British supercar maker McLaren Automotive and the LEGO Group have unveiled their latest collaboration, paying tribute to a pioneering hybrid hypercar with the introduction of the LEGO Technic McLaren P1.
The P1 leveraged McLaren’s advanced motorsport-based engineering, featuring groundbreaking advances in weight reduction, packaging, high-speed performance, powertrain and aerodynamics. Created with the intention of being ‘the best driver’s car in the world on both road and track’, the P1’s design and technical specifications provided the ideal foundation to deliver on this ambition. The remarkable hypercar is recognised as a landmark both for McLaren and the development of high-performance hybrid vehicles.
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The engineering and technology that underpin the performance, style and functional design of the McLaren P1, made it the perfect challenge for the LEGO Technic team to replicate in 1:8 scale. Unveiled as part of the LEGO Technic Ultimate Car Concept Series, the new 1:8-scale LEGO Technic version consists of 3,893 elements. Each car features a unique serial number that unlocks special behind-the-scenes content. It has a seven-speed gearbox with two shifter drums, suspension, a V8 piston engine, and adjustable rear wing and opening dihedral doors with an advanced mechanism – all guaranteeing an immersive building experience from start to finish that’s authentic to the real McLaren P1.
The model was created by the LEGO Technic design team in close collaboration with McLaren Automotive and both teams were focused on implementing as much cutting-edge functionality in the model as possible, as a tribute to both the real P1 and the engineering excellence for which McLaren is known.
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‘It’s amazing to see so many of the elements from the original P1 brought to life by the LEGO team for the LEGO Technic McLaren P1,’ said Tobias Sühlmann, chief design officer at McLaren Automotive. ‘I hope this collaboration inspires the next generation of designers and engineers to push the boundaries of automotive innovation.’
‘From the exterior, with aerodynamic shapes, to the interior and V8 piston engine, the real McLaren P1 is an incredible car. We wanted to capture these details in the best way possible with our LEGO Technic model and we did not want to compromise in any way,’ said Kasper Rene Hansen, a LEGO designer. ‘Therefore, we worked on multiple variations of the car to test different designs. We also faced a huge challenge with the iconic butterfly doors, because they needed a new mechanism to stay open. It was a great experience to recreate the McLaren P1 and I’m hoping all supercar enthusiasts out there are ready to explore the details and intricacies of the real McLaren P1 in LEGO Technic form.’
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The LEGO Technic McLaren P1 set will be available to buy from 1 August, priced at £389.99.