X

Hot Wheels' real-life Darth Vader car (pictures)

Mattel's Hot Wheels line of model cars turns to the Dark Side at San Diego Comic-Con, with a full-size Darth Vadermobile. And yes, it's fully operational.

Seth Rosenblatt
Senior writer Seth Rosenblatt covered Google and security for CNET News, with occasional forays into tech and pop culture. Formerly a CNET Reviews senior editor for software, he has written about nearly every category of software and app available.
Seth Rosenblatt
2014-sdcc-vader-car-6.jpg
1 of 6 Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

A ride fit for a Jedi killer

Mattel's Hot Wheels line of model cars turns to the Dark Side at San Diego Comic-Con, with a full-size Darth Vadermobile. And yes, it's fully operational.

Under it all sits an F1-style A-arm suspension, and 4-wheel 6-piston calipers, while custom electronics and sounds from the "Star Wars" movies echo in the cockpit.

2014-sdcc-vader-car-1.jpg
2 of 6 Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

Wheels for a Sith Lord

Mattel built this street-legal Darth Vader car for San Diego Comic-Con, and is selling bite-size scale replicas as a convention exclusive.

2014-sdcc-vader-car-2.jpg
3 of 6 Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

Do not doubt the power of a Dark Side engine

The Vader car is driven by a high-performance, six-speed L3 engine, with 526 horsepower for the rear wheels and a 3,500-stall converter.

2014-sdcc-vader-car-3.jpg
4 of 6 Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

Tricked out like a proper Darth

Under the Vader car's retractable roof, there are custom electronics, and leather seats sporting the logo of the Empire.

2014-sdcc-vader-car-4.jpg
5 of 6 Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

A Sith's weapon

In between the seats sits  an authentic Darth Vader lightsaber hilt from the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

2014-sdcc-vader-car-5.jpg
6 of 6 Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

Just like Vader himself, a custom front-end

The Vader car has a custom-built front end and exterior detailing, with exhausts shaped like lightsabers, carbon fiber nose and air dam, custom tires and wheels, and a replica of Vader's chest panel.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos