Hate it or love it but the Fast & Furious movie franchise has had a huge impact on both pop and automotive culture. It even made its way into the LEGO universe as the company is preparing to release the iconic Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 from the 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious very soon.
Even though 2 Fast 2 Furious was panned by critics and many audiences alike but if you love cars, then it is hard to forget the R34 although its role as the hero’s car was taken over by Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII in the latter part of the movie. In case you have never seen it before, here is a preview:
If you are a purist, then you might be irritated to see that none of the aftermarket brands that were on the car’s hood and bumpers made their way to the LEGO replica. Then again, this is a Lego Speed Champions release after all which is meant for kids aged above 8 years old and accuracy is not exactly the main objective.
Nevertheless, LEGO has fairly recreated the car’s paint job and blue stripes for the replica as well as making it a right-hand drive vehicle just like in the movie. Furthermore, the company has included a Brian O’Conner (played by the late Paul Walker) minifigure with it.
Expected to be available worldwide this coming January, the new 2 Fast 2 Furious’s R34 LEGO Speed Champions replica has already appeared on LEGO Malaysia’s website. However, its actual availability date and pricing in our market are not yet known at the moment though.
For those who are wondering, this is not the first vehicle F&F features by LEGO though. Earlier this year, the company unveiled the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T from the original Fast & Furious movie which comes complete with a minifigure iteration of its driver, Dominic Toretto that was played by Vin Diesel.
In case you want to get your hands on it right now in anticipation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 release, the LEGO Speed Champion replica of Dom’s Charger can be obtained for RM119.90 from LEGO Certifies Stores all over the country including Brick Magic and Box Of Bricks.
Mario has gotten the LEGO treatment last year, and now, it is finally time for Luigi to do the same. The LEGO Group has announced the new Luigi Starter Course for the LEGO Super Mario Adventures line.
For the most part, LEGO Luigi is pretty much the same as the Mario counterpart. He comes with the same kind of tech we saw before, like screens that take the place of his eyes, mouth and chest. Pair that with the same wireless tech for the same kind of interactivity. And since both are part of the same LEGO Super Mario Adventures series, it’s probably safe to expect interactivity between the new and existing pieces.
Of course, it’s not just a simple recolour of the existing Mario model. Luigi has his own unique look to him, from his cap and hair to the size of his moustache. The voice work is also naturally different, as Luigi retains his distinct voice, keeping things consistent between the LEGO and video game worlds.
The LEGO Group says that the Adventures with Luigi Starter Course will be available starting 1 August. But you can pre-order them now for RM259.90, via Brick Magic, Box of Bricks, LEGOLAND, Toys ‘R’ Us, or the official LEGO Store on Lazada and Shopee. You’ll also get a themed carrying case if you do. Though at the time of writing, that last one has not yet added the item to the list.
The term “remastered” isn’t exclusive to video games and films, but to toys too. In a recent announcement, LEGO has revealed that it will be releasing a heavily updated version of its discontinued Star Wars R2-D2 kit that was originally released in 2013.
According to the Danish toy maker, the 2021 R2-D2 model now sports a more pronounced and near-screen accurate design. This time around, its head module features a smoother-looking dome, and the same can be said for its cylindrical body. Intricate details such as optics, vents, panels and leg battery hoses on the droid are shown to have received makeovers as well.
In terms of size, the new 2021 R2-D2 measures about a foot tall and appears just slightly larger than the original model. The kit is also revealed to feature a total of 2,314 pieces of LEGO, which exceeds the 2,127 brick count of its predecessor.
Of course, this new version of R2 will come with new playability features. LEGO says that it now comes with a hidden manipulator arm in its body, and a retractable periscope module on the head. Also, if you happen to be threatened to be thrown overboard from a floating sand barge, you’ll be pleased to know that the astromech droid comes with a hidden pop-out replica of Luke’s green lightsaber as well. Last but not least, included in the box is a display plaque and an R2-D2 LEGO minifigure.
Being a remaster of the original, it looks like the new Star Wars LEGO R2-D2 may be the droid that Star Wars fans are looking for. The kit is priced at US$180 (~RM740) and is set to be globally available at the beginning of next month – just in time for Star Wars Day on May 4th. LEGO Malaysia has yet to announce its local pricing and expected availability.
The LEGO Super Mario was officially launched in Malaysia back in August. Now, the set is getting additional expansion sets for you to build bigger brick worlds.
As part of the announcement, the company has announced the Master Your Adventure set. Easily the most substantial add on to the LEGO Super Mario, it comes with 366 pieces in total. Among them is a Customisation Machine. This can be used with three special bricks included in the set to change Mario’s the way Mario reacts to them.
Announced alongside the main set are the Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter, Piranha Plant Puzzling Challenge and Wiggler’s Poison Swamp expansion sets. For the LEGO Super Mario himself, there’s also the Penguin and Tanooki power up packs. For an even greater variety, also launched today is Series 2 of the character packs, featuring 10 more buildable characters.
Here’s the complete price list for all the announced items:
LEGO Super Mario Master Your Adventure Maker Set (RM289.90)
LEGO Super Mario Chain Chomper Jungle Encounter Expansion Set (RM119.90)
LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set (RM139.90)
LEGO Super Mario Wiggler’s Poison Swamp Expansion Set (RM179.90)
LEGO Super Mario Penguin Mario Power-Up Pack (RM49.90)
LEGO Super Mario Tanooki Mario Power-Up Pack (RM49.90)
LEGO Super Mario Character Packs Series 2 (RM16.90)
All these LEGO Super Mario expansion sets will be available starting 1 January 2021. You’ll be able to get them off shelves, or online via the official LEGO stores on Lazada and Shopee.
