the more renown in the industry, furthering the cause for a paint color that enhances them. This silver certainly does that.

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E new releases: Nissan Skyline R34 & Aero Lift (NISMO) and Porsche 356A Outlaw & Volkswagen T1 Transporter (MOMO)

MOMO Team Transport

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E (in package): Porsche 356A Outlaw & Volkswagen T1 Transporter (MOMO)

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Porsche 356A Outlaw & Volkswagen T1 Transporter (MOMO)

This set marks the second time a #MOMO livery has been in #Team Transport. However, this time the monotone look of this livery varies from the bright red & yellow that adorned the Porsche 962 / Fleet Flyer combo in mix B (2018). This is also the second time the #Volkswagen Transport T1 Pickup has been used as it was in the #Urban Outlaw set that infamously hung on the pegs a little too long in mix A (2018). In that set that came 2-to-a-case (of 4), it was joined by the Porsche 356 Speedster.

Head-to-Head Comparison of both of the Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport: Volkswagen T1 Transporters, in Urban Outlaw (left) and MOMO (right) liveries

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Volkswagen T1 Transporter (side view)

This #MOMO pair features the #Porsche 356A Outlaw. The roof line of the hardtop 356 makes for a much better silhouette. Its the second time the casting has been in #Car Culture with the first coming in 2017 as part of the Air-Cooled series. Back then, Car Culture releases did not have the mandatory front and rear detail, so the Air-Cooled 356A is outshined by this Team Transport release which features the whole shebang.

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Porsche 356A Outlaw (MOMO)

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Porsche 356A Outlaw (MOMO) … front detail comparison with Air-Cooled release

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Porsche 356A Outlaw (MOMO) … rear detail comparison with Air-Cooled release

NISMO Team Transport

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E (in package): Nissan Skyline R34 & Aero Lift (NISMO)

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Nissan Skyline R34 & Aero Lift (NISMO)

It is evident that this is the set (of the 2) that collectors are most excited for. I think most of that has to do with the #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) being in #Car Culture for the first time, but I also think there are a few collectors that are excited to see a new #Team Transport casting in the #Aero Lift. The sides of this release leave a little to be desired as the gray plastic sides vary from the silver metal body. Aside from that, the casting is great and its the first Team Transport casting to have a ramp that slides-out and goes all-the-way to the ground. The ramp is also large enough to carry longer castings — unlike the VW T1 Transporter.

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Aero Lift (side view)

The #Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) joins the ranks of #Car Culture for the first time, and this NISMO livery does not disappoint. It may be more graphics than some would like, but they’re still on the minimal side. What really impresses me about this release is the attention to detail in the front, rear and wing graphic applications. It was certainly unexpected to see the NISMO logo on both the sides of the wing, and on the front grill.

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E: Nissan Skyline R34 (NISMO)

Premium Editions of the Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline R34

I already admitted that I didn’t think I expected to like #Car Culture / Team Transport Mix E as much as I did. I am glad my expectations were surpassed though. The set may not be as flashy as the others with bright colors and noticeable liveries, but these two sets definitely embody everything we have come to love about the Hot Wheels #Car Culture line.

Hot Wheels Car Culture / Team Transport MIX E new releases (FRONT VIEW): Nissan Skyline R34 & Aero Lift (NISMO) and Porsche 356A Outlaw & Volkswagen T1 Transporter (MOMO)