Working at the Hot Wheels Design Studio is cool. Based at Mattel's headquarters, in El Segundo, CA - which is a bonus in and of itself for this Detroit-based writer - Hot Wheels is probably what every automotive designer thought automotive design would be like when they were seven years old.

It's one of those rare places where indulging in flights of fancy isn't just allowed, it's actively encouraged. Not to mention there's an awesome Hot Wheels racing track, which from the sounds of it, is home to some intense competition.