What's all this about?
Lego, being bloody brilliant, as always. The Danish toy company has had a massive 21st-century resurgence and makes some astonishing Creator and Technic car kits, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, the Volkswagen 'Type 2' Camper, the Ferrari F40, the Isiigonis Mini, the Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 (complete with gadgets), the new Land Rover Defender, the Ford Mustang and so much more. Arguably, though, the culmination of all of this glory was the mad 3,599-brick Technic kit, launched in 2018, which allowed eager punters to build their own blocky version of the Bugatti Chiron.
Right, but 2018 was two years ago. What am I looking at in the pictures?
The latest and possibly greatest Lego car kit yet. It's a 1:8 Technic replica of the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 (those last letters and digits being the initials of the late Ferdinand Piëch, who died in 2019 and who was born in 1937, their inclusion in the Lambo's nameplate a form of honouring the former Volkswagen Group boss), this time made up of 3,696 bricks. As of June 1, it will only be available direct from Lego at a price of £349.99 (oof...), but from August 1, 2020, other retailers will be able to get their hands on it.
As is ever so from the Danish legends, the Technic kit is faithful to the real thing in so many ways. It has a replica V12 engine, for instance, like the hybrid Sian's proper motor, while its doors open in a scissor fashion, it has a moveable rear spoiler, the green 'paint' and gold wheels represent a spec you can have on the full-sized Lambo, and it also has a working paddle-shift sequential gearbox, as well as functional steering and suspension. When fully built, the Technic Sian measures 60cm long, 25cm wide and 12cm tall. And we want it. Badly.
So do I. Any words from the two big 'Ls'?
We see what you did there. Yes, there are words, so first up is Stefano Domenicali, chairman and CEO of Lamborghini, who said: "The Lego brick is an icon in the same way as a Lamborghini super-sports car. They both embody the pursuit of design perfection through constant research and development, create different emotions with every interaction, and are valued by generations. Each Lamborghini super-sports car can be unique thanks to our Ad Personam personalisation programme and the specific driving style of each owner, just as Lego bricks provide builders of all ages with endless possibilities for creation. This outstanding replica of the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 from the Lego Group presents a brilliant new building experience for both super-sports car fans and Lego enthusiasts, and Lamborghini is privileged to share this opportunity with the Lego Group."
Furthermore, Niels B. Christiansen, Lego's CEO, added: "This new model truly encapsulates the pursuit of excellence embedded in the DNA of both Automobili Lamborghini and the Lego Group. Both the 1:8 model and the reveal itself are feats of engineering innovation, pulled off by incredibly talented teams from across our two businesses. The Lego Technic Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 is a true testament that with Lego Technic, you can build anything your heart desires. I can't wait to build this authentic replica of this futuristic super-sports car for real."
As with the Chiron, Lego Sian builders get bespoke luggage for their replica Lambo, as well as a unique serial number that unlocks special content online. There's a QR code in the building instructions which opens up a series of exclusive videocasts from Lamborghini and Lego experts, while the lime-green box for the Lego kit has Sian detailing all over it. Marvellous.
Matt Robinson - 28 May 2020