Toys/Games

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Lego Technic’s 1/12-scale Ford GT kit is surprisingly detailed

Lego Technic has added the Ford GT to its catalog of 1/12-scale cars. Designed for adult builders, the scaled-down supercar features several life-like features, like a V6 engine with moving pistons, an adjustable rear spoiler, and even an independent suspension system.

The kit consists of 1,466 pieces that come together to make a GT that’s over 15 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 3.5 inches tall. This isn’t the kind of Lego set you can build on your lunch break; it will likely take several evenings’ worth of work to put together. The tradeoff is that the GT is stunningly realistic: finished in blue with white stripes, the coupe features relatively accurate proportions and moving parts.

Like the real GT, the Lego version is equipped with a V6 engine that spins the rear wheels via a differential, a functioning steering system, and doors that swing up rather than out. The rear spoiler is adjustable, and Lego even re-created the air vents positioned behind the doors. The wheels are fairly generic, however; they feature the same design as the ones that come with Lego Technic’s Porsche 911 RSR kit.

Retailers online and around the world will begin receiving Lego Technic’s Ford GT in March 2023, and suggested pricing is set at $120 excluding tax. If the Ford GT isn’t your cup of tea, the Danish company has plenty of other cars in the pipeline for 2023. It teamed up with Bugatti to make a 905-piece Bolide kit and it will add five cars, including the McLaren F1 LM, to its Speed Champions collection.

January 4, 2023 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari 512M and more immortalized as Lego sets

Lego has announced a slew of new Speed Champions sets, the ones based on actual licensed cars, for 2022. The latest batch includes a smorgasbord of supercars, from beloved classics like the Lamborghini Countach to yet-to-be-released promises like the long-awaited Mercedes-AMG One. There are seven cars in total, released in five sets.

Our favorite is probably the 262-piece Lamborghini Countach, based on a later LP500 variant. Not only does it tick the box of a childhood dream machine, but the angular shape of the real-life Countach lends itself well to being recreated in Lego bricks. Also, it’s modeled in white rather than the typical red.

We also really dig the Ferrari 512M. It marked the last of Ferrari’s V12 endurance racers, and even though it was soundly spanked by the Porsche 917, the cars are undeniably beautiful. The 291-piece Lego set does a great job of capturing its brutal wedge silhouette in brick form.

Rounding out the single-car sets is the 247-piece Lotus Evija. The electric Lotus has a bit of a generic supercar look about it, but that’s not entirely the fault of the Lego kit. Its dramatic vents can’t really be replicated with the limited “resolution” of the Lego bricks. Its rear, with unique taillight-encircled air tunnels, is a bit more distinctive.

In addition to the single car sets, there are two larger sets of two cars each. One is a 592-piece Aston Martin-themed pack that includes the Valkyrie AMR Pro and Vantage GT3. Again, it’s a bit difficult to sculpt the cars’ curvaceous lines out of straight-edged bricks, but the effort is admirable. The Valkyrie is probably the more successful of the two, as the Vantage would resemble a Corvette or Viper if it didn’t have stickers to clarify the details.

Last but not least is a twofer comprised of 564 bricks to build the Mercedes-AMG One and seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton’s W12 racer. In Lego’s official product description the driver is not mentioned by name, but the number 44 gives it away. The model of the One indeed looks like a sharp supercar, but the blocky pieces don’t exactly replicate the lines we’ve seen on camouflaged test mules. The F1 car model looks a bit more like the actual thing, complete with the Petronas livery that graces Hamilton’s steed.

Lego has been doing a great job of immortalizing supercars and classics in brick form in their Speed Champions lineup. Last year saw kits of the McLaren Elva, Koenigsegg Jesko, Toyota GR Supra, Chevrolet Corvette, as well as the Ford GT and Bronco. Their more detailed Technics line has seen vehicles like the Ford Raptor, Volkswagen Camper Van and BMW M1000RR motorcycle.

While the kits look entertaining, we wouldn’t mind if they didn’t skew so heavily towards unobtainably expensive, limited-production vehicles. What kid wouldn’t want a kit of their parents’ Chrysler Pacifica, a Ford Transit Connect to replicate a city scene, or a Mazda Miata for some clean, honest fun? The single-car sets will retail for $19.99, the two-packs for $39.99. All five sets are scheduled for a March 2022 release.

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February 1, 2022 / Comments Off

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James Bond’s latest Aston Martin is coming to ‘Rocket League’

It wouldn’t be a new James Bond movie without a few tie-ins, and No Time to Die is clearly sticking to that rule. Psyonix and Epic Games have revealed that Bond‘s Aston Martin Valhalla, the first hybrid car in the game, will be available in Rocket League (complete with matching audio, decal and wheels) for 1100 Credits starting October 7th. You’ll also find three in-game challenges to unlock a Bond-themed avatar border, banner and player title.

Completists will have the option of buying a Bond 007 Collection between October 7th and October 13th that includes both the Valhalla and the classic DB5 for 2,000 Credits. The DB5 was released in July, but this could represent a better deal for Bond aficionados.

The expansion isn’t a surprise when Epic has lots of money to throw at promotional deals. This could boost interest in Rocket League among either diehard Bond fans or newcomers looking for more real-world cars. If nothing else, it should be amusing to watch 007 score a flying, upside-down goal or two.

Reporting by J. Fingas for Engadget.

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October 5, 2021 / Comments Off

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McLaren GT Ride-On joins the ranks of supercar toys

There’s a new McLaren Ride-On toy hitting the market, and this time McLaren made a kid’s toy out of the GT. This GT joins other McLaren Ride-Ons already made out of the P1, 720S and Senna.

Just like the actual McLaren GT, this one comes with a rear storage compartment behind the driver. You can stow additional Hot Wheels cars and/or stuffed animals aplenty in the compartment.

McLaren promises that three-to-six year olds will enjoy driving the car, too. The single seat is in the center like the McLaren F1 or Speedtail. There’s an actual key you use to start the vehicle. When you press the throttle to accelerate, a speaker plays revving sounds from the GT. Plus, the brake pedal is synced up with an actual brake light in the rear of the car. Whether or not other young drivers will pay attention to said brake light is up for debate, but it’s there to bring another level of reality to the experience.

Also taking after the road car, McLaren says it fit an “infotainment system” that allows you to play music files off a USB or SD card. An optional MP4 display screen is available if you want to watch videos, too. Apparently, distracted driving is less of an issue when you’re driving on a lawn.

We’re fairly impressed with the design details and the replication of an actual McLaren GT throughout the vehicle. You even get the GT’s dihedral doors to look extra cool hopping in and out of the ride-on.

If you want to buy one for your kid, the starting price is $230. Tack on some options (this is a McLaren we’re talking about here), and the price goes as high as $330. You can buy one in the following colors: Burnished Copper, Silica White, Onyx Black, McLaren Orange, Amaranth Red and Burton Blue. McLaren says the GT Ride-On can be ordered from select global toy retailers.

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July 21, 2021 / Comments Off

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Driving the McLaren GT, Audi S7 and Vintage Electric Cafe bicycle | Autoblog Podcast #639

In this week’s Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. This week, they’ve been having some fun in the McLaren GT and the Toyota 86 GT. James has spent some time with the very lovely Vintage Electric Cafe e-bike. They’ve also been driving the Ford Ranger and Audi S7. In the news, Ford gets new leadership, and Micro Machines are back, baby!

Autoblog Podcast #639

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August 7, 2020 / Comments Off

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‘Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’ announced as third installment in racing video game series

Video game publisher Nacon hosted a virtual press conference to reveal some of its upcoming titles, and one of them revives a series that has always shown lots of promise: “Test Drive Unlimited.” Not only that, but it has a motorcycle racing simulation game on the way. However, neither title came with many details as they’re each a ways out from release.

“Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown” is certainly the biggest news, as it will be the third in a series that last had a release in 2011. The teaser trailer doesn’t reveal much except close-ups of candy-colored supercars and a well-dressed human. Past installments of the game have focused on living the lifestyle of the super rich, racing supercars, buying luxury properties to store them, dressing up in designer fashions and exploring exotic locales. The first “Test Drive Unlimited” took place in a nearly 1:1 re-creation of Oahu, and the second added the island of Ibiza. They were fun fantasy simulators that sweated little details, which is why we wanted to see the series make a return someday. According to Nacon and game developer KT Racing, a part of Kylotonn, this installment will again have a real-life location, and it will again be an island. We’re also excited to see that KT Racing is involved, since they’ve done an admirable job with the “WRC” rally racing game series. Past “Test Drive” games developed by Eden Games and published by Atari had some strange driving physics.

The other game being announced is “RiMS Racing,” which is a motorcycle racing sim. Very little was revealed about the title other than it having realistic physics, licensed bikes and famous roads and race tracks. RaceWard Studio is developing the game, and they don’t seem to have any titles to their name yet besides this new one. Apparently it will be built using a game engine created by aforementioned KT Racing, which besides “WRC” also developed “Tourist Trophy: Isle of Man” and that game’s direct sequel.

We’ll have awhile to wait for each of these racing games. “RiMS Racing” is slated for next summer, and “Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown” is early enough in development that it doesn’t have a release date at all.

July 7, 2020 / Comments Off

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Race a Type S Concept and an 8-bit 1991 NSX in Acura’s new video game

Acura has unveiled a new mobile video game that features a variety of the brand’s notable cars from throughout the past three decades. The game is a spin-off of the brand’s “Beat That” commercial, and each level is programmed to look how video games looked when the different cars were in production. Players have the option to drive a race car, new and old Acura sports cars, or a crossover.

As part of the “Less Talk, More Drive” advertising campaign, Acura has released a series of commercials with the catchphrase, “Beat That.” They’re meant to demonstrate the company’s competitive spirit, and now Honda’s luxury brand has brought about a new way to get those fiery juices going. In the same week as the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, Acura has launched “Beat That” the mobile video game.

The game has six levels, each of which features a different car. Each race is a time trial, and the graphics are designed in a way that they match the years of the vehicles. Level 1 takes place at the 8-Bit Beach and features the 1991 Acura NSX. Level 2 takes place at the Warehouse Complex and features the 1998 Acura Integra Type R. Level 3 features a Snowy Summit stage an includes the 2020 Acura RDX A-Spec, while Level 3 is at a Grand Prix Circuit with the ARX-05 Daytona Prototype racecar. A 2020 NSX drives on the Super Skyway in Level 5, and the Type S Concept can be driven in a Cyber Tunnel in Level 6.

The only way to reach the next level within the game is to beat a specific lap time designated for each level. Users can play against themselves, or they can send challenges to friends through social media or other chat platforms. To compete against the best of the best, users can click on a leaderboard time and compete against ghost cars from the previous record laps.

To play the game on a mobile device, click here.

February 7, 2020 / Comments Off

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Nissan teams with Lego for 2020 GT-R Nismo

If you can’t afford to get your hands on a Nissan GT-R Nismo but have always wanted to own one, here’s your chance. The automaker is partnering for the first time with Lego Group to debut a Lego version of the GT-R Nismo supercar, set to debut in stores globally in January.

It’s the first-ever partnership between Lego and a Japanese carmaker, and it’s one of the first offerings in the 2020 Speed Champions-themed sets, which currently feature everything from a 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon to a McLaren Senna. The 2020 Speed Champion models will also grow 25% larger than previous-year versions.

Helpfully, Nissan provided some specs comparing the 2020 GT-R Nismo, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and its Lego version. Chiefly, the former took more than 10 years of development time and is assembled from more than 90,000 parts, while its plastic-block version took roughly a year to develop and comes in 298 parts. It takes a normal builder about an hour to put it together, while an expert Lego builder can have a finished supercar in about 20 minutes.

Lego said the GT-R Nismo was at the top of its wish list for racing and drift car recreations, and it spent a lot of time devising different building techniques, especially to recreate the car’s iconic taillights. It leaves us wondering which highly buzzed-about Japanese sports car might be next. Toyota Supra, mayhaps?

Nissan unveiled the 2020 version of the GT-R Nismo earlier this year at the New York Auto Show, showing a car that wears a lot of carbon fiber, new front fender vents and a 20% improvement in acceleration response, among other changes.

November 25, 2019 / Comments Off

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Lego Speed Champions Ferrari F8 Tributo and 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 are 25% bigger

During a week when auto manufacturers are at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show debuting real, drivable cars, Lego has debuted two new toy car kits modeled after the 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 and the Ferrari F8 Tributo. The new models also show off an improvement to the Lego Speed Champions series: the kits are now 25 percent bigger.

Lego is expanding its Speed Champions line of blocky car kits with two high-performance rides with very different purposes from very different times. One is a modern supercar, the other is a classic Group B rally car.

The F8 Tributo is an inch high, five inches long, and three inches wide. It wears a clean red color scheme with a black splitter and black diffuser, and the only stickers are the headlights and the badges. The toy design carries over features of the F8 such as the hood and side body scoops, and the tiered taillights. and the rear engine cover.

The S1, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, has a much busier design. The main body of the car is white and yellow with retrolicious yellow body graphics. Black, gray and red striping add to the scheme, and “Audi,” “Audi Sport,” “Audi Team” and “quattro” stickers are seen on the body, the windshield, the hood and the rear wing. Clustered front rally lights, wheel flares, angular aerodynamic pieces and two sets of wheel designs help make the quattro look as authentic as possible. The car also comes with a miniature racer who can sit in the car and grip the stick shift.

Both the Ferrari and the Audi will be released for January 2020. Each model is listed at $19.99, plus tax.

November 23, 2019 / Comments Off

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Supercars, classics, more come to ‘Gran Turismo Sport’ and ‘Forza Horizon 4’

Two years after the release of Gran Turismo Sport, and just over a year after the launch of Forza Horizon 4, both games continue to receive extra content. The latest updates for each game add a slew of new cars, and in the case of Gran Turismo, a new track.

Starting with Gran Turismo the game gets four new cars, one of which is the Porsche Taycan electric sports sedan previewed early in October. Alongside it are some interesting choices including the 2015 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce, 2015 Mazda Demio (also known as the Mazda2 or the U.S.-spec Toyota Yaris), and the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG. The latter of those is known better as the “Red Pig,” a huge and powerful touring car. Besides these cars, Gran Turismo adds the famous Spa-Francorchamps race track in both dry and wet configurations, plus a few more single-player race events.

Over in Forza Horizon 4, the latest update adds four new cars as well. Top billing goes to the limited-production and shockingly expensive Bugatti Divo. Then there’s the racing-spec 2008 Koenigsegg CCGT, the V8-powered 2010 BMW M3 GTS, and the Rossion Q1, the American continuation of the Noble M400. The update also adds a some new single-player events to play through. Both game updates are available now.

November 1, 2019 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini previews Huracán Super Trofeo EVO and Urus ST-X Lego sets

At the Super Trofeo World Finals at the Jerez de la Frontera Circuit in Spain, where world-class athletes put their driving skills to the test in the big kid toys, Lamborghini unveiled two brand-new toys for everybody that are set to launch in 2020. The Huracán Super Trofeo EVO and Urus ST-X are paired for the next Lego Speed Champions set.

The Huracán Super Trofeo EVO is already one of Lamborghini’s most popular racing models and competes in the single-make Super Trofeo series. The Urus ST-X is set to compete in track and off-roading competitions starting in October 2020 at the Misano World Final in an all-new race. Now both of these cars will be available for purchase in Lego form.

“Fortunately, 2020 marks the start of a new chapter for Lego Speed Champions with the evolution to the more accurate ‘8 Studs Wide’ design, and we felt that we could now do the popular brand justice,” Lego Speed Champions design manager specialist Chris Stamp said. “Especially the wide body of the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO. And with the awesome Urus ST-X we also introduce our first Super SUV into the theme, which fans will hopefully be just as thrilled with as we are.”

The Huracán model includes realistic parallels such as the shark fin, air scoop, front diffuser and large wing. It features a black scheme with slick accents and advertising sponsors. The set is 659 pieces in total and also includes starting “lights” and two figurines. Though pricing is yet to be released, the set will be available starting January 1, 2020. Seems like a missed Christmas opportunity, no?

October 31, 2019 / Comments Off

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