The Ultimate Drivers Car

The latest creation in a long line of increasingly impressive LEGO Technic sets, the McLaren P1 (42172)  is perhaps the most impressive - and certainly the most advanced yet.
The original car itself first raced on to the scene in 2013 and with its groundbreaking technology and eye-catching looks it quickly captured the hearts of car enthusiasts all over the world, and there it has kept its place, rivalled by few and comparable to none for the last 11 years.

Sadly the real McLaren P1 is a dream car that's out of reach for most, but thankfully LEGO has swooped in to save the day offering a more wallet-friendly way to own a piece of automotive history. You might not be able to take the LEGO P1 for a spin (at least until someone figures out the human shrink ray), but this 1:8 Scale model lets you admire the sleek lines and iconic design of the McLaren P1 right from your shelf - no garage required.

Honey, I shrunk the P1

We know a typical car sale always starts with casting a careful eye over everything from the headlights to the exhaust, before slipping in to the drivers seat for that inevitable test drive where you put the pedal to the metal (staying within the speed limit of course) and if you’re lucky, feeling the true rush of excitement knowing this is the car for you.

Unfortunately unless you’re Lando Norris you’re unlikely to be given the opportunity to test drive the recently unveiled full scale LEGO P1 Replica, and we've already established that we can't fit into the standard LEGO version (seriously, hurry up with that shrink ray!), so allow us to take you on a metaphorical test drive which will have you speeding to add it straight to your basket!

At first glance it's easy to see just how much time, energy and passion has gone into creating this incredible set. The box itself has a stylish design and luxury feel that gives it collectibility, but if you’re anything like me you just can’t wait to delve in and see what lies within.

Admittedly, the first impression of the contents is a little daunting, as you’re greeted with a hefty two-part instruction booklet and a further three boxes that contain all 3,893 pieces. However, the quality, design and detail carry through even to the instruction booklet, which contains stunning photography of both the LEGO and real McLaren P1s, along with behind-the-scenes design processes and interviews with McLaren executives and LEGO designers alike that make for a fascinating read.

The finished product boasts a multitude of features, such as dihedral doors, a height-adjustable spoiler, and my personal favourite - the V8 engine with actual pumping pistons, to name but a few - which makes the build itself a challenge not to be taken lightly. However, as with all LEGO sets, I find the instructions to be clear and easy to follow, and laid out in such a way that you have natural stopping points. This means you can easily break for a cup of tea, or if you don’t mind taking up space on the dining table indefinitely, you can stop and come back to it with no difficulty days or even weeks later - though this does risk incurring the wrath of anyone you may share your abode with - trust me, I speak from experience!

The icing on the Lego cake is once you’ve completed the build, you’ll find there’s a piece showing a unique serial number which you can use on your Lego insiders account to unlock exclusive content in a “Owners-Only” area - I’ll leave the details of that for you to discover for yourself!

Overall, I think this is one of the most impressive LEGO sets so far, and it has me very excited to see what the future holds for LEGO Technic! Which vehicle would you love to see become a LEGO Technic set in the future? Let us know, or give us your thoughts on this build below or on our socials @chaoscards!