LEGO builds driveable life-size Bugatti Chiron

LEGO has revealed surely its most breathtaking product yet – a fully-functioning, life-size replica of the Bugatti Chiron.

Representing the seemingly never-ending versatility of tiny plastic bricks, the driveable model is LEGO’s first ever moveable large-scale construction.

And it looks the part, too, perfectly matching every little detail of the iconic Italian motor, from its headlights and sweeping design lines to its dashboard and steering wheel.

While it understandably doesn’t match the staggering 420kmh (260mph) of the original Chiron, the LEGO model tops speeds of over 20kmh (12mph) – and engineers believe that it could go even faster.

Horsepower

Unveiled at last weekend’s Italian GP at Monza, the latest creation from the LEGO team contains over a million individual LEGO Technic pieces and is powered by the LEGO Power Function.

It’s crammed full of 2,304 Power Function Motors and 4,032 LEGO Technic gear wheels that power it, generating 5.3 horsepower and a staggering torque of around 92Nm.

The car weighs a total of 1500kg, and took an estimated 13,500 man-hours to design, develop and construct.

Creative reinvention

Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President of Product and Marketing at the LEGO Group called the model a testament to just how far the brand can push the boundaries of imagination.

“For over 40 years, LEGO Technic has allowed fans of all ages to test their creativity with a building system that challenges them to go beyond just creating new designs, to also engineering new functions,” she said.

“Our Technic designers and the engineers from the Kladno factory in the Czech Republic – the place which also builds the impressive models for LEGO Stores and LEGOLAND parks – have done an amazing job both at recreating the Chiron’s iconic shapes and making it possible to drive this model.

“It’s a fascinating example of the LEGO Technic building system in action and its potential for creative reinvention.”

In its own words, LEGO’s idea was to “do the impossible”, and it has succeeded.