- nissan's japan headquarters was the setting as the lego version of the nissan gt-r nismo was introduced today.
- the lego gt-r is part of the speed champions line; the completed car measures about two inches in height and includes 298 pieces.
- the set goes on sale in the first half of 2020, nissan said.
the new model unveiled at nissan's global headquarters in yokohama, japan, didn't need a very big cover because it's only around two inches tall and made of 298 lego pieces. lego group ceo niels b. christiansen and nissan executive vice president asako hoshino took the wraps off lego's latest set from its speed champions line, the nissan gt-r nismo.
the lego version of godzilla is made up of 298 pieces and looks like the real thing thanks to the hard work of lego's designers. lead designer chris stamp said of the collaboration: “authenticity is always our main concern, and we spent a lot of time exploring different building techniques to correctly re=create the taillights, as they are one of the most recognizable details on the car.”
lego and nissan were both quick to point out that the tiny plastic brick version of the car will not have all the same performance specs as the real car. the only similarities they share is in looks, enthusiast satisfaction, and endless hours of fun. the current gt-r has been in production for 10 years and is still a competitive supercar, with 600 horsepower on tap and the ability to rip from zero to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. it has 90,000 pieces compared with 298 for the lego product, too. among the newest pieces on the real car are several of the carbon-fiber variety, with the front and rear bumpers, front fenders, roof, trunk, and rear spoiler all being made of the material.
also new for 2020 are brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, new lightweight wheels shod in stickier rubber, new transmission and suspension tuning, and new turbochargers. we recently drove the new nismo in europe but deemed the car overpriced—it has tripled since first going on the market.
this new set marks the first time lego has teamed up with a japanese automaker for any of their sets. other speed champions sets have been of fords, chevrolets, mclarens, ferraris, lamborghinis, mercedes, and recently, audis, but never of any japanese carmaker. the new 2020 speed champions models are 25 percent larger than before with a width of eight lego studs rather than six, giving all the new sets more aggressive stances and higher piece counts. a few of the other new-for-2020 sets that follow the new design and wider proportions are the lamborghini huracán evo super trofeo and urus st-x, 1985 audi sport quattro s1, and ferrari f8 tributo.