LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar review

LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar races on to the track in 2023 – but can this first collaboration between the LEGO Group and Peugeot take the chequered flag?

Peugeot has a long and storied history of motor racing stretching back over 125 years. This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race and the return of the French automotive powerhouse to endurance racing with their 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar. To commemorate that upcoming milestone the LEGO Group has joined forces with Peugeot to bring fans across the globe a 1:10 recreation of the sleek racer. 

LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar is a 1:10 recreation of the futuristic looking race car, capturing every sleek curve, sharp angle and swooping line, making for a very detailed and complex model. The LEGO design team worked in tandem with the Peugeot team while the actual car was still in development, ensuring that this model is the most accurate, most up to date and most authentic available. 

But with a LEGO Technic garage that’s already bursting full of incredible recreations of iconic supercars, is this a model worth creating a parking space for – or is it best to let the 9×8 Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar drive on by?

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— LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar set details —

Theme:  LEGO Technic Set name: 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar Release: May 1, 2023

Price: £169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99 Pieces: 1,775 Minifigures: 0

LEGO: Available May 1, 2023

— Where to buy LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar —

LEGO Technic Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar will be available on May 1, 2023 from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores worldwide. It’s also likely to be available from third-party retailers worldwide. Check out the latest deals below.

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— LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar build —

For many years Technic fans have been treated to large-scale recreations of iconic and groundbreaking supercars, offering impressively-sized models with a deep and involved build. 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar marks the first time the LEGO Group and Peugeot have worked together, but on first examination it appears the same high level of detail and authenticity has been recreated here too.

Inside the box are 16 bags numbered one through five, three bags containing wheel rims, suspension elements and Technic bars and frames, and two extensive sticker sheets. As expected, the front of the manual contains some interesting information about the LEGO model, the design process and the real-life racing car itself. There is also a brief look at the history of Peugeot’s 24 Hours of Le Mans victories, as well as some of the most iconic cars to have ever graced the legendary track. It makes for a real treat for petrolheads and a welcome introduction to those less familiar with Le Mans and Peugeot’s legacy.

Large Technic models often have very detailed and intricate mechanisms hidden beneath the bodywork, requiring a great level of concentration to construct. This model, however, eases you in a little more gently.

The first stage sees you constructing the V6 engine and inner mechanisms that will eventually drive the wheels, turn the wheels and operate the engine. This can sometimes be quite a laborious and intense process, but in this case the assembly comes together fairly quickly without too much of a head-scratching challenge.

Don’t be fooled, however, as the next section is far more challenging and requires a lot more concentration. The front steering assembly is a very involved section of the build that can sometimes be an exercise in both patience and dexterity. It’s also one of those sections where it’s not entirely clear what you’re building, or indeed if you’re assembling it correctly. The front and rear wheel axles are built on a slight angle, which might throw some people off as it intuitively doesn’t look quite right – but once it’s all connected together, it makes perfect sense, and especially when compared to the real life racing car’s design.

Compared to some other Technic supercar models, the internal build process is perhaps a little less challenging and complex than seasoned fans might be used to. Don’t let this put you off though, as the rest of the build is excellent, offering up surprising techniques and inventive ways to faithfully recreate the shaping of the modern racer. 

Technic pins are used to twist and turn Technic bars in all manner of different directions, with larger panels then slotting over to create the impression of  seamless bodywork across the model. There are the occasional gaps, as is to be expected, but in a few places it does look noticeably strange, especially above the folding doors. 

The attention to detail across the entire model is very impressive though, from the small details such as the Peugeot sign above the headrest of the driver’s seat, to the bigger details such as the wing doors or top air intake. Some are pulled off better than others – the air intake curves down around the back of the car very well, for example. The rear and front detailing is exceptional too, and the glow-in-the-dark bars look very accurate, whilst also adding a fun feature to the model. 

The rear section is a really enjoyable stage of the build process. The framework slots together in a very satisfying way, and elements such as the engine intakes and the small stickered section come together brilliantly. The rear fin, complete with Peugeot detailing, is another enjoyable sub-assembly to construct, again being angled in a very clever and creative way. 

As is the case with nearly every Technic set, the stickers really enhance the model, adding decals, details and other layers of interest throughout the whole build. There is an argument that some of these could have been printed on, especially on the smaller parts such as the 1×1 and 2×2 curved tiles. However, printing the larger Technic pieces would’ve added a lot to the set’s budget, while also restricting the usefulness of those elements outside this set. The stickers look great and are used in places in very creative ways. The front air intake that sits atop the canopy has a sticker that ties in wonderfully with the other brick-built elements.

All in all it’s not the most challenging of Technic sets of this size and style, but the final model offers up a very sleek, futuristic and authentic 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race car.

— LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar price —

In a world where prices of pretty much everything seem to be ever-increasing, 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar is at least consistent with other similarly-sized LEGO Technic supercar models. 

It’s still a sizeable chunk of change you’ll need to part with in order to purchase the model, but large Technic builds almost always feel like great value for money thanks to how involved, deep and challenging they can be – and this set is no exception. It’s perhaps a little simpler than some of the other models on the market, but it’s still an enjoyable process and feels like good value for money. 

The final model commands a decent size too, and coupled with the build experience makes for a fairly-priced (if still not cheap) set. 

— LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar pictures —

— LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar pros and cons —

42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar is a very good entry in the fleet of Technic supercars, offering an entertaining build for its price tag. The model looks great, faithfully recreating the sleek curves and intriguing angles of the real-life endurance racer and the final model looks great displayed on its own or next to myriad other Technic supercar models. 

On a less positive note, at times the build can feel a little simple compared to previous models, especially when focusing on the internal mechanisms. However, the creative techniques used to recreate the external shaping more than make up for that – while for some, the simplified internals will be seen as a positive, making for a much more accessible Technic model than we’ve seen before at this price range.

This is the first time the LEGO Group and Peugeot have teamed up, and if this model is what the two design teams came up with on their first try, then it’s certainly encouraging for more collaborations between them in the future. 

42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar pros42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar cons
An impressively large modelNoticeable gaps all over the model
Faithful recreations of key elementsSimple Technic mechanisms
Sleek colour scheme

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar —

The LEGO Technic garage boasts an impressive array of supercar models, like the iconic 42125 Ferrari 488 GTE AF Corse #51 or 42141 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car, both of which retail for the same price and are available now. If you are after an even more in-depth and challenging build, 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 is a great – albeit much more expensive – option. 

— LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar FAQs —

How long does it take to build LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar?

LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar contains 16 bags numbered one to five. Depending on your LEGO Technic experience this model will take anything from six to eight hours to construct.

How many pieces are in LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar?

LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar contains 1,775 pieces, which makes for an involved, challenging yet entertaining build. 

How big is LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar?

LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar is a fairly sizeable recreation of the stylish endurance racer. When assembled, it measures 50cm long, 23cm wide and 13cm tall.

How much does LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar cost?

LEGO Technic 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar will be available from May 1 from LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and various toy and model stores. It costs £169.99 in the UK, $199.99 in North America and €199.99 across Europe.

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