By collecting pickups they can obtain new properties, such as nitro boosts, oil slicks, projectiles and other weapons.
In Hot Wheels Extreme Racing the vehicles have the ability to transform into four different element types: land, water, air, and all-terrain.
Hot Wheel Extreme Racing features four game modes: Championship, Arcade, Time Trial and Multiplayer.
Arcade mode allows the player to choose one of the available tracks, and then race it against three other computer-controlled cars.
The game also supports a multiplayer mode that allows up to four players to race against each other, using a multitap device.