TYCO R/C Turns Out New Drift Kings Lineup Based on New Extreme Motorsp

    Business Editors/Toy Industry Writers

    EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2005--Tyco(R) R/C, a division of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT), today announced the launch of a new line of remote control (R/C) cars based on the hottest trend in motorsports -- Drifting. Entitled "Drift Kings(TM)," the new line of detailed cars captures all the excitement and skill of a real drift race.
    Drifting takes elements of rally racing and autocross, and puts them on display in front of a panel of judges. Unlike a traditional race, drifting is more about presentation, execution and style, and is "scored" in a fashion similar to snowboarding or figure skating. Cars go into turns at high speed and "drift" around the track, burning up their tires and leaving plumes of smoke in their wake. Enormously popular in Japan, the sport caught on with the underground car culture of the U.S. and quickly entered the mainstream with competitions on a number of circuits at the local and national level.
    "It's like taking the best part of a car chase and turning it into a competition," said Paul Fish, vice president and general manager, Tyco(R) R/C. "Drift Kings(TM) puts this excitement in the hands of kids with detailed replicas of ultra-high-performance cars."
    Tyco(R) R/C's Drift Kings(TM) assortment includes two ready-to-run large scale vehicles: the Mazda RX7 and the Nissan Silvia S15. Each vehicle features four wheel drive, speed control and two sets of tires (drift tires and street tires) that can be swapped for custom traction action.
    With the launch of the vehicles, Tyco(R) R/C will be partnering with Formula Drift -- the only professional drift circuit outside of Japan. Created by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage, Formula Drift burst onto the racing scene in 2004 and provides the largest purse of any competition series. Tyco(R) R/C will demo the Drift Kings(TM) assortment at Formula Drift events, where attendees will have the opportunity to participate in contests to win Drift Kings(TM) cars and race against a Formula Drift driver.
    "Drift Kings(TM) vehicles will help to bring the sport of drifting to an even wider audience, and let future drift drivers learn the basics and fun of the sport on a smaller scale," said Ryan Sage, vice president of marketing for Formula D, Inc. "Tyco(R) R/C has made the vehicles so realistic by taking what you see on the track and simply shrinking it down."
    Drift Kings(TM) vehicles are available at mass retail stores for $69.99 and come with one 9.6V Turbo rechargeable NICd battery pack and charger, and four AA batteries.

    About Mattel, Inc.

    Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever created. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R) and Tyco(R) R/C, as well as Fisher-Price brands (www.fisher-price.com), including Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(R), Power Wheels(R) and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 42 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.

--30--WAM/la*

CONTACT: Mattel, Inc. Tami Cole, 310-252-3921 or GolinHarris Wes Robinson, 213-438-8722 Mark Morse, 213-438-8844

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA JAPAN INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD ENTERTAINMENT AUTOMOTIVE RETAIL PRODUCT SOURCE: Mattel, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005