In 2013, McLaren debuted the P1, an iconic powerhouse supercar able to topping out at 217 mph. An official, life-size LEGO model? Not a lot. However judging from the corporate’s current showcase, its new mission continues to be a powerful feat of artistic engineering—particularly contemplating that, like its inspiration, this LEGO iteration is completely able to cruising alongside a racetrack.
Constructing upon the 1:8 scale LEGO Technic mannequin at present out there for hobbyists, McLaren Automotive just lately partnered with the plastic brickmakers to construct a full-scale, working adaptation of the P1 supercar. In line with their announcement, the ultimate outcome required 23 specialists from each firms to collaborate over 8,344 hours of growth and building adopted by one other 2,210 hours of manufacturing time. The brilliant yellow variant contains 342,817 LEGO Technic parts unfold throughout 393 differing kinds—11 of which had been molded particularly for the mission itself.
As The Verge notes, the automobile nonetheless required a metal body and actual tires to truly operate, however that’s about it on the subject of non-LEGO components. Even the P1’s engine system consists of eight electrical motor packs, every with 96 LEGO Energy operate motors to mimic the unique McLaren’s V8 whereas providing a nod to the P1’s legacy because the world’s first hybrid supercar. All instructed, the LEGO Technic weighed in at about 2,690 lbs—roughly 385 lbs lighter than the precise racing car.
As soon as totally assembled, McLaren entrusted the experimental automobile to its personal group racer, Lando Norris. After arriving on the UK’s Silverstone Circuit, Norris managed to finish a complete lap across the 3.66mi monitor at a high velocity of 40 mph. Whereas that’s only a fraction of the velocity of its namesake, the LEGO Technic P1 garnered quite a lot of notable achievements. It marks the primary time a LEGO scale has efficiently pushed round corners, completed a complete race monitor lap, and been piloted by an official Method One racing driver.
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This isn’t the primary time LEGO helped assemble a full-size racing reproduction. In 2018, the corporate debuted a Bugatti Chiron constituted of over 1 million LEGO Technic items. Though practically 1,400 lbs lighter than the true factor, that iteration solely managed to high out at 12 mph—and solely whereas driving in a straight line.Â