Toys

What better way to celebrate the revamp of London’s main Lego store than with a life-size model of the famous Aston Martin DB5?

The recently reopened Leicester Square shop—which is now the Danish toy company’s largest following the upgrade—has a slew of special exhibits currently on display, including a stunning recreation of James Bond’s vehicle of choice. The brick-made DB5 may not be capable of everything its big screen counterpart can do, but that doesn’t make the vehicle any less impressive.

A lot of time and effort were put into the Lego store’s Aston Martin. The entire model consists of 347,954 bricks and took an expert team of builders 1,366 hours (or the equivalent of nearly 57 days) to complete, according to a tweet from the British automaker. As you may have guessed, that many plastic bricks is pretty heavy. The London-based newspaper Metro reports that the giant toy car weighs one imperial ton, which works out to 2,240 pounds. Standing next to the vehicle is a nearly life-size version of the company’s iconic minifig outfitted just like the superspy.

The Lego DB5 also has some working parts. It’s not as detailed as one of the company’s Technic models—which sometimes come with functional gearboxes—but it does feature working headlights and and an illuminated instrument panel. Our favorite detail is one that will be familiar to anyone who’s seen any of the car’s eight appearances in the beloved spy franchise—a rotating license plate.
This isn’t Lego’s first experience with the legendary vehicle. Four years ago, the company released an extremely detailed model of the grand tourer as part of its Creator Expert line. The 1,295-piece set includes several Bond gadgets—like non-firing machine guns, wheel scythes and even a working ejector seat—and is currently available online through Amazon for $247.99. A smaller, less intricate DB5 model with its own Daniel Craig minifig launched earlier this month and is well-suited to anyone looking for a fun desk decoration. It can be yours for $19.97.

Lego worked directly with Ferrari to make sure it did the Daytona SP3 justice.

While designing its latest hyper-detailed Technic car model, the Danish toymaker sent a team to Italy to witness the dazzling supercar being built, according to Car and Driver. The information gained from the trip allowed Lego to create a set that does so much more than just look good on display.

The famed toymaker spent two years working on its 1:8-scale Daytona SP3 model to make sure it got every detail just right. As part of the process, a team of designers, including model lead Aurelien Rouffiange, were dispatched to the Prancing Horses’s Maranello headquarters to watch the automaker’s engineers build its ‘60s-inspired speed machine from the ground up. This gave the team a better understanding of what makes the vehicle special than it would have gained from just studying its schematics.

Lego Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 

Lego

Because both companies were working on their respective Daytona SP3s at the same time, there were occasional difficulties that don’t come up when you’re creating a model based on a finished product. “So many times, you spend two to three weeks on a small detail and [Ferrari] said ‘Yes, it’s good,’” Rouffiange told the publication. “And then the week after, ‘By the way, we changed it. It’s not like that anymore,’ and then you have to go back and do something new.”
All that extra work looks to have been worth the hassle, though. The Lego Technic Daytona SP3, which measures 23 inches in length, doesn’t just look like the flamboyant track machine it’s based on, it also shares some of its functionality. There are several elements that work similarly to their full-size counterparts, like the replica 829 hp V-12 and its working eight-speed transmission. The car is also equipped with opening butterfly-style doors and a removable black panel roof. The entire set consists of 3,778 pieces, some of which are unique to this specific model.

Lego

Impressed? You can buy Lego’s version of the Daytona SP3 now through its website. The set is aimed at enthusiasts age 18 and older and costs $399.99. That may seem like a steep price to pay for Legos, but it’s a whole lot less than the full-sized car’s seven-figure price tag.

On your marks, get set, go … to Legoland?

The building-block-based theme park just released the first images of its life-size model of the classic red Ferrari F40. Built with more than 358,000 Lego parts and weighing over 3,000 pounds, the car will be part of Legoland California Resort’s “Ferrari Build and Race” attraction, which is set to open May 12.

The back of Legoland’s model Ferrari. 

Legoland California Resort

Similar in size to the real deal, the Lego Ferrari measures in at 14-feet long, over six-feet wide and four-feet tall, with a wheelbase at eight feet. It took designers more than 1,800 hours to develop and builders more than 1,900 hours to construct. The model will be parked in the garage area of the park, where visitors will be able to sit in the F40 and take photos, surely inspiring jealously in all of the car fans who haven’t yet been able to check out the vehicle.

“We are excited to build upon our existing relationship with the Lego Group by combining our leading brands within this transformative entertainment attraction,” Annabel Rochfort, director of location-based entertainment and e-sports for Ferrari, said in November, when the collaboration was first announced. “The Build and Race experience has been designed to engage with both Ferrari and Lego lovers of all ages, aligning with Ferrari’s strategy to reach out to its younger fans.”

Someone works on the model Ferrari F40. 

Legoland California Resort

Introduced in 1987 as a successor to the 288 GTO, the actual F40 was the last car to be personally launched by Enzo Ferrari, quickly imbuing it with a legendary status. The Legoland model is just one of three interactive zones that will allow aspiring drivers to get a feel for what it’s like behind the wheel of such an icon. Guests will be able to build their own Lego Ferraris, for example, which they can then race against other cars on a digital racetrack that’s based on Pista di Fiorano, a private track owned by Ferrari.
Many kids will certainly enjoy the attraction, but we bet you’ll be seeing a ton of Ferrari-loving adults at Legoland in the near future, too.

Lego is here to help BMW Motorrad fans get their 2022 started on the right foot.

The Danish toy giant’s latest Technic set is based on the German marque’s BMW M 1000 RR motorcycle. The 1:5 scale model is a highly detailed recreation of one of the most important bikes in BMW history—the very first to carry the “M” badge.
The M 1000 RR made its debut in September 2020 and is based on the brand’s long-running S 1000 RR sport bike. Prior to its introduction, the “M” badge had been reserved for cars and SUVs, such as the M3 or X5 M. Like those vehicles, the M 1000 RR has been extensively modified, including a fairing with aerodynamic winglets, a new titanium exhaust system and an even more powerful inline-four mill that pumps out 212 horses. It’s a superbike, plain and simple.

Lego Technic BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR motorcycle 

Lego

Lego has managed to accurately capture the elements that make the M 1000 RR significant. Consisting of 1,920 pieces, it stands 11 inches tall, 18 inches long and seven inches wide (no word on how much it weights, unfortunately). It also features several fully functional parts, as is a trademark of the Technic line. These include a three-speed gearbox, gold chain transmission drive, four-piston engine and front and rear suspension.
“It’s been so much fun getting underneath the skin of such a significant model for BMW Motorrad,” Samuel Tacchi, one of the toy company’s designers, said in a statement. “There’s a reason why these beautifully engineered bikes are so universally loved by the biking community, and we are confident our Lego Technic version is a winner like its real-life namesake.”

Lego

As you may have guessed, the M 1000 RR Technic model isn’t like the Lego sets you played with as a kid. In fact, the brand makes clear its scale-model motorcycle is meant for adults. It’s got a price to match, too. It’ll cost $229.99 when it goes on sale through the Lego website on January 1.
And if your motorcycle allegiances lie elsewhere, don’t worry, you can still score the Ducati Paningale V4 Technic set. And before the holiday, too.

You’re never too old to play with Lego, particularly when Ferrari is involved.

The Italian marque has joined forces with the Lego Group to launch a new interactive attraction for car enthusiasts at Legoland California Resort. Aptly named “Build and Race,” the experience allows wannabe car engineers to build their very own Prancing Horse from Lego bricks then try it out on one of three racetracks.

Whether you opt for the test zone, steering test track or speed test track, you will be faced with different obstacles and challenges while trying to clock the fastest time. After racing IRL, you can digitally scan your winning Ferrari and racecar driver to further customize them before jumping behind the wheel virtually. The cars will be digitally projected onto Pista di Fiorano—a racetrack owned by Ferrari, of course—with guests again competing for the quickest lap.

Legoland California Resort. 

Wikimedia Commons

In addition to the thrills of the track, you’ll have the opportunity to sit inside a life-size Ferrari F40 model made entirely from Legos. To recap, the real-life version of this iconic four-wheeler was introduced in 1987 as a successor to the 288 GTO. It was the last vehicle to be personally launched by Enzo Ferrari and went on to win the hearts of drivers the world over. Even in brick form, it’s sure to be a bona fide retro beauty.

1988 Ferrari F40. 

Courtesy of Ferrari.

Throughout the experience, a member of the Lego pit crew will also be on hand to share fun facts about Ferrari and its racing history. As Build and Race is also geared toward kids, there will be a section for littles to fashion cars out of Duplo. Hey, you’re never too young to start building.
“Ferrari is renowned for manufacturing cars unique in terms of performance, innovation and design, setting the standard for luxury and excellence within the automotive world,” Legoland California Resort’s president Kurt Stocks said in a statement. “We have millions of young guests who can be inspired from this to create their own unique cars in this one-of-a-kind testing and racing facility.”
Build and Race is set to open at Legoland California Resort in the spring of 2022. That gives you a few months to dream up your very own F40. Enzo, eat your heart out.

Tired of waiting for the Tesla Cybertruck? Thanks to Mega you can now build one yourself.

The toy company, which is best known for its intricate Lego-like block sets, has teamed up with the EV giant to produce the first buildable version of its eagerly anticipated battery-powered pickup truck. The kit consists of 3,283 resin pieces and includes everything you need to construct a Cybertruck of your very own—even a pair of cracked windows.

Mega may be a toy company, but its Cybertruck isn’t for children. Instead, it’s a functional model aimed at those 14 years of age and older. And even though it’s been shrunk down, it still takes up some space. The model is a 1:12 scale recreation of Elon Musk’s automotive passion project, meaning it measures 19.7 inches long, 7.5 inches wide and 6.7 inches tall. It was also specifically designed to be put on display.

Mega x Tesla Cybertruck set 

Mattel Creations

It may not have a sub-three-second 0-to-60 time or a 500-mile range, but the scale Cybertruck has several true-to-life features, according to a press release. These include an adjustable suspension, which allows you to raise and lower the vehicle’s ride height, as well as a tonneau cover that can be popped on and off to reveal a bevy of tools like a Tesla-branded mug, a sledge hammer and a jack. There’s even a folding tailgate that slides into the vehicle’s frame.
Our favorite details, though, are the interchangeable driver-side windows. The model comes with two sets: one that is completely clean and another that is badly cracked. That’s right, the second two look just like the windows that Musk accidentally shattered while trying to show off their bullet-proof strength at the vehicle’s public unveiling in November 2019.

Mattel Creations

Earlier this week, it came out that the full-sized Cybertruck, which Tesla had hoped to start building sometime this year, would be delayed until 2023. The wait for Mega’s version will be much shorter. The brand’s model set goes on sale Friday, Oct. 15, though the Mattel Creations website.
And since it’ll only cost $250, compared to the tri-motor Cybertruck’s $69,900 starting price, time won’t be the only thing you end up saving.

Mattel is high-tailing it toward a greener future. The toy behemoth has just rolled out its first Matchbox car to be made from 99 percent recycled materials and certified carbon neutral. Fittingly, the new model is none other than the electric Tesla Roadster.

The pint-sized set of sustainable wheels was launched as part of Mattel’s Drive Toward a Better Future initiative, which will see the 76-year-old company move to a carbon-neutral model by 2030. That means all Matchbox die-cast cars, playsets and packaging will be made from 100 percent recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic within the next decade.

Furthermore, Matchbox will be placing a greater focus on electric vehicle designs. The first car to usher in this new era will be a die-cast of the new Tesla Roadster. The 1:64 model, which is the spitting image of its battery-powered muse, will be crafted from 99 percent recycled materials, including 62.1 percent recycled zinc, 36.9 percent recycled plastic and 1 percent not-recycled stainless steel.

Electric car chargers will also be included in gas station playsets. 

Mattel

The mini Roadster sports a white exterior with printed-on headlights and taillights, along with Tesla’s signature “zero emissions” text on the license plate. Elsewhere, the side windows, windshield, rear window and roof panel are finished in transparent plastic while the molded interior sports a yoke-style steering wheel.
To be sure, it seems a perfect match. Matchbox’s new green design aligns with Tesla’s eco-friendly ethos. Plus, the real Roadster, which is expected to come out later this year, will be one helluva electric vehicle if the touted specs are anything to go by. The hotly anticipated two-door will reportedly hit speeds in excess of 250 mph and complete the zero to 60 sprint in just 1.9 seconds.
In addition to Elon Musk’s prized Roadster, Matchbox has created a new five-pack of hybrid and EV die-casts. The company says it will also start incorporating electric car chargers in gas station playsets.

Matchbox has also created a new five-pack of hybrid and EV die-casts. 

Mattel

“Since the inception of the modern-day die-cast car nearly 70 years ago, Matchbox has been using design and innovation to connect kids with the real world around them through play,” Roberto Stanichi, global head of vehicles at Mattel, said in a statement. “Matchbox is committing to using 100 percent recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials to do our part in addressing the environmental issues we face today, and empower the next generation of Matchbox fans to help steer us towards a sustainable future.”

The Matchbox Tesla Roadster is expected to launch early next year and could beat the actual four-wheeler to market. Let the race of the Roadsters begin.