LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron review

The future is electric, but does LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron have what it takes to race into pole position? Let’s head off-road and find out…

Specifically designed and built to navigate the harsh desert conditions of the Dakar Rally, the Audi RS Q e-tron is a next-generation electric off-road competition car in a class all of its own. Powered by three motors with a combined output of 500 KW, the vehicle not only took part in the 2022 event but also managed to achieve four stage wins on its debut. The Audi RS Q e-tron would go on to win the 2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the first such electric vehicle to do so in a rally raid.

Building on the real-world success of the car is 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron, a large-scale LEGO Technic model that packs plenty into its black and red chassis. The 10+ set incorporates many features and functions of its namesake, adding CONTROL+ compatibility, realistic suspension and a striking new wheel element to the 914-piece build.

— LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron set details —

Theme: LEGO Technic Set name: 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron Release: August 1, 2023

Price: £149.99 / $179.99 / €169.99 Pieces: 914

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron —

LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron will be available from LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and third-party retailers from August 1, 2023.

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— LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron build —

Before you start constructing 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron, you’re going to want to set aside at least five to six hours in order to fully complete the set. The LEGO Technic model also requires plenty of concentration, as there are many steps in the building process that will have you scratching your head trying to figure out what goes where and why your version doesn’t look anything like the pictures in the manual.

Unfortunately we didn’t have access to the digital version of the instructions usually accessible via the LEGO Builder app for this review, but it would certainly have helped at some specific stages. That’s not to say that 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron is an overly complex build, although some LEGO Technic fans may need a little help now and again to keep them on track. In fact, we struggled with one pesky grey pin on the car’s wheelbase which still remains stubbornly half-stuck into the car, despite repeated attempts to correct its position.

Measuring 15cm in height, 37cm in length and 19cm deep, 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron is certainly an impressive scaled version of the real-life rally car. The build includes three large LEGO Technic electric motors and a Bluetooth-controlled hub, with the latter allowing for connection to a smart device and the free CONTROL+ app. The set requires six AA batteries to be placed into the battery compartment of the hub to power the vehicle, although for some reason the manual confusingly states that it should in fact be 12.

Construction of 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron is a fairly time-consuming experience, with a fair few hours spent just on building up the vehicle’s sturdy wheelbase and intricate interior mechanisms. The ball and socket joints used to assemble the car’s front wheels proved to be particularly frustrating, as the grey axle elements kept becoming detached, requiring some backtracking and the removal of numerous other parts in order to achieve a correct fit.

Likewise, the cables emerging from the electric motors frequently kept getting in the way while attempting to build certain sections. They’re ultimately woven in between other elements later on in the build and secured in place, but earlier stages of 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron’s construction can make you feel like you’re making slow progress.

However, minor niggles aside, there’s plenty to get excited about and appreciate in this LEGO Technic set. As previously mentioned, 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron comes with a new wheel element in the shape of 6451561, a thick and solid red piece that was especially created for the model to reflect the full-size Audi’s wheel design. These slot satisfyingly into the four large chunky tyres and allow for all sorts of cool remote-controlled stunts, jumps and manoeuvring over even the roughest of terrains.

Thanks to the sturdy build of 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron, the model should also survive most unforeseen collisions relatively unscathed, with a lack of fragile sections begging to be broken off. Considering the target audience for the LEGO Technic set, it certainly makes sense that the car can withstand a knock or two, even if it ultimately does get damaged during backyard-based rally recreations. There are no pesky opening doors, bonnet or boot to get bashed either, with everything fastened down securely for maximum stability.

For a LEGO Technic set of this size and complexity, it should probably come as no surprise to discover that the model comes with two sheets of stickers to be applied. In fact there are no printed pieces whatsoever in 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron, which is a shame as some builders will undoubtedly just want to display the completed rally car and even a simple information plaque would have been appreciated. At the same time, leaving those panels unprinted does mean the pieces are more versatile for custom builds, so it’s a trade-off some may be glad to accept.

Besides, it’s in a real-world environment where 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron really shines, with a combination of independent four-wheel suspension, rugged tyres and a sturdy design. The CONTROL+ app allows for responsive steering, acceleration and braking of the LEGO Technic model, letting builders put the electric rally car through its paces in style. In no time at all you’ll be pushing yourself to beat your own lap records, explore what Rally Mode has to offer and obsess over how good your race stats really are.

— LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron price —

42160 Audi RS Q e-tron certainly feels competitively priced at £149.99 / $179.99 / €169.99 for 914 pieces. Considering the model comes with three electric motors, a Bluetooth hub and CONTROL+ functionality all in one solid licensed LEGO Technic set, the cost of the build does seem very reasonable indeed.

You will of course need to factor in the additional cost of batteries to power the black and red beast, so it’s probably worth splashing out on plenty of rechargeables to keep budding rally drivers happy when they’re planning lengthy off-road sessions.

— LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron pictures —

— LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron pros and cons —

Although sometimes tricky to construct, 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron is ultimately a worthy purchase and one that’s bound to reward with hours of real-world racing. The LEGO Technic set is a solid and sturdy model, which combines form and functionality into one impressive black and red build.

The over-reliance on stickers is a disappointment and assembling some sections of the car can sometimes prove a little frustrating, but that’s probably not news to seasoned LEGO Technic builders.

Once completed, the thrill of tearing 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron around a track or letting the vehicle loose on a suitable off-road surface far outweighs any minor negative criticisms, with the scaled LEGO Technic car proving to be every bit as agile and speedy as its rally-winning namesake.

42160 Audi RS Q e-tron pros	42160 Audi RS Q e-tron cons
New wheel element	Some frustrating building steps
Solid and sturdy construction	Too many stickers to be applied
Fast and responsive when using the CONTROL+ app

This set was provided by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron —

It may not be a motorised LEGO Technic build, but the recently-released 42156 Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar comes in at a similar price point with nearly twice the piece count.

Also worth a look at as possible remote-controlled alternatives to 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron are 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle, 42129 4×4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck and the pricey 42131 App-Controlled Cat D11 Bulldozer.

— LEGO Technic 42160 Audi RS Q e-tron FAQs —