Speed Champions 2019 | Set Previews!

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LEGO Speed Champions 2019 Sets

A few weeks ago a crack team of The Lego Car Blog Elves were dispatched over the perimeter wall of The LEGO Company’s HQ by way of the office catapult. Tasked with uncovering LEGO’s new-for-2019 sets, those that made it back to TLCB Towers would be revered as heroes, whilst their fallen comrades would be mourned for around 15 minutes, before we all moved on with our lives.

Today the lucky survivors able to out-run a Danish alsatian see the fruits of their courageous mission revealed to you, our readers – and what tasty fruits they are! So without any further pointless preamble, here are the brand new 2019 LEGO Speed Champions sets!

LEGO 75893 Dodge Challenger Demon & Dodge Charger

LEGO’s partnerships with real-world car manufacturers is (and we may be a bit biased given the title of this website), one of their best ever decisions. The sets resulting from the tie-ups to date have been almost universally excellent, so it’s little wonder that LEGO and other manufacturers are looking to partner. Dodge become a new addition to LEGO universe for 2019, joining the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, Porsche, Volkswagen, Ford, Volvo, Ferrari and others.

Their first set is 75893 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon & Dodge Charger RT, a wonderful dual car homage to Dodge’s fastest products. A brilliant classic 1970 Charger (complete with a huge drag-racing supercharger) competes against the brand’s latest 2018 SRT Demon at a drag strip, with three mini-figures and the drag racing ‘christmas tree’ lights included. Each car looks faithfully accurate – although some of that accuracy is admittedly due to stickers, and with just under 500 pieces 75893 looks to be an excellent addition to the expanding officially-licensed Speed Champions line-up.

LEGO 75890 Speed Champions Ferrari F40 Competizione

Next we have a vehicle from one of the first manufacturers to partner with LEGO – it wouldn’t be Speed Champions without Ferrari! With 198 pieces the new 75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione set marks the entry point to the 2019 Speed Champions range, and brings one of the most famous supercars ever made back into LEGO form after its last appearance as the 1,158-piece 10248 Creator F40 set from 2015.

Although considerably smaller than its predecessor, 75890 is nevertheless a brilliantly accurate little set. This version of the F40 is the Competizione, or racing car to you and me, and thus it features a mini-figure racing driver, an all-important spanner, and switchable parts to convert the F40 from race to road. 75890 will reach stores in early 2019 and will be a roaring success.

LEGO 75892 Speed Champions McLaren Senna

LEGO’s third new Speed Champions set brings another previous partner back into the range; McLaren, with their mind-bending track-only Senna. With 219 pieces the 75892 McLaren Senna set is slightly more complicated than the Ferrari above, as is required by the fantastically intricate design of the real car. It’s an aesthetic that doesn’t seem to translate too well to LEGO in our opinion, and – despite what appear to be a few new pieces to help replicate the real Senna’s shape – 75892 looks to our eyes a bit of mess. Nevertheless for McLaren / supercar fans it’s sure to be a winner when it arrives alongside the other Speed Champions sets in January of next year.

LEGO 75891 Speed Champions Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet first joined the Speed Champions range a few years ago and they return to the line-up for 2019 with the 75891 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Race Car set*. Another single-car set, 75891 brings Speed Champions into the world of NASCAR, although for licensing reasons you won’t find that link anywhere on the box. What you will find are 198 pieces, some of which are uniquely printed, a mini-figure complete with fuel-refill tank and the ubiquitous spanner, and a wealth of stickers to help recreate the ZL1 in LEGO form.

We’ve bemoaned the over-use of stickers rather than bricks to recreate real-world replicas in the past and the same is true here, but LEGO know their market, and also the most cost-effective way to hit the spot aesthetically. 75891 should be hit – especially amongst NASCAR fans!

*Plus an exciting new addition to the 2019 Technic range… but more on that another time!

LEGO 75894 Speed Champions Mini Cooper-S Rally & John Cooper Works Buggy

The fifth and final Speed Champions set new for 2019 brings another old favourite back onto shelves; Mini, with a pairing of the iconic 1960s Cooper-S and a 2018 John Cooper Works Buggy. A tricky thing to make from rectangular bricks, LEGO seem have done a superb job recreating the original Mini in mini-figure scale, and whilst there are stickers present they’re not used to create the shape of the car – bravo LEGO! The classic Cooper comes in rally car spec, complete with quad spot-lights and a roof-rack, and includes a mini-figure rally driver.

The John Cooper Works Buggy isn’t quite as successful, looking not all that much like the real thing. But we’re guessing that if you’re reading this and you’re eight, that won’t matter one bit! Featuring big rubber tyres, a workshop complete with tools, and some cool stickers, if we were eight we’d absolutely love it!

75894 Mini Cooper-S Rally and MINI John Cooper Works Buggy is the largest set in the 2019 range at 481 pieces including four mini-figures and will join the rest of the line-up in stores from January.

Which set is your favourite? We’ll take the classic Dodge Charger and recreate the train-jump scene from the first Fast and the Furious movie, although we’d really need a Speed Champions Toyota Supra to do it properly. Over to you LEGO…

Smooth Moves

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Lego Caterpillar Excavator

Smooth cats are usually properly weird. Not so this one, which comes from previous bloggee Sheo and is – as you can see here – exceptionally smooth. It’s a Caterpillar 320 hydraulic excavator and there’s more of it to see on Flickr. Smooth things over by clicking here.

Watch This!*

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Lego '65 Ford Mustang

After years watching from afar we’ve finally got the Ford Mustang in Europe. This is – on the one hand – quite cool, however on the other we’re wondering how long before we copy America completely and European Mustangs start doing things like this. And this. And this. And this…

It’s probably better if we stick to a classic Mustang, which – thanks to Eric Teo of Flickr and his excellent 7-wide Speed Champions-esque creation – we can. Eric’s ‘stang is a 1965 convertible with enough room for three mini-figures and, being a classic, it probably won’t do this.

See more by heading over to Eric’s photostream via the link above. Carefully…

Lego Ford Mustang 1965

*The words uttered by every bro moments before they inevitably do this.

I Get Around

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Lego Surf Mech

Round round get around, I get around, yeah
(Get around round round I get around, ooh-ooh) I get around
From town to town (get around round round I get around)
I’ve a real cool mech (get around round round I get around)
I’m drivin’ real good tech (get around round round I get around)

I’m gettin’ bugged drivin’ up and down the same old road
I gotta mech with a van, it’s a wicked load
My buddies and me putting tracks in the street
Yeah, the bad guys runnin’ cos they can’t take the heat

The wise words of The Beach Boys there, slightly altered by the morons here at TLCB Towers to vaguely fit with today’s creation. Ok, we butchered a classic, but is was either that or we’d have to use this again. Anyway, the build; it’s a surfer-van-mech of course, from deep within the obscure mind of Dvd of Flickr. We’ve not really got any more to say than that, so it’s probably best if you check it our for yourselves at Dvd’s photostream. Head to the beach via the link above!

The Fastest Hunk of Technic in the Galaxy

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Lego Technic Millennium Falcon

Making the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, defeating the Death Star, rescuing Princess Leia, defeating the Death Star again… the Millennium Falcon has done many things worthy of Star Wars fandom, but the ship has never appeared in Technic form, which is – frankly – all that matters.

Until now that is. Jeroen Ottens received a commission to build a Technic Falcon and he’s done just that, immortalising the modified YT-1300 Corellian light freighter (we Wikipedia-ed it!) in Technic form. There’s a working access ramp, a fully articulated gun turret, and – to the joys of those here at TLCB who have to respond to our mailbox – there are even instructions available too!

There’s more to see of Jeroen’s super starship at both the Eurobricks forum and on Flickr, where a link to building instructions can also be found. Make the jump (in less than twelve parsecs) via the links above.

Lego Technic Millennium Falcon

Cream Machine

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Lego Vintage Racecar

Chris Elliott’s ‘1928 Nike Streamliner’ may be a fictional car of few pieces, but it makes for such a cool photo! Proving talent goes way further than unlimited pieces there’s more to see of Chris’ stunning imagery at his photostream – click here to check it out.

Magnificent Erection

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Lego Liebherr LTM 1750 Mobile Crane

Huib van der Hart’s erection is so big it can’t be photographed. Thankfully he has managed to capture it in a more compact state, but even then it’s still absolutely massive. We’re talking about Huib’s unbelievable 1:16 scale Liebherr LTM 1750 mobile crane in BKV livery; all 18 wheels of it.

Huib’s model is – as you can see here – astonishingly well detailed, but that’s only half the build. Underneath that amazing exterior is a full Power Functions remote control drivetrain, with six XL Motors providing drive, seven Servo motors steering all nine axles, and a third-party SBrick providing control via bluetooth. There are also working LED lights throughout plus – of course – this model can get much, much bigger.

There’s a lot more to see of this incredible build at Huib’s Flickr photostream – click the link to make the jump, and ask him if he can try to get it up for a photo.

Lego Liebherr LTM 1750 Mobile Crane

Mini-Figure Mini-Digger

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Lego Hitachi ZX75US-5B Excavator

Founded over a century ago, Hitachi – perhaps most well known for televisions and hi-fis – make pretty much everything. Consumer electronics, ATMs, power stations, computer servers, trains, elevators, air-conditioners, tanks, construction equipment and much more besides. It’s one of the latter we have today, built by Y Akimeshi of Flickr in Hitachi’s signature orange. It’s a ZX75US-5B 7-ton excavator in mini-figure scale, complete with tracks, a rotating superstructure and a very neat brick-built arm. There’s more to see at Akimeshi’s photostream – click the link above if you dig it.

Black Friday | Nothing to See Here

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Lego Zombie

Black Friday is back for another swipe at humanity, when the citizens of the western world are willing to bludgeon each other to death with the very same discounted electronics that they’re trying to buy. As usual we are not participating, so there will be no Black Friday deal links published here at The Lego Car Blog. Keep your soul – visit Creations for Charity, Tearfund, Red Cross, or the Super Secret link instead. See you on the other side.

Creations for Charity

To the Shops!

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Lego Technic Wheel Dozer RC

It’s only one sleep until very probably our least favourite day of the year. Yes Black Friday is on the horizon once again, when the customers of Walmart will likely knife one another over a half-price toastie maker. TLCB’s home nation, copying everything that America does, seems to have gone equally nuts this year, and if you think the British are more civilised and will queue quietly for a discounted television, you are very much mistaken.

As has become customary, we won’t be partaking in the madness, but if you do choose to join the mindless zombie hoards you could do worse than pick a vehicle like this to assist you. It’s called a ‘wheel dozer’, being half wheel-loader, half bull-dozer, and it would be perfect for getting to the front of the Black Friday riots.

This excellent remote controlled Technic version comes from Superkoala and features 4×4 drive, articulated steering, pendular suspension, an inline-6 piston engine, and a hefty raising/lowering front blade. It also includes third-party BuWizz brick providing bluetooth control and – more handily – up to eight times the power of LEGO’s own Power Functions set-up. This means it should have no problem pushing rival shoppers out of the way or, in our case, TLCB Elves on whom we’ve been ‘testing’ it.

Whilst we avoid the ridiculous greed, fights, and soul-destroying consumerism of Black Friday by seeing how many Elves we can push simultaneously into the cleaning cupboard, you can see more of Superkoala’s superb Technic wheel dozer at both Flickr and the Eurobricks forum, plus you can watch the model in action via the video below.

YouTube Video

Super Duper Supra

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Lego Toyota Supra

Toyota’s new Supra is nearly (finally) here, but it’s got a lot to live up. Launched in 1993, the fourth generation A80 Supra was almost wildly futuristic back in the mid-’90s, and came with a naturally aspirated straight-six or a Porsche-beating twin-turbo. The 2JZ engine as it was known, became a tuner’s dream, being easily modifiable to make up to (and over) 1,000bhp.

Unfortunately for Toyota it’s these highly modified Supras that people remember, not the excellent – but slightly fat – cruisers that left the factory, giving the new one an impossible task. Still, to our eyes the new Supra does look rather good, and even if it’s not there are plenty of A80’s around.

Oddly considering its status, the fourth generation Supra is a car that’s rarely recreated in LEGO form. Previous bloggee Simon Przepiorka has rectified this with a superb Speed Champions scale replica of the famous ’90s GT car, which – like so many A80 Supras – is a little different from the ones that left the factory. A giant exhaust, bodykit, and a ridiculous rear wing all make appearances, and – whilst we would definitely prefer an original one (Simon?) – there’s much more to see on Flickr. Jump back to the ’90s and make ‘Bwarrrp bwarrrrp!’ noises via the link above.

Lego Toyota Supra

M-POD

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Lego M-Tron Mech Pod

Ever wondered how LEGO’s early space explorers transported their equipment to new worlds? Flickr’s Tim Goddard has, building this awesome M-Tron hanger-pod to deploy a mech to the surface of an uncolonised planet. Tim’s mech is now ready to do whatever it is an M-Tron mech does, and there’s more to see of his ingenious design via the link above.

*Tenuous link to today’s related track.

42096 Technic Porsche 911 RSR | Set Preview

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42096 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSR

It’s that time of year again! No, not the fast approaching scourge of Black Friday, but the time when a crack team of TLCB Elves are dispatched on a dangerous mission to The LEGO Company’s HQ, tasked with uncovering the brand new Technic sets.

Those that make it back (there are guard dogs…) are hailed as heroes – at least for a couple of days until everyone forgets about them again – and we get to bring you LEGO’s new releases in detail. Today we’re delighted to reveal the first new Technic set for 2019, and it’s an absolute cracker!

Continuing LEGO’s brilliant line of officially licensed sets is 42096, Porsche’s mad 911 RSR racer. Noticeably smaller than LEGO’s previous Technic 911 effort, 42096 brings the previous Speed Champions 911 RSR from set 75888 into the Technic range. Aimed at ages 10+ 42096 contains 1,580 pieces (a few of which are new) and features a flat-6 engine, working steering, a detailed cockpit, and a wealth of authentic decals.

42096 is perhaps a bit short on technical functions when compared to past sets of a similar size, and instead continues Technic’s push towards increased visual realism. It’s largely successful too, with the 911 RSR’s difficult shape and unique racing aerodynamic additions pretty well replicated in LEGO form, although the headlights do look a little odd to this writer.

On looks alone 42096 seems to be winner, and with a few working features too it could do rather well. LEGO’s new Technic Porsche 911 RSR set will reach stores early next year and is expected to cost around £120/$140/$170 depending on the market. Until then we’ll continue to bring you LEGO’s new 2019 releases as our Elves return to TLCB Towers with them, and remember that you can read our reviews of the current Technic and past line-ups via the Review Library.

42096 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSR

The LEGO Movie 2 | Full Trailer

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It’s been 5 years since Bricksburg was invaded by Duplo monsters, and things have turned very… Mad Max. Opening in cinemas on February 8th 2019, ‘The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part’ sees Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and Alison Brie reprising their roles from the first film, with a number of new names joining them for Part 2. Warner Bros has just dropped the full trailer and we can’t wait!

Teach Old Blocks New Tricks | MBriks Review

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Lego MBricks

The fridge. Famed for its ability to look after cheese and various meats, and for many also a glorious blank-canvas for those little magnetic letters used to spell out messages, display children’s artwork, or – if you’re in a student house – communicate extreme profanity. However, for all the fridge’s merits, it has been a resolutely LEGO-free appliance. Until now…

We were recently sent some prototype products that could change the fridge forever (and a bit more besides, but we’ll come on to that). They’re called Mbriks, and they are – simply – a magnet inside a brick, compatible with LEGO, Megablocks and the other various LEGO imitators available around the world. And they’re brilliant.

MBricks Box

Our four Mbriks arrived in a very professional-looking box, complete with a small instruction booklet and the usual health and safety warnings such as ‘Do not eat’ (sorry Elves). Each ‘Mbrik’ measures two studs by two, but aren’t quite a direct replacement for an equivalent LEGO piece as they are fours plates tall, rather than LEGO’s three.

Inside each brick is (we think) a small bag, which contains a loose and surprisingly powerful magnet. This freedom allows the magnet to orientate itself to face whatever is magnetic, and thus means the ‘Mbrik’ can attach to something whatever direction it is placed. A clever trick, and one that is crucial too, as it allows the complete freedom of design of the model in which it will find itself.

Multiple Mbriks can be used in larger models, and whilst they won’t hold a Technic Bugatti Chiron set (although we assume if you had enough of them they might), they will happily hold a Speed Champions scale car. We think parents (and their kids) will love the ability to attach their creations to the fridge, Mbriks’ magnetic picture frames, the car door, or anything else magnetic! But what about you lot reading this?

Lego MBricks

Well we think Mbriks have two equally useful alternate uses. Firstly, for photographing creations. We always advocate clean neutral backgrounds (in fact we won’t blog a creation, no matter how good it is, without decent presentation), and Mbriks open up a world of possibility for bespoke backgrounds. As shown in the picture above, any background could be printed and then used in-between the magnetic surface and an ‘Mbrick’ equipped creation, instantly giving the creation a perfect custom setting for taking photos.

Secondly, Mbriks may open up building possibilities for creations themselves. We love LEGO’s old magnet system from M-Tron and the LEGO Trains lines. They’re super-powerful, compact, and have been used to great effect by builders such as Mahjqa. They are however, a bit tricky to work with, featuring no studs at all, and requiring a unique part to attach them.

Not so with Mbriks, which can be built into a creation just like any other 2×2 brick, albeit one that’s a slightly annoying extra plate tall. Now an Mbrik’s clutch power and colour aren’t quite a match for genuine LEGO pieces, so their placement would have to be slightly more considered, but nevertheless the inclusion of Mbriks could offer builders a whole new way to build creations – not to mention builders at LEGO shows who want help with things, well… not falling over.

Lego MBricks

Whether you’re a parent whose fridge could do with LEGO-ising, a display-builder who’s fed up with things falling over, or a MOCer who’d like to add magnetism to their models, Mbriks offer an interesting solution.

As with many of the third-party products we see in models here at The Lego Car Blog, Mbriks are beginning as a Kickstarter campaign. If you’d like to get your hands on a set of Mbriks you can pledge your support via the link below, and before long they could be featuring in creations here regularly alongside BuWizz, SBrick and others!

Click here to visit the Mbriks Kickstarter