Playtime Wonder

3870 Views

Speed Champions has incorporated an excellent range of modern supercars since the theme was launched in 2015, including such popular sets as 75878 Bugatti Chiron and 75899 LaFerrari. I am hoping that the latest addition to this appealing series, 75892 McLaren Senna, will impress.

This vehicle looks absolutely incredible in reality, although such streamlined bodywork has proven quite difficult to replicate in previous Speed Champions sets. Nevertheless, the theme has gradually continued to improve and I think this model has the potential to match, or even exceed, the high standard of past LEGO supercars!

Minifigures

The driver wears branded McLaren racing overalls and looks great. Its dark bluish grey colour scheme matches the McLaren Senna and I like the orange piping that also corresponds with the car. Moreover, some metallic silver highlights are printed on both sides of the torso and the legs are decorated with a beautiful honeycomb pattern.

However, I think the rear looks even more attractive, featuring the McLaren Senna branding along with an advertisement for Pirelli tyres. The black helmet appears rather plain and some printing would have been welcome but that has been consistently absent from Speed Champions figures. A wrench is also included and can be used to remove the wheel inserts.

The Completed Model

I was immediately impressed by the complex shape of this vehicle when the first images emerged and it looks fantastic when assembled. The entire model measures 15cm in length and its dark bluish grey colour scheme is appealing, especially with the addition of some striking orange highlights which also appear. Admittedly, this shade does not precisely match McLaren's 'victory grey' but I think this is the most suitable available colour.

View image at flickr

The streamlined profile of the McLaren Senna is apparent when viewed from the side, exhibiting the smooth transitions between separate curved slopes and the windscreen. The trans-black windscreen contrasts with the black pieces and looks odd, although that would be difficult to avoid without spoiling the shape. In addition, this image shows the impressive orange wheels. The real McLaren Senna does not include orange wheels but the internal brake discs are very prominent and they are orange.

View image at flickr

However, the orange 1x2 curved slope on the bonnet does seem out of place and I would recommend replacing that with a dark bluish grey element. The remainder of this section looks tremendous though, including a pair of narrow trans-neon orange headlights and numerous air intakes along the front. I am particularly impressed by the construction of the headlights which are represented by axes from NEXO Knights.

View image at flickr

Stickers are applied across the entire model and they look great on the whole, although I was slightly disappointed to find that the windscreen is not printed, instead incorporating a sticker. The trim around the bodywork could also be improved as these black 1x6 tiles appear too wide in relation to the source material. Fortunately, the detailed air intakes beside the doors and the roof scoop on top are both quite realistic.

View image at flickr

The canopy can be removed to seat the driver inside. The interior is relatively plain but does feature a steering wheel and the minifigure looks good. Furthermore, I love the trans-black sections of the doors which are formed using an upside down 4x4 windscreen element. Such unusual construction methods sometimes feel fragile but this example is sturdy.

View image at flickr

Prominent air louvres appear beneath the rear wing and the designer has attempted to replicate those here. This design is not entirely successful in my opinion and the three exhausts, which are an integral feature of the McLaren Senna, are only represented by a sticker here. The enormous rear wing, on the other hand, looks perfect and its angle can be adjusted.

View image at flickr

Moreover, an impressive rear diffuser is situated behind the wheels. The surrounding bodywork would ideally be less substantial but it looks alright when viewed from either side and the orange stickers on the diffuser are attractive. However, the highlight of the rear section is undoubtedly the dual tail lights which are formed using trans-red spearheads. Once again, these parts originate from NEXO Knights.

View image at flickr

Aerodynamics are integral to the design of a successful supercar so the McLaren Senna comes with a small fan for use in a wind tunnel. This can be rotated manually and looks good, featuring an attractive white band around the fan. In addition, the model includes some useful 4x4 round corner tiles and 4x4 plates with a rounded cutout.

View image at flickr

Overall

Earlier models from the Speed Champions range were often criticised for their inaccurate proportions and that is the greatest weakness of 75892 McLaren Senna. Its streamlined bodywork is remarkably accurate but the vehicle appears too long in my opinion, especially when viewed from higher angles. Nevertheless, this set is still thoroughly impressive!

View image at flickr

The intricacy of its construction is unmatched in the Speed Champions theme and the level of detail is extraordinary. Furthermore, the aforementioned issue relating to the proportions of this car is probably unavoidable at minifigure scale, without the introduction of several new pieces. I would therefore have no hesitation in recommending this set, although certain areas for improvement do remain.

I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.

This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.

Sponsored content