|  New
Fast and the Furious Diecast Cars Poised at the Starting Line for
this Summer’s Sequel
By Tim
Connolly
The
Fast and the Furious' Eclipse |
2002’s
The Fast and the Furious was the surprise hit of last summer,
out-grossing big budget star vehicles for a total of $145 million
in domestic box-office sales ($206 million worldwide). Fast
and the Furious was that rare breed of movie that appealed
in near equal proportion to men and women, while reaching across
ethnic lines with similar ease. No surprise that Universal Pictures
will be trying to recapture some of that nitro-burning magic with
the June 6th release of 2Fast 2Furious, the sequel to last
year’s pleasant surprise.
The
Fast and the Furious' 18th Mazda RX7 |
Joining
Universal at the starting line will be RC2—formerly
Racing Champions Ertl before the company’s acquisition
of Learning Curve Intl.—with a new collection of 1:18
and 1:64 scale Tuner Car Diecast Collectibles,
part of the company’s ongoing strategy to promote The
Fast and the Furious brand as a stand-alone product line comprising
diecast, toys and hobby products. RC2 will be taking the new line
of cars to specialty retail outlets such as MusicLand, Blockbuster
Video, and Trak Automotive stores.
“The
size and scope of the market for products associated with The
Fast and the Furious make it clear that the brand appeals to
today’s teens and young adults,” said Peter Hensler,
President of Racing Champions Ertl. “We hope to reach a diverse
group with collectibles and toys that are natural extensions of
the movie and the lifestyle.”
The
Fast and the Furious' 18th Supra |
Other
products include 1:24 scale Diecast Activity Kits
that allow fans to build and customize their own tuner car with
an assortment of performance parts, and this fall will see the release
of a new line of Launchers and Race Sets.
“We’re very excited about the timing,” said Ertl’s
Marketing and Communications Manager, Leah Giarritano. “It’s
a great new product line.”
The
1:64 scale diecast cars retail for $2.99, and the larger 1:18 versions
are priced between $24-$29.99 at specialty stores, mass retailers
and hobby outlets.(C) TDmonthly Magazine 2003 Visit: www.tdmonthly.com
(C) TDmonthly Magazine 2003 Visit: www.tdmonthly.com
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