Review: 42151 Bugatti Bolide
Posted by Huw,
The January 2023 tranche of Technic sets appears to be fairly disappointing for the discerning Technic fan, although the largest of the offerings, 42151 Bugatti Bolide, looks to have some redeeming qualities, not least because it includes a number of new elements, which is always cause for celebration.
The Bolide is a distinctive-looking vehicle whose shape looks like it will lend itself to being modelled using angular Technic panels, so read on to find out if that's the case.
Summary
42151 Bugatti Bolide, 905 pieces.
£44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99 | 5.0p/5.5c/5.5c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A competent rendition of a distinctive supercar
- New elements
- Printed headlights
- 'Blacktron' colour scheme
- A lot of its form and detail is lost in its blackness
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The prototype
The Bolide is a $4 million car designed for the racetrack of which only 40 examples are being made by the French manufacturer.
It features a 'W16' 16-cylinder engine that develops over 1,800 bhp and takes the car from 0-100km/h in 2.2 seconds, so it won't be able to keep up with a Tesla Model S Plaid to that speed, but will go much faster, reaching 500km/h in 20 seconds.
Image from Pistonheads.
New parts
Five new pieces have been introduced which further extend the family ot Technic panels.
The 5x4 panels at the top of the picture below debuted last year and now there is a 3x3 version, with a single axle hole on the bottom. They are numbered 9 and 10.
Like those above, which are shorter versions of long-established panels, so too are these tiny 2x3 ones. They are numbered 7 and 8, and match the geometry of the 2x5 version, and the recently introduced 71682 PANEL 2X3X1, NO. 1 and 89679 PANEL 2X1X1, NO. 1.
This angled panel is another entry to that family of 2-wide ones, and it's numbered 3. I need to update my history of Technic panels to include all these additions!
Finally, this might not seem like a very exciting part, but this is the first time it's ever been made in yellow, despite being introduced over 20 years ago.
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Construction
As you might expect for a model based on a licenced vehicle, it comes with an extensive sticker sheet. However, most can be omitted without undue detriment should you wish.
Parts are packed in bags numbered one to four and the pictures below show progress at the end of each section of the build.
The W16 engine has been replicated using a central cam shaft, connected to the rear axle, and 16 3-long axles which thus bob up and down as the car is pushed.
It's interesting that there's a CSR Racing and LEGO logo on the side.
The completed model
The model is about 30cm long and 12cm wide, so exactly the same size as 42123 McLaren Senna GTR, and the same scale, 1:16.
The front wheel arches are printed with yellow patches and the vehicle's 'X' shaped headlights. The print could be a bit thicker, but that seems to be a common complaint nowadays when printing on dark plastic. Clearly the lessons from the 'third coat of varnish' fable from the company's early days have not been learnt!
I think the designers have done a pretty good job of replicating the shape of the car, aided by the new panel elements, particularly as only a handful of System pieces have been used.
Functionality-wise it has a 'working' engine, front wheel steering using the gear on the top of the roof, and doors that swing open to reveal the interior dashboard and steering wheel, which I guess is all you could expect in a vehicle of this size.
Verdict
Overall it's a competent model of a car that has indeed lent itself to being modelled using angular Technic elements. I like the black and yellow 'Blacktron' livery, although the black has a tendency to make it difficult to see its curves and details unless viewed in good light.
However, it's a model of a very obscure car that I suspect hardly anyone has heard of and even fewer care about. Perhaps that's the point of it: to give those who could never own a Bugatti a means of doing so, but personally I'd much prefer something recognisable and less recherché (yes, I looked that synonym up...)
To be honest, the new pieces excite me more than the car.
Price-wise, at $49.99 / £44.99, it's the same as 42123 McLaren Senna GTR released two years ago, but like that one I suspect it'll receive a healthy discount at Amazon before long which will of course make it much more palatable.
It'll be available at LEGO.com from 1st January.
Gallery
72 likes
36 comments on this article
Looks good, I like it. Just one point-
The W16 engine has been replicated using a central "cam shaft", connected to the rear axle, and 16 3-long axles which thus bob up and down as the car is pushed.
That should read "crankshaft".
Didn't we have this review a few days ago?
I know we did: one doesn't see the word "recherché" very often!
Would like to see it without stickers and these unsightly tire covers.
I don't understand how a model of that size contains more than 900 pieces. Looking forward to flipping through the instructions online in a couple weeks to find out
@turboslot said:
"Looks good, I like it. Just one point-
The W16 engine has been replicated using a central "cam shaft", connected to the rear axle, and 16 3-long axles which thus bob up and down as the car is pushed.
That should read "crankshaft". "
At that scale, camshaft is likely correct. I've never seen other Lego "engines" of that size physically connected to a crankshaft.
It's made using 4 cam pieces.
I too looked that synonym up
Very lame. Another fully paneled but ugky technic set with really nice engine THAT YOU CANT EVEN SEE when you finish building it
Love seeing a classic Technic color scheme show up once more. Good parts will be nice for a Jet/Judge or Blaster revamp.
To each their own. I never liked the technic line because, to me, they always look horribly unfinished.
@560heliport said:
"Didn't we have this review a few days ago?
I know we did: one doesn't see the word "recherché" very often!"
Yes, briefly, but it was rescheduled to accommodate the new Star Wars sets being revealed.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @560heliport said:
"Didn't we have this review a few days ago?
I know we did: one doesn't see the word "recherché" very often!"
Yes, briefly, but it was rescheduled to accommodate the new Star Wars sets being revealed."
Ah, thank you!
I've got most of the cars in this size but I'm not excited by this one. Like the review says, not really a recognisable car.
Plus,this year's Ford Mustang with the pull back motor is much more fun than this style of car.
Yeah I'm just gonna leave those CSR stickers on the sheet, I don't care for some random mobile game.
Otherwise, looks good! Maybe I'll pick it up on the 2nd of January, when the stores open up.
Considering Lego decided to produce a line of car of that size and (it seems) Lego is doing 1-2 per year, they should have kept 42098 indefinitely on the production line. Having all these sets together makes the sum greater than the parts. Alone, 42098 is boring(a bit) because it does not have a full load of cars. With all the recent cars of that size produced in the last 2 years, this becomes a great kit to have (IMO).
My main concern is does it fit on 42098? I have space for one more car on it, and I plan on getting this one to fill it.
There's something very General Grievous about it when viewed from the back, but I just can't pin point why....
I really like this one. Watched the reveal video of the real Bolide when it came out, the engineering going into these things is insane.
Can't wait to get my hands on it, and display it with the Senna.
@Metroidman97 said:
"My main concern is does it fit on 42098? I have space for one more car on it, and I plan on getting this one to fill it. "
The Senna GTR fits on the carrier, this one being the same size should also fit on it :)
Thanks for letting me (and others) know about the Tesla Model S Plaid: as a "Spaceballs" fan, I'm glad a ludicrously quick car bears such a name!
@Metroidman97 said:
"My main concern is does it fit on 42098? I have space for one more car on it, and I plan on getting this one to fill it. "
It does. Of course the blue car coming with the truck is a fit. So is the corvette ZR1 42093, and the Mustang Shelby GT500 42138 which are very similar in shape and style. Then you have the 'racecar': MacLaren Senna GTR 42123, the Bugatti Bolide 42151 and the Porsche 99x electric 42137; they all fit width-wise but they are longer than the other cars and might become a problem if two of them are put on the top front platform or in either of the bottom platform (might prevent the gate to close properly). Finally, you can even put the Jeep 42122 on either top platform.
“What colour is YOUR Bugatti?!”
Well, that's the best PPP I've seen in a while...
@essel: you will find that all of Tesla's names for their various maximum speeds were based on Spaceballs.
Just like their original sound system being able to go up to eleven was based on This Is Spinal Tap. :-)
Really dislike that they chose this yellow racing variant over the blue concept variant that most people will be more familiar with. I think most people would have preferred not to have the excessive sticker sheet. I personally think this looks terrible at this scale, and nothing like the actual Bolide, and may have been better being a larger scale Technic build like the Chiron, Sian, and Ferraris. This build just looks a mess, and the colour choice really doesn't appeal to me at all. I'll wait until it drops to £30 like the Senna and Mustang did.
Ty for the review, good to see it in "in person" lighting rather then official pics to get a better idea. Like you I felt the black made the shape disappear to some extent, especially in the one or to official pics I did see.
This is a good set, design wise it looks close to the original (of course given the size of the set), price point is reasonable, and the functionalities are as per what I would expect.
An awesome car, not sure why it’s in yellow though but I think the model is quite nice just doesn’t look as nice as I hoped
@turboslot said:
"Looks good, I like it. Just one point-
The W16 engine has been replicated using a central "cam shaft", connected to the rear axle, and 16 3-long axles which thus bob up and down as the car is pushed.
That should read "crankshaft". "
Well... what should be the crankshaft is represented by a cam shaft...
@huw said:
"Clearly the lessons from the 'third coat of varnish' fable from the company's early days have not been learnt!"
Especially yellow on black. That's been a problem since the Caterham. They either need to figure out a way print thicker/ more layers/ using better ink, or just don't print yellow on black.
@huw One thing you didn't mention, that Racingbricks points out in his video review of this set, is that it has a fixed rear axle. No diff, or even a split rear axle like other cars in this size, but fixed. Which, given the price tag, is disappointing.
Excellent use of "recherché" . Well done Huw.
@Duq said:
" @huw One thing you didn't mention, that Racingbricks points out in his video review of this set, is that it has a fixed rear axle. No diff, or even a split rear axle like other cars in this size, but fixed. Which, given the price tag, is disappointing."
The Senna didn't have them either so I was not expecting them.
Senna didn't have a diff, but at least it had a split rear axle so the wheel can turn at different speeds when you go around a bend. Racingbrick said on the Bugatti the wheels are on one axle and you can feel the extra resistance when one wheel tries to slip in corners.
@DaBigE said:
" @turboslot said:
"Looks good, I like it. Just one point-
The W16 engine has been replicated using a central "cam shaft", connected to the rear axle, and 16 3-long axles which thus bob up and down as the car is pushed.
That should read "crankshaft". "
At that scale, camshaft is likely correct. I've never seen other Lego "engines" of that size physically connected to a crankshaft."
Cam is for valves while crank is for cylinders. I'd go with crankshaft for this.
Honestly, my brain has enough trouble discerning what's going on with the actual car, let alone a Lego Technic rendition. To me, this model looks like a salad of Technic parts in the shape of a car. The black color scheme certainly doesn't help.
@bmerigan said:
" @DaBigE said:
" @turboslot said:
"Looks good, I like it. Just one point-
The W16 engine has been replicated using a central "cam shaft", connected to the rear axle, and 16 3-long axles which thus bob up and down as the car is pushed.
That should read "crankshaft". "
At that scale, camshaft is likely correct. I've never seen other Lego "engines" of that size physically connected to a crankshaft."
Cam is for valves while crank is for cylinders. I'd go with crankshaft for this."
On a real car, yes, but for how it works on this Lego model, no. A crankshaft requires a constant physical connection...this model relys on gravity for a connection.
"yes, I looked that synonym up"
I love the honesty. :-)
I just picked it up.
I really love Lego Technic vehicles, I know they don't appeal to everybody but I've built several alternative brand 1:8 scale cars, pretty much the entire Lego lineup over the last 2 years Ive built.
For the price, with a thousand parts almost, I think it's a reasonable deal.
I too wish they would create these cars out of things that we are a little more used to seeing.
I'm building it primarily because I just enjoy building the technic stuff.
I'm definitely looking forward to it!