NBC gives green light to Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge

NBC has given the green light to Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge, a car makeover show inspired by Mattel’s iconic toy brand.

Hosted by Rutledge Wood, the 10-episode series will give Hot Wheels superfans the opportunity to transform a nostalgic car from their past into a life-sized Hot Wheels showstopper.

Working alongside a team of automotive magicians known as “The Car Pool,” contestants will create their designs in high-tech, decked-out garages. Raising the stakes of the competition is the Inspirationator 5000, a larger-than-life vending machine that will rev up in each episode to present ‘a twist in the road’.

The winner of each episode will take home $25,000 and the chance to get into the finale, where three lucky finalists will transform another car in hopes of winning an additional $50,000. The season-finale winning creation will also launch as an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.

“Everyone remembers their first car, the life experiences they had and the friends who came along for the ride; Hot Wheels is a legendary brand that has created a space for imaginations to run free,” said Corie Henson, EVP, Unscripted Programming, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

“Our prolific partners at Endemol Shine North America and Mattel have created larger-than-life family viewing with edge and humor all led by car enthusiast Rutledge Wood, whose creativity, credibility and passion for Hot Wheels makes him the perfect person to drive this wild competition.”