Driving Through the Death Star Trench

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It’s still Star Wars Day, and if you think this post is the most tenuously-linked to the space-based saga yet and we’re shamelessly crowbarring it in… you’d be right. But the ‘F82’ generation BMW 4-Series is a  terrestrial X-Wing, because it will be travelling much too fast, way too close, and be piloted by a young guy (and it will be a young guy) who treats the motorway like the Death Star trench run in ‘A New Hope’.

Not that it’s the 4-Series’ fault; it’s a very good car, and the ‘F82’ generation isn’t blighted by the looks of its successor. But it’s also over a decade old, which means its price is now within reach of traffic weaving muppets.

Still, this BMW 4-Series isn’t two feet from the car in front being driven by a total toolbox, as it comes instead from previous bloggee Mihail Rakovskiy, who has recreated the ‘F82’ in stunning detail.

The interior, engine, and even drivetrain/chassis are as beautifully lifelike as the exterior, and you can find more superb images at Mihail’s ‘BMW F82’ album on Flickr. Click the link above to turn your route home from work into your very own Death Star trench run.

I Used to Bullseye Womp Rats…

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It’s Star Wars Day, that one day of the year when nerds feel socially acceptable, and when websites that normally couldn’t care less about the George Lucas saga jump on the bandwagon for clicks.

Um, so here’s a Star Wars post… But it is an interesting one, we promise! This brilliantly clever T-65 X-Wing fighter, mounted atop a fully controllable Stewart Platform, is the work of vascolp of Eurobricks, and it’s built entirely from parts found within the enormous LEGO Technic 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator.

The huge quantity of electronics from the donor set allows vascolp’s X-Wing to pitch, bank and twist beautifully, as well as position the opening wings. A custom Pybricks Python programme controls the magic and you watch this incredible alternate in action via the video above and read more about the build at the Eurobricks forum here.

LEGO Technic H2 2026 | Set Previews

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Yes our crack team of Elves have finally returned from their mission inside The LEGO Company’s HQ, and following our reveal of a few Summer 2026 Technic sets already, we have six more H2 sets to reveal today! Read on to find out what they’ve uncovered…

42233 Mighty Machines Series 1


Well, we say ‘six’, but actually there are thirteen, because 42233 Mighty Machines Series 1 could be any one of eight tiny Technic construction vehicles. Like LEGO’s Minifigure Series, 42233’s packaging is uniform no matter which version is inside, but unlike the Minifigure Series you can’t feel it to try to figure it out. Expect the forums to be filled with theories on what the various models sound like imminently… Under fifty pieces, and under a fiver. Lovely stuff.

42234 Dodge Viper GTS-R

We jump from 7+ pocket money to 10+ and 800 pieces with this, the 42234 Dodge Viper GTS-R.

In partnership with ‘Forza Horizon 6’ (where a bespoke Viper livery will be available for owners of the set) 42234 brings America’s favourite V10-engined supercar to the Technic line-up. That engine features too, under the expansive front-hinged hood, as does working steering, opening doors, and too many stickers. Expect 42234 to cost $65 / £60 / €65 when it reaches stores this summer.

42235 Ferrari 488 PISTA

With two fewer cylinders but around 10% more parts (including new wheel-arches), the 42235 Ferrari 488 PISTA joins the 2026 Technic range as the second ‘Forza Horizon 6’ set. Like the Viper above, 42235 includes a working engine, functional steering, plus an opening hood and doors, however unlike the Viper its stripe is (mostly) brick built rather than stuck-on. Not so the headlights though. Boo.

Expect 42235 to match the pricing of the Viper at $65 / £60 / €65 when it races into the line-up later in the year.

42241 Green Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport


Wait, haven’t we seen this one before? The 42241 Green Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport recolours the 42222 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport set revealed just six months ago, and drops that set’s tie-up with the ‘Asphalt Legends Unite’ video game, presumably because LEGO can’t partner with two game titles simultaneously. The Chiron isn’t available in ‘Forza Horizon 6’ though, so it doesn’t mirror the affiliation of its counterparts above. Was orange, now green, still 771 pieces and $65 / £60 / €65.

42239 Batmobile Tumbler

With fewer pieces than the cars above, but a $100 price increase, what is going on with the 42239 Batmobile Tumbler? Well Control+ is back! A rechargeable battery, motorised drive, steering, and LED lights – all controlled via a mobile device – make this the perfect set for chasing household pets. Zero stickers, new tyres, and awesome looks (the Tumbler is still easily the best Batmobile ever) get our seal of approval, and you can protect Gotham / pursue your cat for $190 / £170 / €190 when 42239 arrives this summer.

42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 with Crane

And now for our favourite new Technic set for H2 2026; this is the 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 with Crane.

Aimed at ages 11+ and with 1,189 pieces, 42242 packs a whole lot into its mid-size package, making it – weird though it seems to write this about a set costing well over $100 / £100 / €100 – feel like rather good value.

Working four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-suspension, steering, a six-cylinder piston engine under an opening hood, stabiliser legs, tipper, and a two-stage pneumatic and rotating knuckle-boom crane all feature, as do a few new parts too.

42242 is expected to cost $130 / £110 / €120 and is our pick of the range.

That’s the H2 2026 Technic line-up. Three sets revealed already with six further new sets joining them in stores this summer. One we’ve seen before, and one where you won’t quite know what you’re getting until you open it. We’ll take the Unimog…

LEGO 77264 Jaguar Project 7 & Speed Champions Land Rover Defender | Set Preview

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It’s another set reveal day here at The Lego Car Blog, and this time we’re going small, because this is the brand new LEGO 77264 Jaguar Project 7 & Speed Champions Land Rover Defender!

With 740 pieces including two mini-figures, 77264 brings two factory-modified vehicles from JLR’s past into the Speed Champions range; a wide-tracked Defender ‘classic’, and the wild F-Type based Project 7.

Both capture their real-world counterparts rather well, with a few well placed decals and new rims on the Jag, and 77264 will be available  for $55 / £45 / €55 from August ‘26.

Big Yellow Taxi*

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This TLCB writer always found it strange that American taxis used to be ginormous V8 sedans. Threading through congested city streets, the only thing lower than miles-per-hour was the miles-per-gallon.

Today’s far more efficient hybrids and EVs make much more sense, but they do somehow seem less… American than the V8 barges that preceded them.

Cue Sseven Bricks’ fabulous ‘75 Plymouth Fury taxi, which captures the spirit of the lost cabs beautifully. There’s more to see on Flickr, and you can hail a ridiculously inefficient ride via the link.

*Today’s absolutely lovely title song.

A Trained Eye

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Well this is a cute microscale steam train chuffing past a forest lake. But there’s more than meets the eye with jarekwally’s diorama. Go on a journey via the link above to see where it takes you…

O’Neilly Long

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John O’Neill has a long one. This brilliantly detailed replica of a real-world truck comes from Ralph Savelsberg, who has recreated Irish heavy hauler John O’Neill’s rare Renault T 8×4 and Dennison 3-axle trailer.

Ralph’s model includes the real truck’s fold-out crane and working stabiliser legs as well as its fetching livery, and you can take a look on Flickr via the link.

Driver Inattention Detected

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Of all of the EU-mandated ‘safety’ features that our European readers have to endure in their vehicles, the ‘driver attention monitor’ is surely the worst.

A legal requirement for all new cars – alongside such irritants as lane-keep assist, speed limit recognition, and autonomous braking – the aforementioned monitor is kind of like that one teacher at school who had to have all sixty eyes fixed on them at all times.

Looking at the multimedia screen because everything is now in a sub-menu? ‘Driver Inattention Detected’. Looking out of the side window incase that pram turns onto the pedestrian crossing in front of you? ‘Driver Inattention Detected’. Reaching back to pick up that bloody stuffed owl that’s been dropped for the fifth time this journey? ‘Driver Inattention Detected’. Casually watching that mini-skirted pedestrian? ‘Driver Inattention Detected’.

Back in 1901 however, there were no such annoyances. In fact, thanks to one utter madman named Maxwell Mabberley-Smith, not looking at the road was actively encouraged.

This is the 1901 Sunbeam-Mabley Sociable, a motorcar with four wheels arranged in an oblique diamond, the front and rear of which steer by a tiller, the middle two of which are powered, and wherein the two occupants sit sideways to the direction of travel, facing one another.

This fabulous recreation of the madcap contraption comes from TLCB favourite Nikolaus Lowe, who has replicated the Sociable – including its unique drivetrain – brilliantly in brick. Working front/rear steering, driven middle wheels, and even functional brakes all feature, and you can find out more about this remarkable model via the link above.

But what of the real thing? Well despite 130 Sociables being sold, Mabberley-Smith’s insane configuration didn’t catch on (although Sunbeam went on to do rather more), which – considering the advent of the ‘driver attention monitor’ some 125 years later, is rather a relief…

Benz ‘n Ballast

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Much like when your Mom sits at one end of a picnic bench and someone else has to quickly sit at the other so it doesn’t cartwheel across the park, cranes need a counterweight. Cue this excellent Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4 truck, pulling a huge Nooteboom OVB-95-07 trailer.

Those big boxes on the Nooteboom are crane ballast, and they are very heavy indeed. As they need to be, because the crane boom’s length multiplies the effect of the load it’s lifting.

This ballast transport comes from Keko007 of Flickr, accompanying his recently recently featured Liebherr crane, and there’s much more to see at his ‘Mercedes Actros MP4 6×8 & Nooteboom OVB-95-07 Ballast Trailer’ album on Flickr. Head there now via the link above – just make sure someone else sits down on the picnic bench before you get up…

LEGO Technic 42236 Custom Garage Ford Mustang GT | Set Preview

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A crack team of TLCB Elves were recently fired – by way of the office catapult – over The LEGO Company’s perimeter wall. Their mission; to uncover the brand new LEGO Technic sets for 2026. And not get eaten by the guard dogs.

Two have already returned (and their ‘Fast & Furious’ finds can be seen in our set reveal here), and today we have another. And it’s even more modified than the ‘Fast & Furious’ pair. This is the LEGO Technic 42236 Custom Garage Ford Mustang GT.

Aimed at ages 10+ and constructed from just under 1,000 pieces, 42236 is an interesting idea (and possibly sub-brand*) that allows builders to modify their model with a range of styling components, including wider arches, a scooped hood, wings and splitters. Which explains the higher piece count and raised price (£80 / $100 / €90) than we’re used to with other sets of this scale.

It’s also the set for you if you like stickers, because 42236 is covered in them. Wheels, grille, body panels, rear lights… they’re all decals. And whilst that does create an interesting colour scheme, we’re kinda at the point where the base car could be anything and LEGO simply change the manufacturer it represents by altering the stickers that come with it.

Working steering and a V8 under the swappable hood do feature though, and you can get your hands on the new 42236 Custom Garage Ford Mustang GT when it arrives this summer.


*We’re eagerly anticipating further Custom Garage sets that represent the modifying scene here in TLCB’s home nation.

Green Gran

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We’re still in classic car territory here at The Lego Car Blog, which is fine by us; anything from years past is preferable to whatever Chinese electric crossover has been revealed in the last ten minutes.

This is definitely not a Chinese electric crossover. It’s a 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport, a car that was available with five different V8 engines and a maximum of four gears. Because gas was cheap and nothing was going to happen to jeopardise that.

Anyway, this marvellous Model Team recreation of the ‘72 Ford Gran Torino Sport comes from previous bloggee Jakub Marcisz, and features working steering, opening everything, and a superbly detailed interior and V8 engine.

Building instructions are available and there’s more of the model to see at Jakub’s ‘Gran Torino 1972’ album on Flickr.

Hill & Biens

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We’re sticking with classic cars today, and this lovely Speed Champions 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, that won Le Mans in the hands of Phil Hill and Oliver Gendebien.

Created by SFH_Bricks, this beautifully presented model captures the iconic Ferrari racer superbly, and you can join Hill and Gendebien in France in ‘58 via the link.

In the Cloud

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That utter cringefest of toxic positivity, humble bragging, and ridiculous self-promotion, LinkedIn, is overflowing with meaningless posts about AI and ‘The Cloud’.

Nothing we write can adequately convey just how much we don’t care about your humble receipt of the Cloud Networking Award at the 2026 Delaware CAICP2 Conference, nor how the leaders of tomorrow are forging the future via cloud-based software to realise efficiencies and business automation.

If we’re going to be ‘In the Cloud’ we’d like it to be one of these, the stupendous Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.

Powered by a 6.2 litre V8, weighing over two tons, and fitted with power steering and electric windows, the Silver Cloud was nothing short of the finest automobile in the world in the early-‘60s.

Cue this wonderful recreation of the 1960 Silver Cloud II by previous bloggee SP_LINEUP, who has replicated it in brick form beautifully. A range of clever techniques capture the Cloud’s coach-built bodywork and detailing (including the famous Spirit of Ecstacy), with a closer look available at SP’s photostream. Get In the Cloud via the link above. And LinkedIn sucks.

Star Quality

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We love an unpretentious workhorse here at The Lego Car Blog, and things don’t come more unpretentious and workhorsey than an FSC Star 200. In white.

This wonderful Model Team recreation of the humble ‘80s lorry comes from previous bloggee damjan97PL / damianPLE, whose model captures the truck from his native Poland beautifully.

Damian’s model includes a mechanical tipper with a locking tailgate, a working inline-6 engine under a tilting cab, opening doors, and steering by both the wheel and ‘HOG’.

Building instructions are available and you can follow the Star on both Eurobricks and Bricksafe, where there’s lots more to see.

B is for BuWizz

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TLCB Elves are running for their lives today, because this tremendous Technic remote control Group B rally car is roaring up and down the office corridor. TLCB staff may or may not be at the controls…

Constructed by TLCB Master MOCer Nico71, entered into last year’s BuWizz Gathering, and inspired by a number of ‘80s rally machines, it shows the best of what can be achieved with LEGO Technic and compatible third-party electronics.


Twin LEGO Buggy Motors, Servo steering, all-wheel double-wishbone suspension, a mid-mounted V6 engine, opening doors, hood and tailgate, and BuWizz 2.0 Bluetooth control all feature, as do building instructions so you can create Nico’s model for yourself to terrorise the animals in your own house.

There’s loads more to see at the Eurobricks forum and you can make a beeline there via the link above, plus you can watch Nico’s creation in action via the video below.

YouTube Video