Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge is an automotive renovation competition show that premiered on NBC on May 30, 2023. The show locates cars that hold meaning to the contestants from their past before they are remodeled into Hot Wheels-style vehicles. On March 18, 2024, it was revealed that the show was cancelled after one season.

Show format
In Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge, two contestants are brought in to tell a story about a vehicle from their past that holds meaning to them. This car is then brought out to them for them to remodel with the help of The Car Pool, a team of technicians and car experts. Each team works in an on-set garage visible to the other, and they have one week to complete the modifications. At some point in the week, the Inspirationator 5000 produces a die-cast Hot Wheels car, and the teams have to find a way to incorporate part of that Hot Wheel into the design of their own vehicle. The winner of each episode wins $25,000 and gets an opportunity to compete in the grand finale for another $50,000, and the winning vehicle will be turned into an actual die-cast Hot Wheels toy.

Judges and hosts
Rutledge Wood hosts the show and judges the cars alongside Ford designer Dalal Elsheikh and Hertrech "Hert" Eugene Jr. from Hoonigan. Each week, a different celebrity guest joins them to judge the creations.

Production
NBC announced that it ordered the competition reality show in March 2023. The show is produced by Endemol Shine North America, with Tim Warren acting as the showrunner. The show was filmed in Manchester, England at Space Studios Manchester from March–May 2023.

Reception
Joel Keller at Decider noted that the episodes fall short when it comes to showing how much work goes into modifying each vehicle, but felt that the show was quite fun and it gives vibes of adults revisiting playtime with their childhood Hot Wheels. Mark Vaughn at Autoweek felt that the show was too contrived and scripted for a reality show, but he appreciated that the tone of the show remained positive and didn't include over-produced arguments or tantrums.