KUALA LUMPUR: The highly-anticipated Hot Wheels Proton Saga die-cast model is not for sale just yet, but Mattel Malaysia, the manufacturer of Hot Wheels recently unveiled the packaging design last weekend at the 2023 Art of Speed show at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (Maeps).
The blister card packaging design for the Hot Wheels Proton Saga Special Edition die-cast model was designed by a nine-year-old girl from Penang named Saw Jane Harn who emerged as the winner of the Hot Wheels x Proton Kids Design Competition that was held earlier this year. Saw is the first child in the world to have her hand-drawn artwork on a Hot Wheels die-cast packaging.
Her winning design incorporated a variety of Malaysia's achievements and well-known flora and fauna, namely the rhinoceros, hornbill and the hibiscus, which are the country's national bird and flower, along with the national monument.
The Hot Wheels Proton Saga Special Edition die-cast model will be launched by Mattel and Proton either by year end or sometime next year.
The sample of the actual Proton Saga die-cast model was showcased at the 2023 Art of Speed show (AOS) which was held over the weekend.
The sample of the die-cast model had a red exterior, dual-tone rims, side mirrors, and black stripe decals across the sides of the die-cast model.
The team of designers at Mattel went the extra mile by adding a "Saga" decal sticker on the die-cast model's rear door, which adds to the appeal and nostalgia. The die-cast sample also boasts design highlights such as the headlights, front grille, original Proton logo, front bumper, and door handles which were designed to look exactly like the actual car.
The die-cast model of the country's first national car will be manufactured by Mattel Inc at the world's largest Hot Wheels manufacturing plant in Penang, operated by Mattel Malaysia, where it will join the global Hot Wheels singles collection.
The Penang plant is where all the Hot Wheels singles, the world's top selling toy of 2021, are made.
In conjunction with Mattel Inc's 40th anniversary in Malaysia, a prototype of the Hot Wheels Proton Saga Special Edition die-cast model was unveiled late last year. It also marked the toymaker's first collaboration with Proton, who coincidentally also celebrated its 40th anniversary as the Saga celebrates its 38th anniversary.
To celebrate the Saga's 38-year anniversary, Proton held a mini carnival at the Proton Centre of Excellence which also happens to be its headquarters, early last month.
The carnival attracted many Saga owners and car clubs, and it bore witness to the hand-over ceremony of Proton's longest distance ski driving stunt certificate by the Malaysia Book of Records, there was also the Proton Saga "Taxi Ride" experience and a display of all the variants, models and generations of the Proton Saga over the years just to name a few.
The Hot Wheels die-cast model is based on the first generation Proton Saga, which was powered by the 4G13 1.3-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine from the Orion series.
The country's first national car made its highly-anticipated debut on July 9, 1985, launched by the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was instrumental in the birth of the national carmaker.
The first generation had a lengthy production run of almost 23 years with many facelifts and updates along the way before being replaced by the second generation Saga BLM in 2008.