Lego Speed Champions
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Subject | Real-life cars |
---|---|
Licensed from | Various vehicle manufacturers |
Availability | 2015 | –Present
Total sets | 64[1] |
Official website |
Lego Speed Champions (stylised as LEGO Speed Champions) is an auto racing-inspired theme of Lego building sets first released in 2015.[2] It features classic and modern styles from well-known car brands.[3]
Overview
[edit]The Lego Speed Champions product line focuses on classic and modern styles from well-known car brands. The series featured Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche models in its initial release.[4][5] Each set was designed by Lego Design Manager Chris Stamp. The theme later added Audi, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jaguar, Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg, Nissan, Pagani, Toyota, Aston Martin, and Lotus. The line features as the center of a 2019 expansion for the open world racing video game Forza Horizon 4.[6][7]
In 2022, The Lego Group stated that the theme is 18+ (18 years and older) that does not carry the 18+ label.[8]
In April 2022, The Lego Group built a life-size replica of the 1970 Ferrari 512 M containing 78,496 Lego pieces.[9] The Lego Group also built a life-size replica of the Ferrari F40 containing 358,000 Lego pieces and placed in front of Legoland California.[10]
Development
[edit]Initially launched in 2015 at a 6 wide scale, LEGO Speed Champions was focused on reaching older LEGO builders, bringing real cars into the hands of kids and fans. Craig Callum explains the initial Speed Champions concept "I was part of the team that kick-started the Speed Champions. There are a lot of car geeks working at LEGO, and there were lots of cars within various existing lines, but we thought that something was missing. We wanted to create something authentic, that would work for ‘older’ LEGO builders. The primary focus is always on what works for kids, but there’s a bigger story to tell sometimes, too."[11] The line was “Designed for children, but with grown-ups fans in mind too, we know these models will be closely scrutinized for authenticity.” [12]
The line later switched to a larger scale allowing more detail and complexity in line with an older target audience.[13]
Launch
[edit]The Lego Speed Champions theme was launched on 1 March 2015. The Lego Group announced a partnership with Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Porsche. As part of the marketing campaign, The Lego Group released six sets based on racing cars. Each set featured different racing cars such as Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Porsche. The sets were designed primarily for children 7 to 14 years old.[14][15][16]
Construction sets
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In 2015, The Lego Group released seven sets in the new Speed Champions line: the LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, F14 T & Scuderia Ferrari Truck, Porsche 911 GT Finish Line, and the McLaren Mercedes Pit Stop. Seven sets - nine vehicles including the Ferrari transport truck and the two Porsche 911 GTs in the Finish Line set.
In 2016, the theme was about muscle cars, with the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, and Chevy Camaro. It also included a Ford Model A Hotrod and F-150 Raptor, as well as LMP race cars from Audi and Porsche.[17][18][19][20]
In 2017, The Lego Speed Champions theme returned to Formula 1 cars from Ferrari and the championship-winning Mercedes AMG Petronas team.[21]
In 2018, the theme featured more Ferrari and Porsche Race cars, including the Nurburgring Lap Record holding car, the Porsche 919 Hybrid. The line also included a 1967 Ford Mustang. However, no new brands were added.[22][23]
For 2019 the theme returned, with a new focus on including new brands into the collection: Dodge and Mini.[24]
The 2020 sets include a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo and Nissan GTR Nismo as well as introduced electric vehicles with Formula E and Jaguar.[25][26][27][28] Prices also increased with the shift in scale.[29][30]
In January 2020 a polybag set was released of the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo.[31] 2 more sets followed in early 2021, McLaren Elva[32] and Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro.[33]
In June 2021, 6 Lego Speed Champions sets were delayed until Summer, causing speculation amongst fans that the theme had been canceled. Featuring in the range are a 1970 Dodge Charger T/A, Top Fuel Dragster, Toyota Supra, Corvette C8.R, and Koenigsegg Jesko.[34][35][36]
In March 2022, 5 new sets of Ferrari 512 M, Lotus Evija, Lamborghini Countach, Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance, Mercedes-AMG Project One, Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 expanded the collection.[37][38][39][40][41]
In June 2022, 2 new sets of James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 based on the James Bond franchise and Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T based on the Fast & Furious franchise were be released on 1 August 2022.[42][43] James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 set consists of 298 pieces and 1 minifigure of James Bond.[44] Also included multiple license plates to swap.[45][46][47][48] Aston Martin DB5 set doesn't include gadgets.[49] Dominic Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger R/T set consists of 345 pieces and 1 minifigure of Dominic Toretto.[50][51][52][53][54]
In January 2023, one new set named Brian O'Conner's 2 Fast 2 Furious Nissan Skyline GTR (R34) based on the 2 Fast 2 Furious film released.[55][56][57] The set consists of 319 pieces and 1 minifigure of Brian O'Conner.[58][59]
In January 2023, four new sets named Ferrari 812 Competizione, Pagani Utopia, Porsche 963 and McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM were announced to be released on 1 March 2023.[60][61]
List of sets
[edit]Web shorts
[edit]The product line was accompanied by a series of animated short films that were released on YouTube.
- LEGO Speed Champions- Official Trailer was an official web short was released on YouTube on 26 February 2015 that was inspired by Lego Speed Champions sets (Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche).[62]
- Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team - LEGO Speed Champions - 75883 - Playstarter Animation was an official web short was released on YouTube on 21 June 2017 that inspired by both Lego Speed Champions sets and Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team.[63]
- Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions - Backseat Driver was an official web short was released on YouTube on 16 August 2019 that inspired by both Lego Speed Champions sets and Forza Horizon 4.[64]
Video games
[edit]It was announced at E3 2019 that The Lego Group and Playground Games had partnered together to add a new expansion pack to Forza Horizon 4 featuring several cars from the line and a new location made out of Lego bricks. The expansion pack was released on June 13, 2019.[65][66][67]
Announced June 2023, 2K Games unveiled a downloadable content pack, Drive Pass Season 1 for Lego 2K Drive was released on 28 June 2023. It adds the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T and the Nissan Skyline GT-R as playable. It includes Bricklandia's Fast Crew, sisters Rita and Lita Malachi, pilot Doug and resident techie Ronnie (aka CoNfL8t).[68][69]
Reception
[edit]In 2020, The Lego Group reported that the Lego Technic, Lego Star Wars, Lego Classic, Lego Disney, Lego Harry Potter, and Lego Speed Champions themes had helped to push revenue for the first half of 2020 grew 7% to DKK 15.7 billion compared with the same period in 2019.[70]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "BrickLink Reference Catalog - Sets - Category LEGO Speed Champions". Bricklink. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ^ Gluckman, David (30 September 2014). "McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918 all go LEGO in 2015". Road & Track.
- ^ Bushen, Catherine. "The best Lego Speed Champions set". Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Speed Champions to race into 2015". Brickset. 26 September 2014.
- ^ "Ten things you need to know: LEGO Speed Champions". Top Gear. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "More information on Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions update". Brick Fanatics. 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Bits N' Bricks Season 4 Episode 41: When Forza Cars Met LEGO Bricks" (PDF). Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "LEGO says Speed Champions is an 18+ theme without the 18+ label". Brick Fanatics. 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Watch a giant LEGO Speed Champions 76906 1970 Ferrari 512 M come to life". Brick Fanatics. 9 April 2022.
- ^ "A giant LEGO Ferrari can be seen at LEGOLAND California". Brick Fanatics. 29 April 2022.
- ^ https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/ten-things-you-need-know-lego-speed-champions [bare URL]
- ^ "Designed to Inspire Tomorrow's Racing Drivers, Engineers and Designers – Ford's le Mans Victories in LEGO® Bricks | España | Español | Sala de Prensa de Ford".
- ^ "Interview with Chris Stamp, Speed Champions Design Manager - Part 1". Brickset. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Lego Group (5 November 2014). "LEGO Speed Champions – new LEGO car product line available from spring 2015". Lego.com. Lego. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ "LEGO Officially Announces Partnership with Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche". thebrickfan.com. 5 November 2014.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 2015 Official Box Images". thebrickfan.com. 14 November 2014.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions & Elves Box Images". Brick Fanatics. 30 December 2015.
- ^ "NY Toy Fair press release". Brickset. 11 February 2016.
- ^ Luke Edwards (January 12, 2016). "Ford Lego cars are here: Mustang and F-150 Raptor in pictures". Pocket-lint.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Dan Grabham (January 28, 2021). "Lego's newest Porsche 911 set can be made into either the 911 Turbo or the Porsche 911 Targa". Pocket-lint.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "New LEGO Speed Champions official images". Brick Fanatics. 30 December 2016.
- ^ "Six new LEGO Speed Champions sets available now". Brick Fanatics. 1 March 2018.
- ^ Farshtey, Gregory; Lipkowitz, Daniel; Hugo, Simon (2020-10-01). LEGO Minifigure A Visual History New Edition. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-241-50202-0.
- ^ "Dodge//SRT Brand and The LEGO Group Launch New LEGO Speed Champions Building Set Featuring the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon as Part of New Multimedia Marketing Campaign". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ . GlobeNewswire (Press release). 25 November 2019.
- ^ Dan Grabham (November 26, 2019). "Lego Speed Champions' next launch is the epic Nissan GT-R NISMO". Pocket-lint.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ . Lego. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ . Nissan Motor Corporation. 25 November 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions: What is new for 2020?". Brick Fanatics. 7 January 2020.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions: Upgrading the scale". Brick Fanatics. 10 January 2020.
- ^ Graham (2020-02-19). "LEGO Speed Champions 30342 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO found at retail". Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ Davies, Rachael (2021-06-07). "LEGO 30343 McLaren Elva GWP is now available to redeem". Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions polybag discovered on official store". 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
- ^ "LEGO SPEED CHAMPIONS 2021 INTERVIEW: DESIGN MANAGER SPECIALIST CHRISTOPHER STAMP". New Elementary. 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Dodge//SRT Brand and The LEGO Group Launch New LEGO Speed Champions Mopar Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster and 1970 Dodge Challenger Building Set". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "New LEGO Speed Champions sets have launched on LEGO.com". Brick Fanatics. 1 June 2021.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 2022 Sets Revealed". thebrickfan.com. 29 January 2022.
- ^ "First LEGO Speed Champions 2022 set images revealed". Brick Fanatics. 29 January 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 2022 set prices officially revealed". Brick Fanatics. 30 January 2022.
- ^ "LEGO March 2022 sets have been unveiled: Speed Champions, Creator, Ninjago, and more". 9to5Toys. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 2022: Interview with Christopher Stamp". New Elementary. 3 February 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 007 and Fast & Furious models revealed by retailer". Brick Fanatics. 14 June 2022.
- ^ "The Painstaking Process Behind LEGO's Most Popular Car Sets". Road & Track. 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Celebrate James Bond Day With Speed Champions". Bricks Fanz. 5 October 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 007 set includes multiple licence plates". Brick Fanatics. 16 June 2022.
- ^ "First LEGO James Bond minifigure now available in new Speed Champions set". Brick Fanatics. 1 August 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions cars 'not necessarily about speed'". Brick Fanatics. 6 September 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Aston Martin DB5 'the hardest Speed Champions set yet'". Brick Fanatics. 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Why Bond's LEGO Speed Champions DB5 doesn't have gadgets". Brick Fanatics. 7 September 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Aston Martin DB5 and Dom's Charger joining Speed Champions lineup this fall". 9to5Toys. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ "The new LEGO skin tone may already be cropping up in LEGO sets". Brick Fanatics. 15 June 2022.
- ^ "First look at LEGO Speed Champions 007 and Fast & Furious sets". Brick Fanatics. 25 June 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions summer 2022 sets officially revealed". Brick Fanatics. 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Fast & Furious and 007 race into LEGO Speed Champions today". Brick Fanatics. 1 August 2022.
- ^ "New LEGO 2023 sets have been announced: Star Wars, Technic, Speed Champions, more". 9to5Toys. 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ "76917 2 Fast 2 Furious Nissan Skyline GTR (R34) is 'game changer' for LEGO Speed Champions". Brick Fanatics. 3 December 2022.
- ^ "TV cars could be part of LEGO Speed Champions' future". Brick Fanatics. 3 December 2022.
- ^ "2023 set announcement recap". Brickset. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions 2 Fast 2 Furious set price and release date revealed". Brick Fanatics. 9 December 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Speed Champions interview: Christopher Stamp discusses new part 3386". New Elementary. 31 December 2022.
- ^ "LEGO reveals game-changing new 'bucket list' element in Speed Champions 2023 sets". Brick Fanatics. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ LEGO Speed Champions- Official Trailer. February 26, 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team - LEGO Speed Champions - 75883 - Playstarter Animation. June 21, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions - Backseat Driver. August 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Fahey, Mike (9 June 2019). "Forza Horizon 4 Gets A Lego Expansion This Week". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Frushtick, Russ (9 June 2019). "Lego coming to Forza Horizon 4 in new expansion". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Devine, Richard (10 June 2019). "Forza Horizon 4 Lego Speed Champions: Everything you need to know". Windows Central. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "DRIVE PASS SEASON 1". 2K Games. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "LEGO 2K Drive Races Into Season 1 With 'Fast & Furious' Crossover". Pure Xbox. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "LEGO sees revenue grow 7% in first six months of 2020". Mojo Nation. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2021-04-15.