Minicooper Hot Wheels: The Passion That Became a Lifestyle

Journey

Minicooper Hot Wheels is the nickname of Brazilian digital influencer Eduardo Matteuzzi, who turned his childhood passion for Hot Wheels toy cars into a real-life project. Along with his family, he invested over R$ 200,000 in customizing real vehicles, transforming them into life-sized (“giant”) versions of the famous Hot Wheels cars. His first major project was customizing a Mini Cooper, followed by a Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 S SUV—nicknamed the “Hulk’s Hot Wheels” due to its vibrant green paint and Brabus performance kit. These unique cars caught attention in the Praia Grande region (São Paulo), where two Hot Wheels were already cruising the streets, driven by Eduardo and his wife (known online as Lica Hot Wheels). Thus, the hobby of collecting and modifying toy cars evolved into a family venture to create real-life show cars inspired by the toys.

Type of Content Produced

Minicooper Hot Wheels’ content focuses on the adventures and showcases of these customized cars. Eduardo primarily produces short videos and images displaying the vehicles in action—whether participating in automotive events, city drives, or special presentations. He often highlights upgrades and tricks, such as turbocharged engines, exhausts that emit fire/smoke, and thematic designs, to entertain his audience. For example, after a recent modification to the customized Mini Cooper, he emphasized in a post that the car became “more sophisticated”—now, in addition to making exhaust pops, it also releases smoke, which left children “going crazy” with excitement. His videos frequently feature scenes of the cars accelerating, performing maneuvers, and even engaging in friendly races with other vehicles, always with a fun and nostalgic Hot Wheels tone. Additionally, he shares behind-the-scenes content of the customizations (such as painting and accessory installations) and invites followers to themed meetups and parades with his life-sized Hot Wheels.

Main Platform

The influencer’s main showcase is on short-video social media platforms. Eduardo maintains an active presence on TikTok (@minicooper.hotwheels), where he posts reels and clips of the cars and interacts with fans. It’s common to see him using TikTok to invite the audience to events—for example, calling on followers to join a Hot Wheels parade in Praia Grande through a video on the platform. Besides TikTok, he also uses Instagram, where he has over 1.6 million followers (@minicooper.hotwheelss), as an important platform, sharing photos, reels, and updates about his projects. In his Instagram bio, he describes the page as the home of “Brazil’s most beloved toy cars—Hot Wheels,” making the central theme of his content clear. Although he has a YouTube channel for longer recordings, his primary engagement occurs on short-format platforms (TikTok and Instagram), which have helped popularize his creations in a viral and rapid manner.

Target Audience

Minicooper Hot Wheels’ audience is quite diverse within the playful automotive niche. A significant portion consists of children and families, drawn to the “toy car come to life” aspect—during car appearances, it’s common to see the excitement of young audiences, and Eduardo himself reports that when he took his three giant Hot Wheels to the waterfront, “the kids went wild” with joy. At the same time, he also reaches nostalgic adults who grew up collecting Hot Wheels or appreciate automotive customization, as well as enthusiasts of tuned cars. His events and content bring generations together: parents and children follow along, the former reminiscing about their childhood and the latter fascinated by seeing a toy car in real life. There’s also engagement from the collector and miniature fan community, as Eduardo participates in meetups and promotes related initiatives (such as Hot Wheels Legends in Brazil, among others). In short, his target audience spans Hot Wheels fans of all ages, from children fascinated by the toy cars to alternative automotive enthusiasts.

Digital Presence and Influence

Eduardo Matteuzzi, through the Minicooper Hot Wheels persona, has been gaining prominence online and offline, establishing himself as a reference in creative automotive content. Below are some highlights of his presence and influence:

– Events and Public Appearances: He organizes and participates in themed parades with his Hot Wheels cars around the city, attracting local fans and regional media. These displays have become an attraction in Praia Grande, generating comments and photos on the community’s social media.
– Multimedia Productions: He released a theme song for the “giant Hot Wheels” titled “Manda Marcha,” complete with a music video and live performances. On his social media, he promoted the video, inviting followers to watch and share the news, which has already reached 30 million views on Instagram, integrating musical content into his influencer project.
– Viral Collaborations: To expand his reach, Eduardo engages in unusual partnerships—for example, in one campaign, he invited a Neymar look-alike to take a ride in one of his Hot Wheels cars. The look-alike’s public appearance in Baixada Santista caused a stir, drawing a crowd of fans around the car for photos and videos. He also recorded several parody videos of “Fast and Furious Brazil” with influencer @omichelias, who does impersonations and also works at SBT.
– Engagement with Other Creators: His influence has inspired other digital influencers. A notable case was a TikToker whose video about the life-sized Hot Wheels went viral, reaching millions of views—upon learning about it, Eduardo invited the creator for a ride in the real-life car as a form of gratitude and collaboration. This type of cross-interaction boosts his visibility and strengthens the community around the project.

In summary, Minicooper Hot Wheels has built a unique digital presence by blending nostalgia, automotive entertainment, and interactivity. Whether showcasing life-sized toy cars, engaging the audience at events, or collaborating on creative projects, Eduardo Matteuzzi has successfully turned his passion into online influence, captivating a loyal audience of fans of all ages. His profiles showcase a balance of personal charisma and enthusiasm for Hot Wheels, making him a recognized figure within this niche in Brazil.

Sources: Minicooper HotWheels (Instagram and TikTok); A Tribuna – Pop&Art (Eduardo Matteuzzi profile); B-Motors (automotive media); Praia Grande Community (social media); Big Talks Podcast (interview with Eduardo Matteuzzi); various TikTok/Instagram posts about events and projects.