Since the year 1949, LEGO has laid the foundation for kids around the world to build anything their minds can imagine using the simplest of plastic blocks interlinking with each other. With the passage of time, the company realized that even we adults are kids when it comes to toys. With that in mind, LEGO has been creating kits for car nuts under the brand LEGO Technic.
Due to the undeniable popularity of the brand, major car manufacturers (and a movie franchise too, no less) have tied up with LEGO to offer build-your-own kits for some of their vehicles. And guess what, these toys have working mechanicals (albeit in plastic) that take the assembly experience to a whole new level!
Here are six cool cars you can build with LEGO.
"James Bond" Aston Martin DB5
Let's be honest about this one. The cabin of this LEGO 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is pulled too far back than that of the real deal. But you can't deny the cool gadgetry this car comes with, both in the real car and the toy. Pull back the rear bumper of the LEGO DB5 to eject the passenger seat. Pull back the gear shifter to deploy wing mounted machine guns (caution: ammo not included), or just gaze at the intricately detailed six-cylinder engine on proud display under a bonnet you can open.
The brand is identical, the generations of Bond differ.
Inside, there's a radar tracker you can conceal. A door compartment contains a tiny onboard telephone. You can also revolve the number plates of this Aston Martin, as well as deploy the bulletproof shield and tyre scythes. Or just marvel at the exquisitely finished bumpers on the car. You have more than 1,290 pieces to bring the DB5 together. But you won't want to play with it once you build it unless you're by yourself. What if the kids break it, no?
The brand is identical, the generations of Bond differ.
Inside, there's a radar tracker you can conceal. A door compartment contains a tiny onboard telephone. You can also revolve the number plates of this Aston Martin, as well as deploy the bulletproof shield and tyre scythes. Or just marvel at the exquisitely finished bumpers on the car. You have more than 1,290 pieces to bring the DB5 together. But you won't want to play with it once you build it unless you're by yourself. What if the kids break it, no?
Bugatti Chiron
This toy's a shocker. Not least because this LEGO Bugatti Chiron is a 1:1 scale model, but it can also seat a driver and be driven around. Yes, the lifesize toy Bugatti Chiron contains a total of 2,304 tiny electric motors that together generate 5.3hp and an impressive 92Nm. It clocked 20kph as its peak speed tested around the Ehra Lessien racetrack in Germany, where the real Chiron was first tested.
LEGO assembled the Chiron out of a million bricks. This is a fact: 1,000,000 bricks, which includes 4,000 Technic wheels. It took 13,000 man hours to build this car which weighs 1,500kg. "When I first saw the Lego Chiron, I was immediately impressed by the accuracy of the model and the minute attention to detail," said its test driver Andy Wallace, who has multiple wins of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona under his belt. "Driving the LEGO Chiron was a great experience, which I thoroughly enjoyed. All those years ago I could never have imagined that one day I would actually drive a Lego car!"
Sure the LEGO Chiron doesn't have even a fraction of the original hypercar's performance, but ask yourself this: Will you ever get to build your own Chiron, unless its made of LEGO? There is only one catch to the situation though. You can't actually buy the life-size LEGO Bugatti Chiron. But don't worry.
LEGO assembled the Chiron out of a million bricks. This is a fact: 1,000,000 bricks, which includes 4,000 Technic wheels. It took 13,000 man hours to build this car which weighs 1,500kg. "When I first saw the Lego Chiron, I was immediately impressed by the accuracy of the model and the minute attention to detail," said its test driver Andy Wallace, who has multiple wins of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona under his belt. "Driving the LEGO Chiron was a great experience, which I thoroughly enjoyed. All those years ago I could never have imagined that one day I would actually drive a Lego car!"
Sure the LEGO Chiron doesn't have even a fraction of the original hypercar's performance, but ask yourself this: Will you ever get to build your own Chiron, unless its made of LEGO? There is only one catch to the situation though. You can't actually buy the life-size LEGO Bugatti Chiron. But don't worry.
Bugatti Chiron - Scaled
Like I said, don't worry. LEGO also markets a scale model of the Bugatti Chiron which is also not as complex. Well, you still have to assemble 3,599 pieces, but that's part of the appeal of the toy brand. The LEGO Bugatti Chiron scale model features a working W16 engine that is connected to an eight-speed transmission which itself has moving cogs. Seeing those tiny pistons go through their stroke rhythmically is strangely satisfying don't you think?
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
The iconic Porsche 911 GT3 RS replica is the result of Porsche adding another franchise to its list: LEGO. The collaboration between these two brands has given birth to one of the most intricately detailed assembled scale models out there. The 1:8 LEGO 911 features orange bodywork, red suspension springs, brake calipers, and rims with low-profile tyres a la the life-size car. The gearbox is again functional, there are shift paddles behind the steering wheel along with a correctly designed dashboard, and the rear lid opens to show off a working signature flat-six engine. The car is divided into 2,704 pieces for an immersive building experience.
Porsche 911 RSR (New For 2019)
Earlier this year, Porsche announced an RSR racing program developed especially for its customers, who get to park themselves in one of the company's RSR race cars backed up with full service and support crew. The German carmaker is celebrating the warm response to the program by releasing a buildable RSR race car with LEGO. The 1,580-piece set is the largest LEGO Technic set for the first half of 2019. There is no working gearbox inside this time, but the accuracy of the details along with the clever construction more than makes up for it.
A quick search through the toymaker's website shows an older version of the RSR and the GT3 RS already on sale with a larger number of parts, which the company launched in 2016. Although more pieces might work out better for some people, I think the rear diffuser and air wing of the new RSR is quite a delicious detail. Also, LEGO has taken some pains to give the RSR scale model a great livery identical to the original race car's scheme.
A quick search through the toymaker's website shows an older version of the RSR and the GT3 RS already on sale with a larger number of parts, which the company launched in 2016. Although more pieces might work out better for some people, I think the rear diffuser and air wing of the new RSR is quite a delicious detail. Also, LEGO has taken some pains to give the RSR scale model a great livery identical to the original race car's scheme.
Special Mention: Volvo Concept ZEUX Loader
Okay, so this is not an actual car. I am not even sure a life-size model of such a machine is even road-legal. But this big Volvo loader has a trick up its sleeve. It carries an onboard drone!
If that is not enough, the counterbalance is fully adjustable to offset the load in the front bucket. Volvo teamed up with LEGO to create this machine which is kind of the future of commercial vehicles. You can operate the boom and bucket simultaneously or independently. The loader features four-wheel-steering. It also rebuilds into another futuristic model: The Volvo Concept Hauler PEGAX. Combined with the classic Volvo black-and-yellow colour scheme, this toy appeals to adults as well as children.
So there you have it. LEGO is a clever manufacturer. Its toys are not only great for kids, but also engaging and fun projects for adults. I know if I got a LEGO Technic set, no kid is ever going to touch my painstakingly built masterpiece!
If that is not enough, the counterbalance is fully adjustable to offset the load in the front bucket. Volvo teamed up with LEGO to create this machine which is kind of the future of commercial vehicles. You can operate the boom and bucket simultaneously or independently. The loader features four-wheel-steering. It also rebuilds into another futuristic model: The Volvo Concept Hauler PEGAX. Combined with the classic Volvo black-and-yellow colour scheme, this toy appeals to adults as well as children.
So there you have it. LEGO is a clever manufacturer. Its toys are not only great for kids, but also engaging and fun projects for adults. I know if I got a LEGO Technic set, no kid is ever going to touch my painstakingly built masterpiece!
