Mattel has released a new Hot Wheels range under its Brick Shop line this year. The collection includes seven buildable vehicles in three sizes, with models aimed at both display and play. All sets use a stud system compatible with Lego bricks.
The range consists of the Speed Series, Elite Series and Premium Series. Each set includes a matching 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast car.
The Speed Series includes the Cadillac Project GTP Hypercar, Maserati MC20 and ’68 Camaro. Each set is in 1:32 scale, contains between 236 and 289 pieces, and is priced at $19.99.
The Elite Series includes the Corvette Grand Sport, ’90 Acura NSX and ’62 Chevy Pickup. These sets are in 1:16 scale, contain between 858 and 918 pieces, and are priced at $49.99. Features include functional steering, opening elements and metal wheel covers.
The Premium Series currently consists of one set, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. It is in 1:12 scale, has 1,600 pieces and is priced at $119.99. It includes opening gull-wing doors, metal parts and decals.
So how does Mattel Brick Shop match up to Lego when it comes to build quality, diversity of pieces and overall appearance of the finished product?
History
Lego entered the dedicated display car segment in 2015 with its Speed Champions range, starting with Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche models in six-stud-wide form. A 2020 redesign to eight studs wide allowed for more accurate proportions and detailed interiors. Sets typically cost $24.99 to $29.99 and include 200 to 300 pieces.
The change to eight studs brought a significant boost in popularity, with the models now bearing a closer resemblance to their real-world counterparts.
For more advanced builds, Lego offers its Icons range (formerly Creator Expert), which has included the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and, most recently, the Shelby Cobra. These sets generally cost between $150 and $250 and exceed 1,000 pieces, with more complex building techniques and display-focused features.
In terms of pricing, Mattel’s Speed Series comes in below Lego’s Speed Champions, though with slightly fewer pieces, offset by the inclusion of a die-cast bonus car. The Elite Series sits between Speed Champions and Icons, offering larger scale and functional elements at a lower price than comparable Icons models. The Premium Series Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is markedly cheaper than Lego Icons cars of similar scale, while adding metal detailing and a die-cast counterpart.
Mattel’s previous brick-based Hot Wheels sets, produced under its Mega brand, used a different system with limited Lego compatibility and were aimed at younger children.
Build quality
Brick Shop sets use standard stud geometry, allowing full compatibility with Lego pieces. Colours and certain specialised parts differ, particularly those with integrated steering or metal detailing.
One notable distinction is Mattel’s extensive use of bespoke parts created for specific models. Lego seldom produces pieces for a single set, favouring versatility. This approach gives Brick Shop cars a smoother, more realistic appearance – often resembling a solid model rather than an assembly of bricks. Lego’s designs, in contrast, embrace the visible brick-built aesthetic.
Which should you buy?
Mattel’s Speed Series and Lego’s Speed Champions cater to younger builders and casual buyers, offering enjoyable, compact builds. The Elite and Premium Series, alongside Lego’s Icons line, target older hobbyists seeking larger, more complex models for display.
At present, Brick Shop sets are more affordable, though they can be harder to find due to high demand. Lego, meanwhile, offers a far broader catalogue, including this year’s tie-up with Formula One to produce all ten cars from the 2024 season, as well as film tie-ins such as Fast & Furious and James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5.
Verdict
As a collector who only began building brick-based cars this year, I regard the arrival of a credible Lego rival as a welcome one. While Lego remains my primary choice, limiting myself to its releases would mean just 15 to 20 builds a year.
Mattel’s Brick Shop debut offers a well-judged mix of classic and modern supercars in multiple scales to suit different levels of commitment. It has some way to go before matching Lego in stature, but it is well-positioned to appeal even to loyal fans of the Danish brand.
For enthusiasts, more competition can only be positive. Lego remains the leader in brick-built cars, but the arrival of Mattel’s Brick Shop means that lead may not go unchallenged.
Kandahar%20
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Manchester United's summer dealings
In
Victor Lindelof (Benfica) £30.7 million
Romelu Lukaku (Everton) £75 million
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) £40 million
Out
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Released
Wayne Rooney (Everton) Free transfer
Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad) £9.8 million
RESULTS
ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6
WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
J Ostapenko (LAT x9) bt S Cirstea (ROU)
6-4, 6-4
ATP Japan Open
D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
6-2, 6-0
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
SPECS
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MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
