McLaren and Lego have an extended historical past of partnerships, with the unlikely duo teaming up on a lot of extremely sophisticated kits, together with 1:8 scale variations of the Senna GTR and MCL36 F1 race automobile.
But now, the connection has been taken to the subsequent stage, with a 1:1 Lego duplicate of the well-known P1 arriving on the scene that uses a staggering 342,817 Lego Technic pieces (sure, somebody truly counted), in addition to a mix of Technic batteries and a small EV battery to energy it.
Far from merely being a tremendous mannequin for crowds to gawp at, each McLaren and Lego’s engineers set about creating eight motor packs, every consisting of 96 Lego Power perform motors, which implies the automobile incorporates a complete of 768 Lego motors that permit it to hit as much as 40mph.
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That’s not unhealthy, particularly given the very fact that all the factor weighs 1,220Kg, which is simply round 200kg lighter than the precise McLaren P1 – full with massive, fats twin-turbocharged V8 and hybrid system put in.
Clearly confronted with plenty of boring wet days, it took the 23 specialists from each Lego and McLaren 8,344 hours of growth and building to finish. Although it doesn’t say what number of cups of tea and chocolate biscuits they bought by.
To show that the 1:1 duplicate truly works, the group caught McLaren Formula 1 Team driver Lando Norris within the scorching seat and requested him to place in a scorching lap of Silverstone’s well-known race circuit (above), the place the automobile accomplished all 3.66 miles with out falling aside.
Brick by boring brick
As publicity stunts go, this is without doubt one of the most intricate we’ve ever seen. Despite that includes the wheels, steering wheel and the metal chassis of the unique, the remainder of the construct is long-established from Technic components, together with 11 that had been moulded particularly for this mannequin.
Granted, it’s designed to assist shift extra Lego Technic McLaren P1 1:8 scale mannequin units ($449.99 / £389.99 / €449.99 / AU$699.99, in case you’re ) earlier than Christmas, nevertheless it’s additionally testomony to how severely these Technic guys take their fashions.
Even tackling the 1:8 McLaren P1 equipment is an enterprise in itself, because it consists of three,893 pieces that create a seven-speed gearbox, a V8 piston engine and working suspension, amongst others.
There’s no phrase on whether or not Lego goes to launch the instruction handbook for the 1:1 scale mannequin, which is a disgrace, because it seems like the most cost effective method to personal a P1.
