Tag Archives: Cars

A Batmobile for the ages

This original LEGO Batmobile by Oshi is firing on all cylinders. From the stance, to the sleek yet incisive lines, to the visual suggestion that its chassis includes some kind of hardened fire-proof safe room, Oshi’s offering fits the bat-bill perfectly. It’s fascinating how through countless reimaginings reinventions and reboots, every new Batmobile always reads as a Batmobile. What are the traits that make this possible? What do they all have in common? Beyond the obvious – powerful, pointy in parts, and pitch black (sometimes very very dark grey) – there is one essential trait that may not immediately leap to everyone’s mind. A Batmobile is handmade. Unmistakable as a whole, yet more than the sum of its untraceable parts.Speaking of parts, Oshi’s inception for this one-day build came from dusting off a previously abandoned idea to use trans-light blue wing elements from a series 15 collectible Minifigure for the headlights. Inspired!

Batmobile

One more reliable bat-trait just occurred to me. I’m betting this latest incarnation of the caped crusader’s signature ride doesn’t have much of rear view! Who needs it though when you’re the fastest ride on Gotham’s mean streets.

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LEGO Icons 10353 Williams FW14B & Nigel Mansell: “And colossally, that’s LEGO Mansell!” [Review & Exclusive Designer Insights]

Modern Formula One cars are fantastically complex beasts. And yet, if you ask hardcore F1 fans what the most technologically advanced car ever is, there’s a good chance they will plump for one from 1992. The Williams FW14B is famous for enjoying its technological superiority over its rivals, with traction control and active suspension among its many innovations. This icon of 1990s F1 is now getting an official LEGO set, alongside its most famous pilot, in the form of 10353 Williams Racing FW14B & Nigel Mansell. With an RRP of US $79.99 | CAN $99.99 | UK £69.99, this 799-piece kit can be pre-ordered now ahead of its general release on March 1st. (You might also see it on eBay or Amazon thereafter.)

Our editor-in-chief Andrew Becraft visited Billund last year to talk to LEGO Icons designer (and LEGO Masters Australia victor) Gus McLaren about this set ahead of its release. So you can expect to see some interesting bits of information sprinkled throughout this review. (A shout-out too to Nicole, AKA GirlBricksALot, for joining Andrew in the interview and backing him up with some specialist F1 knowledge!)

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click here to read our review of this legendary racer!

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A Supra-duper LEGO creation

While I may not be a huge fan of sports cars, I definitely know a quality LEGO model when I see one. So when I spied this glorious Toyota Supra by Mihail Rakovskiy, I knew I needed to share it! Clad in yellow, it’s an excellent representation of the fourth generation of this automotive marvel, the A80.

Toyota Supra 7

Take this Toyota out for a test drive below.

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And you will know us (this LEGO build) by the trail of dust

Take it from me: there are few things as epic in life as seeing a rally car going full pelt over a jump. Mike Sinclair has added a LEGO freeze-frame to the gallery of big sends!  Mike says he studied a variety of rallies to come up with the layout, and I’m reminded of the famous Fafe jump at Rally de Portugal. And as jumps go, that’s probably the best of the lot! The highlight of the scene is the trail of dust that this particular car is leaving in its wake, but the details are just as realistic. The banner across the apex of the jump, the many cameras ready to capture the moment, and the distance markers for those crews looking for bragging rights. In fact, the only thing missing is… Er, the co-driver?! That’s some drive if it’s all been done without pacenotes!

Eat My Dust

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An audacious rebuild of a LEGO Porsche 911 into an Audi TT

When LEGO released the excellent Creator Expert 10295 Porsche 911 it came with two variants right out of the box. For auto enthusiast Nathanael Kuipers, other car models are always waiting to be found within the parts of official sets, like this alternate build Audi TT. As Nathanael explains in his blog, the biggest challenge is working with the limited selection of curves and wheel arches from one set to find the unique shape of another model. The results here speak for themselves as you’d be forgiven for thinking this alternate build was an official set!

TT front

The model features opening doors, bonnet, and boot, as well as a working steering wheel. Nathanael’s solution for the iconic Audi logo in the grille is especially genius.

TT open

Nathanael regularly shares alt builds of official LEGO automotive sets. We also loved his pickup truck alt of 10265 Ford Mustang. I wonder what set Nathanael will remix next?

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Ricky Raccoon’s red rocket rat-rod racer

If you think of a hot-rod, there’s a good chance you’d think of a modified old car, perhaps something like the Ford Model A. In LEGO form, there’s one theme that sticks out for styling its cars in a similar 1930s aesthetic: Fabuland. And if you think that theme’s bright colours wouldn’t suit a rapid straight-line rat-rod, here’s captainsmog‘s drag racer to change your mind! It’s a great tribute to the theme, making use of old parts – the windscreen window frame, and Ricky Raccoon, of course – alongside newer ones, like the red bucket headlights. Even the Wacky Racers-esque rocket on the back fits the vibe!

Fabu dragster

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LEGO Technic 42176 Porsche GT4 e-Performance Race Car – New elements under the hood! [Review]

We’re two thirds of the way through the year and thus far LEGO has given us an outstanding collection of Technic models. The latest wave includes the lunar rover, after all! But for those looking for something a little faster paced, you might meet your match with LEGO Technic 42176 Porsche GT4 e-Performance Race Car. This new vehicle flies under the Control+ banner, and comes with an all-new, fully loaded, RC hub. Come with us a we look under the hood of this 834-piece kit, which is currently available and retails for US $169.99 | CAN $219.99 | UK £149.99.

The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

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The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Technic 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar [Review]

LEGO loves fast cars! The Speed Champions and Technic lines are both pounding them out at record speeds. And with the summer wave of Technic sets, we add a few more to the growing list. Join us as we take a closer look at the latest in the series, LEGO Technic 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar. This 801-piece model will be available August 1st and retail for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £46.99.

The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick a copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

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LEGO Technic 42172 McLaren P1: Does this hypercar live up to the hype? [Review]

LEGO has been on a bit of a roll with model cars this year. A new wave of Speed Champions sets, an iconic car from the 1980s, Technic models of Formula 1 and Formula E cars, and now, the latest entry into the 1:8 scale line of Technic supercars. Except… This one isn’t just a supercar. 42172 LEGO Technic McLaren P1 depicts one of the first hybrid hypercars from 3,893 pieces, and will release this August 1st for US $449.99 | CAN $589.99 | UK £389.99. The Technic Ultimate line has a reputation for pulling out all the stops, with a price tag to match. Will the McLaren live up to this high standard? Read on to find out!

The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click here to continue reading our review!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Chronicling the history of the Octan Racing Team [Feature]

The Octan energy company holds a special place in the hearts of many in the LEGO community. On the face of it that might seem rather strange – it’s only an energy company, after all, and a fictional one at that. (Well, mostly fictional – as discussed previously on TBB.) But it has been an ever-present in LEGO’s Town and City lines, and more besides, since its introduction in 1992. Its famous red and green roundel has adorned everything from petrol stations to football jerseys in the brick-built universe.

However, there’s one Octan activity that has always held a special fascination for me personally: motorsport! Their association with racing goes back almost as far as the company itself. But how did this enormous energy mega-corp get involved with motorsport in the first place? Did their monopoly on fuel extend to a winning streak on the circuit? Inspired by a livery spotted in a video game, I thought I would take a stab at answering these questions. So join the starting grid with me, dear reader, and let’s find out about Octan’s racing heritage!

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Sailing the seven highways with Top Gear

For a show that was ostensibly about cars, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how much fooling around featured on British TV show Top Gear. Some of their challenges stick in the mind more than others, though, and LEGO builder Nard Verbong has re-visited possibly one of the most iconic in brick form. In 2006, Clarkson, Hammond and May were tasked with turning everyday cars into sea-worthy vessels. Predictably, the results were equal parts wacky, funny, ambitious and, frankly, pretty rubbish. But the designs were all very different, and the most successful (or least unsuccessful) was James May’s Triump Herald. The car model on its own here is superb, but the sailing accessories really make it.

Take a look at the other vessels after the jump!

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LEGO Icons 10338 Transformers Bumblebee – Does this Beetle-bot beat all bots? [Review]

LEGO has once again dipped its toe into the world of Transformers action figures. And while Optimus Prime and Megatron are likely the two most well-known of the Hasbro toy line, the Autobot Bumblebee has definitely got the number three slot locked down. First released in Japan in 1983 as Microchange Wagen, this scout-bot wins the hearts and minds of children everywhere with his “never say die” attitude that always looms much larger than his stature. While recent theatrical appearances have popularized a Chevy Camaro-version of this Transformer, LEGO has opted to return to the roots of the robot with the original Volkswagen Beetle design in LEGO Icons 10338 Transformers Bumblebee. The set clocks in at 950 pieces and hits store shelves on July 4th (July 1st for LEGO Insiders), retailing for US $89.99 | CAN $119.99 | UK £79.99. But after the success of LEGO Transformers 10302 Optimus Prime back in 2022, will B-127 measure up to his leader? Read on to find out!

The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Read more on this transformative building process below!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.