Building a fan base: Renault backs bid to make Lego 5 Turbo 3E an official kit

A British Lego designer has secured Renault’s support in his bid to turn a one-off Lego Renault 5 Turbo 3E into an official set.

The French car maker is throwing its weight behind Dave Collins’ efforts after he revealed his super-accurate recreation of the wild £140,000 “mini-supercar”.

Dave, a full-time engineer, said the Turbo 3E’s exaggerated boxy shape, which boosts the already angular R5 with some comically large wings and skirts, was an ideal subject for the famously brick-shaped medium.

“Angular cars are easier to do in Lego, so the R5 was a natural choice”, he said. “Plus it looks great, and it’s immediately recognisable as an update of the eighties classic. I’ve certainly tried to race a few off the lights in my youth.”

Built from around 1,200 bricks, the Lego R5T3E took Dave around 100 hours to design. It brilliantly recreates the detail of perhaps the wildest Renault ever, from the rally-inspired colour scheme to the square fog lights and sporty bucket seats.

Dave now needs 10,000 supporters on the Lego Ideas portal to have his creation considered as an official set.

He said: “If Lego were to consider it, that would be a great boost… and who knows where that might lead. If they actually made a set, I think that would be great for Lego, Renault and for me.

“The car is iconic with people who grew up in the eighties, and the look and power of the electric R5 appeal to all ages now, so I truly believe it would be a success.”

To lend your support to the effort, you can vote for the Lego Renault 5 Turbo 3E on Dave’s creator page on the Lego Ideas portal here.

While we’ll have to wait and see if Dave’s Lego Turbo 3E makes it to production, we do know that the full-size model is becoming a reality in a limited run of just 1,980 cars.

Using two in-wheel motors developed by Protean, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E produces a wild 536bhp, and 3,540lb ft of torque. The 0-62mph run takes less than 3.5 seconds and this two-seat mini monster will run on to a top speed of 168mph.

It’s hard to say if we’re more excited about the real thing or the Lego one…