LEGO Speed Champions 76896 Nissan GT-R NISMO revealed at Nissan headquarters

The LEGO Group and Nissain have announced another new LEGO Speed Champions set for 2020, 76896 Nissan GT-R NISMO.

LEGO Speed Champions 76896 Nissan GT-R NISMO has been revealed at Nissan headquarters in Japan, marking the first time that the Danish company has collaborated with a Japanese car manufacturer. LEGO Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen and Nissan Executive Vice President Asako Hoshino unveiled the model in Yokoham.

76896 Nissan GT-R NISMO uses 298 LEGO elements, amd like the other new cars for January, will be eight studs wide rather than six studs wide. “In LEGO Speed Champions, we always aim to include new types of racing vehicles,” says Design Lead Christopher Stamp. “And when we focused on drifting and racing, the record-breaking Nissan GT-R, and especially the new GT-R NISMO, was at the top of our wish list. Authenticity is always our main concern, and we spent a lot of time exploring different building techniques to correctly recreate the taillights, as they are one of the most recognisable details on the car. I am really happy with the end result!”

While the actual GT-R took 10 years to develop, this set took around 12 months. Another point of comparison is that the LEGO version weighs just 193g, rather than the 1,720kg that the actual vehicle does.

76898 Formula E Panasonic Jaguar Racing GEN 2 car & Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY and 76899 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO & Urus ST-X have already been revealed by the LEGO Group.

“In addition to offering a wonderful and fun building and play experience, we hope the model will also inspire children to learn more about engineering and how to create things in real life,” says Niels B. Christiansen. “Just as engineers across decades have improved the design and performance of this car, children build, unbuild and rebuild during play – stimulating and developing crucial skills, such as creativity, resilience, problem-solving and critical thinking. Inspiring them to become the builders of tomorrow is our mission.”

“The Nissan GT-R and the LEGO brand are both renowned and loved by fans of all ages throughout the world, and we are honoured to be the first-ever Japanese car manufacturer to partner with the LEGO Group,” says Asako Hoshino. “Many of our Nissan customers can trace their automotive passion back to when they built LEGO cars as children. With this partnership, everyone can be a `takumi’ – the specialized craftsmen that build the GT-R. And, it’s the GT-R’s 50th anniversary this year, so what better way to celebrate than to share the GT-R with Nissan and LEGO fans around the world!”

It was not the only car on display, with the 2020 GT-R NISMO also on display at the event. “The GT-R has been part of my life since I was 10 years old. Working with the LEGO Group was like awakening my inner 10-year-old self to rediscover what makes the GT-R so special to me. It’s amazing how much the LEGO Group’s attention to detail reminds me of our own craftsmen,” says Hiroshi Tamura, Nissan’s chief product specialist for the GT-R.

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