LEGO normally releases a new wave of LEGO Speed Champions sets at the beginning of the year, but this year they were delayed until the beginning of June. However, the wait was worth it! As you may recall, LEGO redesigned the LEGO Speed champions theme with wider and more detailed vehicles.
To recap, in 2020, we got five sets with the wider designs. The #76895 LEGO Speed Champions Ferrari F8 Tributo, the #76896 LEGO Speed Champions Nissan GT-R NISMO, and the #76897 LEGO Speed Champions 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 come with a single vehicle and driver for $19.99. And the #76898 LEGO Speed Champions Formula E Panasonic Jaguar Racing GEN2 Car & Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY, and the #76899 LEGO Speed Champions Lamborghini Urus ST-X & Huracan Supar Trofeo EVO come with two vehicles, two minifigs, and some add-ons. They are all still available at the LEGO Speed Champions section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The wider vehicles got both negative and positive feedback. Most fans are happy with the more realistic and more detailed vehicles, and the fact that wider vehicles rely less on stickers to add finer details. On the other hand, while the earlier vehicles fit well into LEGO City layouts, the newer vehicles are too wide and feel out of place in a LEGO City diorama. In addition, those who have been collecting the LEGO Speed Champions sets from the beginning feel that their collection has been disrupted by the new design. Some fans get around this by displaying the earlier and later LEGO Speed Champions sets separately, and referring to them as Generation 1 and Generation 2.
I feel that this is the best way to approach the LEGO Speed Champions collection. There has been a mostly positive evolution in the design, but this doesn’t mean that the earlier vehicles are less valuable, or that those who have been collecting the earlier vehicles should stop getting the new sets because they are different.
It seems like the wider vehicles are doing well enough for LEGO to continue with the new design. In fact, this year we got even more sets than last year; three single-vehicle sets, and three sets with two vehicles. So, let’s take a closer look at the 2021 collection.
The single vehicle sets include the #76900 LEGO Speed Champions Koenigsegg Jesko (first vehicle above and below), the #76901 LEGO Speed Champions Toyota GR Supra (second vehicle above and below), and the #76902 LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Elva (third vehicle above and below). Notice the intricate shaping of all three vehicles with small pieces like tiny angled and curved slopes and other small elements. Also, the building techniques are very interesting, building in every direction to achieve the most authentic look. Each of the single vehicle sets are $19.99, and are available at the LEGO Speed Champions section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The sets do come with a few stickers, but generally less than in the Generation 1 LEGO Speed Champions sets. Because of the larger size, many of the finer details and color stripes are achieved by standard LEGO pieces. There are also a few printed elements, like the windshield pieces, and of course, all the minifigs have unique printing.
It’s also worth noting that the #76902 LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Elva has a mini version, the #30343 LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Elva, which is currently available as a freebie at official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop.
The three double packs for this year are the #76903 LEGO Speed Champions Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Race Car & 1968 Chevrolet Corvette for $29.99 (first picture above and below), the #76904 LEGO Speed Champions Mopar Dodge/SRT Top Fuel Dragster & 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A for $49.99 (second picture above and below), and the #76905 LEGO Speed Champions Ford GT Heritage Edition & Bronco R also for $49.99 (third picture above and below).
In the player below, I have included video-reviews of all of six of the new sets by JANGBRiCKS, so you can check them out in more detail.
I love classic vehicles, so I’m particularly fond of the 1958 Corvette and the 1970 Dodge Challenger from the 2021 collection. I also like the Chevrolet Corvette racecar with its impressive shaping and nice decorations. Note that each set comes with interchangeable wheel covers, and the minifigs have an option to wear a helmet or hairpiece. Speaking of minifigs, they do look a little small compared to the larger vehicles and what we are used to in LEGO City, but you can place two minifigs side-by-side, which is far more realistic than most LEGO vehicles.
I do believe that these wider LEGO Speed Champions sets will please collectors. Previously, we only got realistic LEGO vehicles in large LEGO Technic and LEGO Creator sets. To get recognizable vehicles in minifig scale is quite remarkable. And I really like that LEGO is trying to keep a good variety of car brands and different shapes. The sets are excellent for learning to build LEGO vehicles. If you want to check them out, they are available at the LEGO Speed Champions section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the new LEGO Speed Champions sets? Do you prefer the older, narrower vehicles, or the new wider ones? Do you have any of the sets already? Feel free to share your thoughts and own reviews in the comment section below!
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Hmm, after having seen the photograph of the 1968 Corvette from #76903, I’m sad to see that that hairpiece actually doesn’t come in orange…
(The MP3 player tile in 76902: McLaren Elva is tempting, though…)
I started getting these after generation one, so I don’t have the dilemma of long time collectors. I say it was so worth making them wider. The details are incredible. I can’t buy all of them at once, but I intend to get them all.
I love the classics! And with the new road system, it’s possible to make wider roads for them. Just sayin. 🤗
They are even more expensive than the narrow cars, but it’s so tempting to get at least a couple. The small wheels on the dragster however are disappointing
Dragsters are built like that, they are supposed to have giant wheels on the back and small thin wheels on the front. That’s not disappointing at all, it’s accurate.
I was reading that some people are having issues with the dark red in the classic corvette. Like the colors don’t match or something.
With mine I had no problem with the colors at all
Why doesn’t the blue car has a windscreen? Is that normal? There are cars like that? !
I don’t think that car was street legal. Later, they made another version with a windshield, but still no side windows or roof. It’s more a concept car than anything practical.
No kidding! I can’t imagine driving a sportscar without a windshield. LOL. Why did they even bother? It looks weird.
Some of the other ones are cool though. The Dodge Challenger is probably my favorite.
I guess it would be a more intense experience, though. More similar to motorcycling. At least the driver has a visored helmet.
(I want that helmet in orange. It’s only been released once in a limited polybag. Otherwise, I think it’s been released with a print at least once, so I guess I could try buying a printed one and rub the print off… I heard it should generally require patience more than actual artistic skills…)
Oh, I would love more orange helmets too! As far as removing print, the easiest method I have found is using pure eucalyptus oil. But it must be 100% pure. Available at Asian stores. 🙂
Yeah, I think I read somewhere that you mentioned it earlier. Someone else thought it could damage the plastic, though(?)
Claire Kinmil of Brickomotion used nail polish remover, but then you’d need to be absolutely sure it’s acetone-free, or it’d almost certain damage your bricks permanently…
I started collecting them only in generation 2. The gen 1 vehicles looked too cartoony for me, but I enjoyed the gen 2 so much I have all of the 2020 ones.
Regarding this new 2021 wave, I think they look awesome so I’ll likely start buying them soon. I’m just undecided about the Dodge pack. While I love the Challenger I don’t like the dragster and it’s way too big to display it properly next to other speed champions. Furthermore, the dragster raises the pack price way too much for my liking, so I’ll eventually buy it only when I find some sort of major deal (black friday or whatnot).
Yeah, the Dragster is kind of an outlier I have the same issue with the Technic Pull-Back Racers (which I collect). The dragsters don’t fit in the collection as well, but I still like them. You might be able to find someone who wants the dragster and you can split the set. 🙂