LEGO today unveils a new reference in the Technic range: the set 42159 Yamaha MT-10SP. In this box of 1478 pieces which will be available from August 1, 2023 at the public price of 229.99 €, enough to assemble a reproduction of the motorcycle in question.

The model benefits from the usual refinements in this range: 4-cylinder engine, gearbox, front and rear suspensions and side stand. The set measures 44 cm long, 25 cm high and 15 cm wide and this officially licensed Yamaha product will also take advantage of the possibilities offered by the official augmented reality application LEGO AR.

42159 YAMAHA MT-10 SP ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

Today we take a quick tour of the content of the LEGO Technic set 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron, a box of 914 pieces which will be available at the retail price of €169.99 from August 1, 2023 via the official online store and in LEGO Stores.

Don't get too carried away on the product inventory, there are still more than 400 pins to use during the assembly of this interpretation of the vehicle in addition to the large handful of various and varied black panels. On the other hand, there are several elements of the CONTROL+ ecosystem in the box with 3 L motors and a Hub Powered Up which also serves as batterybox, their mere presence probably explains the relatively high price of this set. The model owes its successful finish only to the two huge sheets of stickers which bring together 47 stickers, it is difficult to do without these stickers if you want to obtain a machine with an aggressive and successful look.

The design of the LEGO version of the vehicle seems pretty decent to me, it was delusional anyway to hope for better, especially since it is a motorized model intended to bump into the living room baseboards and no a model with perfectly interpreted angles. This version, for example, ignores almost the entire front bumper with its air intakes and headlights, which are embodied here by a single large sticker. However, we recognize the reference Audi RS Q e-tron and that is the main thing.

The assembly of the 37 cm long by 19 cm wide and 15 cm high model is quickly dispatched starting with a first section which involves two of the three motors, with a first motor to drive the wheels which take advantage of new hubs, red rims and new tires and a second that manages the direction of the vehicle. The instructions are explicit enough not to be mistaken in the passages of cables and connections.

The second section then connects to the first via two large Technic frames, it uses the third motor to drive the rear wheels. The Bluetooth Hub with its new cover with four screws is installed on the way and I advise you at this stage to test all the functions of the vehicle to ensure that nothing has been incorrectly installed or incorrectly connected. You will thus avoid having to remove the various bodywork elements, the installation of which is sometimes a bit complex to rectify the situation.

The installation of the various body elements could have been entertaining if it weren't punctuated by the placement of numerous stickers. Not a pad-printed Audi logo on the horizon, it's a sticker fair and you quickly get tired of trying to line up the different patterns. One might wonder why a machine presented on the packaging as capable of hurtling down dunes and therefore of being used mainly outdoors is covered with stickers, but make no mistake, this is a simple indoor toy.

The vehicle weighing more than 1.20 kg is rather comfortable on the living room floor, but things get a bit tricky as often happens outside: the slightest obstacle can become a problem despite the generous wheel arches, the very soft independent suspensions and the sufficient ground clearance, the movements of the machine are a little more laborious depending on the terrain, it lacks torque and the turning radius is very limited. This is the case for most of the motorized vehicles offered by LEGO, they are above all children's toys, certainly motorized, but which above all offer various and varied challenges intended to occupy the youngest for a few hours via the dedicated application.

The Audi RS Q e-tron being an electric buggy specialized in rally-raid, it is not moreover a machine designed to offer the best crossing capacities, there are other references in the LEGO range for that like the LEGO Technic set 42129 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck.

The CONTROL+ application available on iOS and Android will obviously be updated by the time this product is marketed and I was able to use a perfectly functional beta version. The interface that allows you to steer the vehicle is pretty, the controls are simple and accessible and you can have fun immediately without going through a laborious phase of acclimatization which would be a little discouraging. One joystick for steering, the other for forwards or backwards, it's simple and effective.

As usual, I tested two types of rechargeable batteries: classic Panasonic Eneloop Ni-Mh 1.2V 1900 mAh batteries and Ansmann NiZn 1.6V 1600 mAh batteries and the result is clear: Ansmann batteries offer more power and the machine moves noticeably faster and stumbles less on certain small obstacles. If you plan to really play with this type of product, do not hesitate to buy this type of battery and the essential charger compatible with the NiZn standard.

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I have to say that for once I am globally won over by the look of this modern buggy with its aggressive lines, and I did not expect to obtain a vehicle with breathtaking performance anyway. I have had many machines powered by LEGO in my hands and I now know that we should not rely too much on the promises made on the packaging of these different products. This Audi RS Q e-tron offers a good compromise which should satisfy all those who have understood that this is not a classic radio-controlled vehicle.

This children's toy is therefore in my opinion not the worst of what LEGO has produced on the same theme over the years, far from it, but you will still have to wait to find it for less than the 170 € requested. The youngest will have fun for long hours thanks to the various activities offered in the application and they will discover some interesting assembly techniques in terms of motorization, differential, suspension and steering, adults will perhaps see a nice show model of a modern vehicle with a very original look.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at July 12, 2023 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. 

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

After a false start via the Cdiscount brand a few days ago, the LEGO Technic set 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 is now online on the official store.

The price offered for a few hours by Cdiscount was rather optimistic (559.99 €), the official retail price of this box of 2883 pieces including 2 Smart Hubs and 6 engines is displayed at 679.99 € at LEGO. For the rest, this big crane is more than a meter high and can be controlled via the CONTROL+ application.

Do not hesitate to come forward if you pre-ordered the set at Cdiscount and your order was not immediately canceled by the brand.

Pre-orders are open at LEGO, availability announced for August 1, 2023.

42146 LIEBHERR CRAWLER CRANE LR 13000 ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

It's Cdiscount that spills the beans: the set LEGO Technic 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 is now online in the brand's catalog with an announced price of €559.99 and immediate pre-order without waiting for availability scheduled for August 1st.

In the box, 2883 parts to assemble a crane 100 cm high, 110 cm long and 28 cm wide. The construction machine is equipped with 6 motors and will be controllable via the Control+ application.

42146 LIEBHERR CRAWLER CRANE LR 13000 AT CDISCOUNT >>

Update : the set has been removed from the site by Cdiscount.

Mis update 2: the product was put back online by Cdiscount but at the official retail price of €679.99.

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO Technic set 42161 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica, a box of 806 pieces that will be available from August 1, 2023 at the public price of 52.99 €.

It's not worth making tons of them, with such a small inventory of 806 pieces including more than 250 diverse and varied pins, it is difficult to hope for anything other than this somewhat approximate model of 28 cm long 12 cm wide and 8 cm high. In my opinion, the designer is doing honorably despite the inventory constraints and, as often, he will have to make do with a few somewhat empty spaces and a few somewhat hazardous angles.

This is a children's toy and not an ultra-detailed exhibition model, so the contract seems fulfilled knowing that the vehicle offers as a bonus three essential features on this type of model: doors and a bonnet. front ends that open, functional steering that can be manipulated by turning the remote wheel on the roof (but not via the vehicle's steering wheel) and a V10 engine whose pistons visible at the rear come into motion via one of the rear wheels when moving.

No suspensions on this model, we are talking about a product at 50 €, we should not hope to have access to this type of mechanical refinement in this price range. The doors are fixed to the structure only via a single axis, they take a little play in use but nothing irreparable, it's LEGO and it is enough to push these two sub-assemblies well to restore their rigidity.

The assembly of this Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica with LEGO sauce is logically quickly dispatched, there are indeed a few stickers to stick here or there to refine the level of detail of the construction a little, dress the seats and embody the headlights and the toy the aggressive lines obtained should appeal to the youngest. It's LEGO Technic, so we find the "signature" mix of blue, brown or red colored pines that remain clearly visible on the construction, you have to deal with it as always.

Don't look too much for absolute fidelity to the reference vehicle, that's not the point of this type of toy which above all has the merit of introducing some techniques to the youngest fans before they move on to more advanced products. both technically and aesthetically. We also note that the Lamborghini logo is well stamped on the central part of the steering wheel but that it is not on the front cover. I would have made the opposite choice if I had been asked for my opinion on this point, the front cover deserved to escape the glaring difference in color between the sticker and the room that hosts it.

The problem with this product is elsewhere and you probably already know what it is all about if you have carefully looked at the photos in this article: you have to deal with at least three different shades of green, with two shades for the parts to which is added that of the bottom of the stickers. Those who bought the set 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 (449.99 €) have had the painful experience of these differences in color which slightly disfigure their model, the problem is exactly the same here.

LEGO does not currently provide any detailed explanation concerning the origin of the problem and one is entitled to wonder how a product suffering from this appearance defect can end up on the shelves without the manufacturer wondering if it is better not postpone it or simply cancel it pending an acceptable solution. It is not for lack of reminding the manufacturer on this point which is regularly mentioned at the LAN level in the hope of obtaining a convincing technical explanation but nothing has been officially announced to date. We will talk about it again if the quality department brings technical elements later.

Worse, the official visuals of the product present on the box and on the official online store are extensively retouched to hide this defect and many are those who will be disappointed when unpacking and opening the bags. There is no point in contacting customer service to obtain replacement parts, you will receive parts with the same defect until proven otherwise.

I am willing to admit that the problem is more complex than a simple story of the dosage of color pigments according to the type of plastic used, but the desire to hide this defect, which has been regularly present for several years now at LEGO on the visuals used to promoting the product is a questionable process to say the least.

That being said, those who are willing to put up with these unsightly color variations should have a little fun with a few slightly complex construction steps and the pleasure of obtaining a toy that looks and which is equipped with a few essential functions in this price range. The others will wisely wait for this product, which sails in the soft underbelly of the LEGO Technic range, to be available for less than 40 € at Amazon or elsewhere, the finish defect found confirms that it does not deserve to spend the 53 € requested.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at July 7, 2023 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. 

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.