I don’t think a detailed review was ever written about the Hot Wheels Elite Aston Martin DB10.  This is the car featured in the James Bond Spectre film.  There has been much said about its poor panel gaps and overall execution, mainly seen from various photos around the Internet.

Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the 007 series until Daniel Craig stepped into the role.  It seems prior to his involvement in the series the character, James Bond, was somewhat unbelievable, even laughable at times.  This all changed in the last three instalments.  The character now has purpose, soul and is more in touch with his human side.

Another staring role within the films is cars, specifically the Aston Martin.  My favourite and I think many would agree is the Aston Martin DB10, which is the focus of our review here today.

Out of the box, the DB10 looks sexy and smart.  The paint application is very good from front to rear.  Bodylines are solid and represent the original well.  So far so good!  It’s when you peel back the layers the model starts to show its dark side.  As mentioned, the overall lines are solid.  One issue is the rear formation of two roof lines.  The tail is lacking definition and refinement.

All the Black trim elements should have been completed in semi-gloss carbon fibre.  What Hot Wheels released is a Matt Black in appearance.  I could understand an opening price point model cutting corners, but this model tips the scale at almost $200CND, and this with it being on sale!  Unfortunately, the worst is far from over…  Panel gaps on the doors and rear hatch are very poor for the price point.  And I believe I have a half-decent one.  I’ve seen examples where the gaps are even larger!

The front of DB10 does have some good qualities.  I appreciate the 3D like the Aston Martin badge.  The multi-dot pattern on the hood is executed extremely well.  It is definitely tough to determine if this is applied to a decal or drilled holes.  Lastly, headlight detail is somewhat lacking and dual wiper blades look cheap in comparison with the rest of the model’s exterior.

If I forgot to mention this replica of the Hot Wheels Elite DB10 is completed in diecast metal with opening parts, so that means a rare look at the heart of the beast.

Another cool element of the DB10 is the front sweeping hood.  The operation here is flawless and quite responsive.  As for the motor, the detail and overall definition are decent.  Hot Wheels Elite uses a combination of layered parts with colours and textures.  As for accuracy, I could not find a suitable photo to compare.  Your thoughts?

Underneath the model provides some insight into the motor and transmission.  Exhaust workings and rear differential are nicely defined too.

The rear is dominated by the lower diffuser/bumper.  As mentioned earlier, the material here should have been executed in semi-gloss carbon fibre, what we have is a Matt Black finish.  Access to the rear storage is accessible.  Massive dog-leg hinges aid in the operation of such a small piece of metal.  The Interior of the storage area is completed in plastic.  This should have been trimmed in flocking at this price!

I love the wheels found on the DB10.  Hot Wheels Elite’s rendition is pretty damn good too.  The paint and wheel definition is on point.  This includes the rotors too.  Where the model slips are the colour of the calipers, they should be executed in gray with the Aston Martin logo, neither is nowhere to be found.  Each wheel freely spins and the fronts are steerable as well.

Inside the interior of the DB10 is overall underwhelming, though the team clearly defines each area the overall result is lacking and plastic in appearance. We’re missing colour and textures throughout.  Examples include stitching.  Yes, the actual stitch work is present but the White stitching is not.  Textures that should be present in the steering wheel are complete in gray plastic.  There is also no defined seatbelt or interior carpeting.

One of the trademarks in Bond cars is spy gadgets.  What is found here just to the left of the driver position on the upper dash is a three-switch device.  It definitely looks better than most of the other interior elements, but still falls slightly short in definition based on price.

The Hot Wheels Elite Aston Martin DB10 is a mixed bag of emotions.  On one hand, you have this awesome car and the sexy lines of the DB10.  On top of the gorgeous exterior, decent paint and wheels excel.  On the other side of the spectrum, you have a model that is almost toy-like in some regards. Unacceptable at this price.

I don’t know what the team was thinking.  This definitely isn’t Hot Wheels Elite at their prime with their classic Ferrari series.  What makes things more frustrating is the DB10 2-3 times more expensive than the better-equipped Ferrari counterparts.  Unless your collection revolves around the Aston Martin badge or you’re a massive fan of the James Bond series, I’m going to say this one is a pass.  Enjoy the pics!