Toyota andNintendoannounced a unique cross-promotion that will see select buyers of a recently announced SUV receive a complimentary Switch, together with a copy ofMario Kart 8 Deluxe. The unusual partnership marks Nintendo’s second automaker collaboration involvingMario Kart 8, which previously introduced three Mercedes-Benz vehicles like the GLA, W 25 Silver Arrow, and 300 SL Roadster back in 2014.
The latest mainlineMario Kartgame will be pushing ten in just a few months, but its 2017Deluxererelease for the Switch is still supported by Nintendo, as the Japanese company is currently in the process of rolling out a massive 48-track expansion. According to the latest available info,Mario Kart 8 DeluxeBooster Course Pack wave 4 DLCwill be launching in spring.
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In the meantime, Toyota took to the latest iteration of the Chicago Auto Show to announce a curious partnership with Nintendo meant to promote the incoming arrival of its 2024 Grand Highlander, which goes on sale in summer 2023. To celebrate that occasion, 500 future owners of the luxury SUV will receive a complimentary OLED model of the Switch and a physical version ofMario Kart 8 Deluxe. Toyota even brought a custom Grand Highlander with a Switch-themed vinyl wrap to the 2023 Chicago Auto Show to commemorate its second Nintendo collaboration sincethe Pikachu “Pi!car!” project. The one-in-a-kind vehicle can be seen at the automaker’s CAS booth until February 19, when the expo is scheduled to end.
Toyota Marketing VP Lisa Materazzo said the unique partnership is meant to underline the fact that the new Grand Highlander andNintendo Switchare “the ultimate duo for families and road trips.” What remains to be seen is whether this cross-promotion will take the form of a sweepstakes, or if Toyota will simply give out the complimentary gaming package to the first 500 buyers of the 2024 Grand Highlander. Either way, the promo will only be available to U.S. customers.
There’s still no official price tag on the SUV, with industry watchers estimating the car to cost somewhere between a regular Highlander and the new Toyota Sequoia, which start at $36,000 and $58,000, respectively. Shelling out 50 grand for new car might be enough to net a free Switch and a copy ofMario Kart 8 Deluxe, but the latter’sBooster Course Pass DLCwon’t be part of the package, with Toyota’s announcement saying as much.
Future 2024 Grand Highlander owners lucky enough to get a complimentary copy of the game will instead be able to buy the acclaimed expansion for $25, same as everyone else. Alternatively,the wayMK8D’sBooster Course Pass worksalso allows players to get it for “free” with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, whose 12-month membership is priced at $49.99.
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