| Hot Wheels® and Mercedes-Benz are turning imagination into reality at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow with, the Canadian debut of the Mercedes-Benz CLA: Hot Wheels art installation, a full-scale, one-of-a-kind creation designed to exaggerate and reinterpret the CLA through the Hot Wheels design lens and into a vibrant, larger-than-life super sports caricature.Born from a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Hot Wheels®, the CLA: Hot Wheels® art installation is part of Mercedes-Benz’s “Class of Creators” program, launched at the CLA’s world premiere in Rome in March 2025. The initiative invites designers, musicians, and artists to freely reinterpret Mercedes-Benz models, going far beyond co-branded merchandise to create experiences where culture, art, and automotive performance collide.“This collaboration is about celebrating the joy of cars and creativity at every age,” said Craig Callum, Senior Design Manager, Hot Wheels, “The CLA: Hot Wheels art installation is a wild, playful take on a modern Mercedes-Benz, bringing the ‘Play Beyond Limits’ philosophy to life in a way that sparks imagination and channels childhood creativity into a real-world automotive design.” Originally unveiled at the ‘Race Service’ workshop in Los Angeles, the CLA: Hot Wheels art installation has also toured the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in El Segundo, California, which is a global car show celebrating the world’s boldest custom builds, where one fan-designed vehicle earns the chance to become an official Hot Wheels die-cast. Past collaborations in the “Class of Creators” program include artists and designers such as Ice Spice, Gustaf Westman, KidSuper and League of Legends.The art installation itself is a visually striking exaggeration of the CLA, complete with oversized diffusers, a massive rear wing, and paintwork inspired by 1980s pop culture, bright orange, pink, and blue hues accented with retro flame graphics. This vibrant palette transforms the CLA from a sleek compact coupe into a legendary Hot Wheels style caricature that blurs the line between performance and play.“Mercedes-Benz has a long history of design excellence and innovation, and this project offered a unique opportunity to explore that heritage through a more expressive, playful lens,” said Alex Matthews, Vice President, Digital, PR & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Canada. “The CLA: Hot Wheels art installation celebrates creativity inspired from the bold design language that defines the production CLA launching later this year.”“The Canadian International AutoShow is all about showcasing the passion, creativity, and future of the automotive world,” said Jason Campbell, General Manager, Canadian International AutoShow. “This collaboration between Hot Wheels and Mercedes-Benz brings a unique energy to the show floor, giving fans something truly memorable to experience. ”Building on the full-scale art installation, a 1:64-scale die-cast model will hit shelves in Spring 2026, giving collectors and enthusiasts the chance to bring a piece of this collaboration home. For fans who grew up looping Hot Wheels tracks across their living rooms, the model demonstrates how Mercedes-Benz is integrating culture, art, and design directly into its product strategy.In addition to the Mercedes-Benz CLA: Hot Wheels™ art installation, fans can also celebrate their love of Hot Wheels® with the return of the Walmart pop-up shop on-site at the AutoShow, featuring an assortment of the latest Hot Wheels® products. For the fifth year in a row, collectors young and old can gather at the Collector’s Event on Friday, February 13, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., which includes a signing by Craig Callum, Senior Design Manager, Hot Wheels. This meet-up creates a space for Hot Wheels® collectors to connect, trade stories, and bond over their love of cars.New this year, attendees can enhance their Canadian International AutoShow experience with Hot Wheels Showcase, the official Hot Wheels app built by Mattel. Designed to fuel fans’ passion for the iconic brand, Hot Wheels Showcase makes it easy to manage and explore Hot Wheels collections anytime, anywhere. At the show, fans can look up real cars on display and see if a Hot Wheels version exists. Collectors can add cars they own to their digital garages, create wish lists of must-have models, and unlock an exclusive Canadian International AutoShow badge available only to event attendees. The Hot Wheels display featuring the Mercedes-Benz CLA: Hot Wheels™ art installation is located in the North Building, 200 Front Street Lobby throughout the Canadian International AutoShow. |
| Images of the Mercedes-Benz CLA: Hot Wheels art installation can be found in the media repository of the AutoShow media website. The 2026 Canadian International AutoShow returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from February 13 to 22, 2026.Media Day takes place Thursday, February 12th, highlighted by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) presentation of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards. Many participating brands are expected to unveil new products for the first time in Canada. The interactive hands-on Media Day 2.0 is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday February 18th. |
Hot Wheels® and Mercedes-Benz Bring the New CLA: A Full-Scale Hot Wheels Inspired Art Installation to the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow for its Canadian Debut
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