Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge — next episode, everything we know about the new competition series

Promo image for Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge
(Image credit: NBCUniversal)

NBC's summer lineup features a throwback for car lovers with Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge. Hosted by Rutledge Wood, this new series features 16 Hot Wheels lovers converting real cars into Hot Wheels-inspired works of art. 

With prize money and the chance to have their dream cars turned into an actual Hot Wheels car, this is the perfect show for anyone looking for a little nostalgia mixed with lots of imagination, and some friendly competition to keep things interesting. 

Here's what we know about Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge

Next episode of Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge 

The next new episode of Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge airs August 1, at 10 pm ET/PT on NBC, with new episodes available to stream the following day on Peacock

The new episode is titled "Grand Finale Part 2" and here's the episode description: "Comedy legend and car guru Jay Leno joins the judges to determine a season winner who will take home an extra $50,000 and get their design turned into a real die-cast Hot Wheels™ toy that anyone can buy."

At this time there's no word on a release date in the UK but we'll have that information for you as soon as it's available.  

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episodes

Keep track of the Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episodes right here:

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 1: "Cyber Slicker vs Power Charged" "Superfans Jadejha Edwards and 'Jerzey' Jim Farell face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; Terry Crews serves as guest judge."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 2: "Monster Bug vs Buckaroo"
"Superfans Sheilah Spencir and Kevin Lister face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by their stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; Anthony Anderson comes along for the ride."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 3: "Spirit of Detroit vs Flamin' Fire Truck"
"Superfans Rob Anders and Aldavid Jimerson face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by their personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 4: "Skater Boy vs Jaipur Jewel"
"Superfans Felix Arguelles and Arushi Garg face off by transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by their personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; Fast & Furious' Sung Kang guest judges." 

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 5: "Need for Speed vs Fight Car"
"Superfans Caroline Johnson and Angela Arnold face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; Joel McHale serves as guest judge." 

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 6: "Bridge of Honor vs Mountain Mover"
"Superfans Luidgi Aldator and Terri Jones face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; Rutledge Wood hosts."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 7: "Mardi Gras Mania vs The Reaper"
"Superfans Michael Cooney and Nick Harrison face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; WWE Superstar Big E serves as guest judge."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 8: "Metamorphosis vs Racer Girl"
"Superfans Kris Parker and Lauren Partin face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels™ showstopper, inspired by personal stories, interests and pop culture touchstones; Rutledge Wood hosts."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge episode 9: "Grand Finale Part 1"
"Three qualifying winners compete in the grand finale and create brand new life-size Hot Wheels™; the winner takes home an extra $50,000 and gets their design turned into a real die-cast Hot Wheels toy that anyone can buy."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge cast

Rutledge Wood will host Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge. He's a life-long car lover, as evidenced in Top Gear US. Wood is no stranger to hosting, as he serves as the host of the Netflix reality series Floor is Lava

The show will also feature celebrity guest judges, including Terry Crews and Anthony Anderson, who will help Wood pick winners each week.

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge plot

Here's the official synopsis of Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge from NBC:

"New series Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge revs up to give passionate car lovers and superfans of Mattel’s Hot Wheels® the opportunity of a lifetime – turning a nostalgic car from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams. Hosted by car afficionado Rutledge Wood, each episode will invite two superfans into the Chrome Zone, where they will face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels showstopper, inspired by personal stories and pop culture touchstones. Working alongside a team of automotive magicians known as 'The Car Pool,' the two superfans will create their designs in high-tech, decked-out garages. The winner of each episode will take home $25,000 and the chance to get into the finale where three lucky finalists will transform another car in hopes of winning a legendary prize – an additional $50,000 and the honor of having their design made into an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.

"Hosted by Rutledge Wood (Top Gear US, Floor Is Lava), who will also serve as one of the show’s judges, the 10-episode series will give Hot Wheels® superfans the opportunity of a lifetime – turning a nostalgic car from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams. The season-finale winning creation will spin its wheels by launching as an official Hot Wheels die-cast car."

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge trailer

Take a look at the trailer for Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge below:

How to watch Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge

Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge airs on NBC, which is part of most cable TV packages. If you've cut the cord, you can also watch NBC through live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV

The series is also available to stream on Peacock. Peacock can be accessed through a smartphone or computer, or you can watch it on TV. Some cable providers offer Peacock for free as part of their cable bundle. You can also watch Peacock through platforms such as Fire TV, Apple TV Plus and Roku

Sarabeth Pollock
Editorial Content Producer

 

Sarabeth joined the What to Watch team in May 2022. An avid TV and movie fan, her perennial favorites are The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, true crime documentaries on Netflix and anything from Passionflix. You’ve Got Mail, Ocean's Eleven and Signs are movies that she can watch all day long. She's also a huge baseball fan, and hockey is a new favorite.  

When she's not working, Sarabeth hosts the My Nights Are Booked Podcast and a blog dedicated to books and interviews with authors and actors. She also published her first novel, Once Upon an Interview, in 2022.