1:24 Nissan GT-R step-by-step

Progress has slowed quite a bit in our step-by-step series following the Maisto 1:24 die-cast from start to finish. Although we had submitted painted pre-production samples to the licensor (see earlier post), Nissan still wasn’t able to approve the subtle shapes on the hood around the air ducts. So, we’ve made three versions of the hood to see if we could get one of them approved. We’ve also revised the rear license plate area (not shown here) to delete the raised area around the plate. We’ve heard that a lot of other model companies have had trouble getting the hood shape just right, too. It’s a subjective process to get the shapes to look correct because Nissan would not release CAD data files. We hope to have good news soon.

Need For Speed Undercover at Los Angeles Auto Show

Castro starts up Need for Speed Undercover on the XBOX 360 at the L.A. Auto Show.

New Gallardo Spyder Unveils in L.A.

with the u.s. market responsible for almost 40% of lamborghinis sold in 2007, and almost 30% of those sales occurring in southern california, it is no wonder that lamborghini chose the l.a. auto show to unveil their brand new gallardo lp 560-4 spyder. the soft-top super sports car is nothing if not drop-dead gorgeous.  here is a photo of the unveiling sent to us from our friends in sant’ agata:

that’s the boss, stephen winkelmann, president and c.e.o. of lamborghini.

here are some up close shots of the new vehicle:

click below to d/l a copy of the press release

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder Press Release

and, friends, your faithful maisto servants will be viewing her, live, up close and personal tonight at the sneak preview of the l.a.auto show. a nice event with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, at least until r2b2, castro, ch and myself show up. but we’ll have some good material to post tomorrow.

Ducati Streetfighter – A most beautiful bike!

double d received a press release today from our friends in bologna, italy, about their brand-spanking new Streetfighter motorcycle being awarded the most beautiful bike at the recent milan show.

bike, not model, animals. look at the motorcycle. here – this will make it easier for you:

oh, that’s a beauty. good call, voters. could a maisto 1:18 streetfighter be too far behind? probably not to far, my friends. not too far at all.

we’ve copied the official press release for your reading pleasure.

DUCATI STREETFIGHTER VOTED ‘MOST BEAUTIFUL BIKE OF THE SHOW’
Borgo Panigale (Bologna) 10 November 2008 – The Ducati Streetfighter is officially the best-looking bike at the 2008 Milan show. Voted by more than 20,000 enthusiasts taking part in a survey organised by Italian magazine Motociclismo, the award shows the Streetfighter to be an immediate knockout success.
The new, Bologna-made supernaked model claimed more than 25% of the votes followed by the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and the MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR.
The award ceremony took place on the official Motolive stage in the presence of General Manager of EICMA, Costantino Ruggero, while closing an intense week of exhibition and events during which 500,000 visitors had filled the halls of the Milan-Rho exhibition centre.
This prize is confirmation of the great interest shown by visitors in the new Streetfighter, and further proof of how much energy and resources Ducati is dedicating to its continuous development of new products.
The new Ducati Streetfighter was the undisputed star of the Milan show. Stripped to the bare essentials, its combination of state-of-the-art race technology, exposed styling and cultured design has taken Ducati’s big naked concept to the very top of the fighter food chain.

With 155hp of Ducati L-Twin muscle harnessed in a stripped-down, super-light, 167kg (368lb – dry weight) bike (S Version) that packs more punch for its weight than any other contender, the Streetfighter becomes the new benchmark for the sector.

The Ducati Streetfighter is equipped with everything that made the Superbike a legend. Awesome L-Twin power from the Testastretta Evoluzione 1098cc engine that produces 85lb-ft (11.7kgm) of heavyweight torque, and thoroughbred chassis technology featuring Ducati’s trademark Trellis frame, beautiful single-sided swingarm and planet-stopping Monobloc brakes. The ‘S’ version is further equipped with sophisticated Öhlins suspension, lightweight forged wheels, carbon fibre components, and the exclusive Ducati Traction Control system designed for street use.

The Ducati Streetfighter will be ripping-up asphalt from Spring 2009.

For more information and pictures, check the special press website http://www.ducatipress.com .

2010 Ford Mustang GT Conv. – One More Thing…

when we first started to discuss the 1:18 2010 mustang project with the folks from ford, they indicated that the brand team would be interested in putting together a promotional piece to hand out to press and important guests at the launch. this was back in april, and i distinctly remember telling them the only way we would do it is if we could write it up on the double d. of course, that made no sense,  we obviously would jump at the chance for this type of promotion. we have done many of these premiums before, such as the launch of the new thunderbird, the p.t. cruiser, the mercedes-benz slr mclaren, the porsche carerra gt, and many others. but this is the first since the creation of the daily dose, so we are pleased to share with you the

official un-boxing of the Promo Kit for the 2010 Ford Mustang.

the exterior shipper box looks like a wooden crate, and has the new pony emblem “burned” on top.

the inside box is custom as well.

even the back of the package is cool, loaded with stats about the 1:1 stang.

here is the vehicle out of the box and sitting on it’s plastic display stand.

the box insert is very cool and shows off various racing mustang vehicles from the last 40 years – including dates and drivers.

of course, an official press kit is not complete without a certificate of authenticity.

as you can see, 4000 were made in the custom candy red metallic color. we will not use that color again. our stock version is a brighter torch red.

but when it is all said and done, it is all about the car. here are some beauty shots of a truly beautiful car – hats off to the folks at ford for a great effort, and best of luck!

there you go. special thanks go out to brian, ada, and the group in hk, to mike t at dmv, charles and jim here at the ranch, and of course, everyone at ford and bsg.

2010 Ford Mustang – No More Teases Please!

sorry – i have other work to do today, i can’t keep writing these posts. without further ado, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, convertible, in 1:18 scale from Maisto International.

available in 2 colors – torch red and yellow jacket metallic

it is not easy to coordinate the release of a 1:18 title with the 1:1 vehicle release from the auto manufacturer. ford met with us last february in germany and we agreed to make it. we met again in hong kong in april, and they saw the first blush of a tooling model. from there it was quite a lot of back and forth to make it perfect. many props has to go to patrick m. from bsg and our own brian, engineer extraordinaire in hk.

product is available tomorrow (we have had it in stock). we will also have it available in power racers and 1:64 scale.

there is one more color, but more on that in the next post…

NFS Undercover – Uncovered!

EA has officially dropped their highly anticipated new installment of the need for speed franchise – nfs undercover. some collectors have already caught a glimpse of our products in the walmart stores, but we have been limited by what we could show on-line, until now. since the game is out, we are going to uncover some of what we have in the marketplace now, and a little of what is coming.

remember, our nfs undercover comes with a code which, when entered into a real nfs undercover game (ps3, xbox 360, computer platforms) unlocks a special vehicle which looks suprisingly like the die-cast you just purchased.

also remember, our nfs undercover line is the only way you can get some of these models customized at all. porsche does not allow it. audi does not allow it. nissan, especially with their gtr, does not allow it. but ea has some strong pull, and we’ve got it for this line! each vehicle comes emblazoned with the NFS logo on the rear of the roof, and needforspeed subtly scrolled across the rear window.

1:64 wave 1 will ultimately have 6 vehicles. 4 of them are ready now (shown below), and 2 more are following shortly.

1969 dodge charger r/t

2006 chevrolet camaro concept

1965 pontiac gto

and because it is almost all mustang, all day today, the 2006 mustang gt

the 2 that are “coming soon”: the 2006 lamborghini murcielago lp640 and the 2008 porsche 911 gt2.

interested in some 1:24 scale – click the jump below

2010 Ford Mustang – Tease #6

nice overhead shot of the interior.

hey, wait a second – if it is an overhead shot, does that mean it is a convertible?

2010 Ford Mustang – Tease #5

mmmm. engine. mmmm.

guess that means we are not talking about 1:64 scale. oh wait, that’s right, someone is already selling mattel’s 1:64 on ebay…

2010 Ford Mustang – Tease #4

actually – we just got word that we can lift the embargo. so these next few shots are teases only cuz i like the photos and i don’t want to waste them. so put on your most seductive music and enjoy the ride, boys.

ladies and gentlemen, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT: