Review: 76921 Audi S1 e-tron quattro
Posted by CapnRex101,
I think Speed Champions continues to improve as new parts and increasingly creative building techniques arrive. Despite this gradual change, 76987 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 remains one of my favourite sets from the theme, four years after its release.
I am therefore approaching 76921 Audi S1 e-tron quattro with lofty expectations. This vehicle was greatly influenced by the famous Audi Sport quattro rally car of the 1980s, modernising many of its best qualities, so I hope the Speed Champions equivalent can achieve the same.
Summary
76921 Audi S1 e-tron quattro, 274 pieces.
£20.99 / $26.99 / €26.99 | 7.7p/9.9c/9.9c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
76921 Audi S1 e-tron quattro recreates incredible detail from the original car
- Accurate shape
- Countless realistic details
- Distinctive colour scheme among Speed Champions sets
- Clever blend of printed parts and stickers
- Large number of stickers
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
Interestingly, the Audi S1 e-tron quattro was designed for use in a Gymkhana video, driven by the late Ken Block. I wondered whether the minifigure may therefore represent the rally driver, but it seems not. Nevertheless, the black racing helmet and grey overalls match the car, even though these colours are rather drab.
I like the Audi branding around the neck and on the back of the torso, similar to the driver from 75872 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, a set released before Speed Champions transitioned to bigger models. The stripes and knee pads on the legs look good too, but I do wish the minifigure was more vibrant, or perhaps wore an Audi-branded helmet.
As always, a hair element is also included and I think the driver's generic smiling expression works well. He also comes equipped with a wrench for removing the wheel inserts, like many Speed Champions sets.
Reference
Source - audi-mediacenter.com
The Completed Model
Similar to the real car, the designer has managed to blend modern features with those taken from 76987 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1, most obviously including the massive front and rear spoilers. Admittedly, the subtle curves of the actual e-tron quattro are not recreated in LEGO form, but the general shape of this model is very successful.
Furthermore, its livery and forward rake are both accurate, although I think an argument could be made that the car should be raised slightly. Speed Champions cars once struggled with too much ground clearance, but in this case, the opposite is true. Nevertheless, I love the vehicle's powerful appearance and its length of nearly 17cm seems appropriate beside other sets.
The distinctive front spoiler is included, comprising layers of red plates, black plates and then red tiles on top. Ideally, the black plates in between would be omitted, but realistically, there is no alternative for a model of this size, so this solution was probably the best. Three stickers are applied across the spoiler, but most of the decorations towards the front are printed, including the bonnet, headlights and stripes behind the spoiler.
2x2 round tiles form the wheel caps and these are printed too, corresponding exactly with the source material. The light bluish grey sections above the wheels seem slightly odd though, as these should match the metallic designs on the doors and roof of the car. However, as with the front spoiler, there was no real alternative.
Despite the use of many printed pieces, also including the windscreen, 33 stickers are applied across the entire car. I did not expect to find so many, having overlooked some smaller ones in official images. Even so, I do not think the designer has relied excessively on stickers, as all the bodywork shaping is achieved without assistance from stickers.
Additionally, all the expected details are present, such as the door mirrors, single windscreen wiper and angled vents behind the doors. The interior looks reasonable too, despite a notable lack of colour. There is space for two minifigures and the necessary controls, while slopes form recognisable bucket seats, wrapping around the driver.
I like the 3L bar representing an oversized lever used to slide the car, as well as the stickered screen in the middle. Even the screen is accurate to the actual car, displaying the speed, gear and drivetrain mode. I am less convinced by the tan pieces, which form cushioning. They again originate from the original car, but look out of place here, in my opinion.
Several more stickers are applied behind the cabin, recreating the metallic stripes on the real car. Although these are broken across multiple stickers and the printed windscreen, I think the overall effect looks good. The stripes on the spoiler are attractive too, but I am more impressed with its accurate shape, putting the new 2x2 curved wedge slopes to outstanding use.
Balanced with the front, a secondary spoiler is also found at the back and depicted by a dark bluish grey snowboard, attached upside down! The same technique was used in 76907 Lotus Evija and it works equally well here. Moreover, the printed details across the back of the model look superb and the brick-built rear diffuser is cleverly assembled around a new 2x6 bracket.
Overall
76921 Audi S1 e-tron quattro really caught my attention when the new Speed Champions sets were revealed, thanks to my appreciation for rally cars and the model's stunning livery. Having now built the set, however, I think its greatest strengths are the realistic shaping and the clever construction methods needed to create these shapes.
The smaller details are also remarkable, including the lower rear spoiler, the slide lever inside and the many printed pieces. The high quantity of stickers is unfortunate, of course, but plenty are printed, exceeding my expectations in that regard. Maybe this goes some way to explaining the price of £20.99, $26.99 or €26.99, which has risen slightly, relative to last year's range.
130 likes
42 comments on this article
That is a really well done car
This set should come with a trigger warning regarding stickers:
'WARNING: May cause frustration, stress, despair, existential dread, and slightly askew stickers. If you have OCD, do not buy this set unless you're buying it for parts.'
Certainly appreciate colors printed on the windscreen and not brands!
Beautiful model, undeniably well done. Plenty of printing too. For models at this scale, with all the details of a highly stylized rally car, you can’t expect Lego to produce dozens of custom printed parts for a single set. Economically infeasible, a disaster for inventory management, and terrible long-term for reusability of the parts in other builds. I think they did as well as they could have here.
YES!!!!!
I WILL BE THERE. I NOW LOVE RALLY THANKS TO THIS CAR OH MY GOD
As new parts emerge, these vehicles are going to rival TAMIYA, INC. for their realistic level of detail. Been torn for several releases as to the scale next to my beloved minifig. Perhaps they should dress them like the toddler they appear to be next to their ride.
Another excellent looking Speed Champion.
I consider the large number of stickers a positive. If they'd all been prints for what are mostly stickers/wraps in real life then that would have been a negative for inaccuracy!
Stickers representing body contours are negatives. Not stickers representing stickers.
Including the puny wiper is the only real (and minor) gripe on this one. Simply omitting it would have resulted in a flawless rendition. What a fantastic model. I don't collect Speed Champions, my son has one or two, but the way the designers use parts in a novel way on seemingly each release is really really impressive.
Sold
Shaping looks great. Might get on a discount, I just can't imagine it'll look that great if you leave off most of the stickers. Ah well, I know it's a bit of the cost restriction plus the outrageous paint jobs on these cars.
@slvrlksrfr said:
"As new parts emerge, these vehicles are going to rival TAMIYA, INC. for their realistic level of detail. Been torn for several releases as to the scale next to my beloved minifig. Perhaps they should dress them like the toddler they appear to be next to their ride."
LEGO is knocking it out of the park lately. I've tried to dip my toes into modeling, but I keep going back to LEGO.
Recently tried to assemble an AMT (Round 2) CAT D8H dozer. Previously, under the original AMT and ERTL, the kit had been CAT-licensed. The AMT version was generic, and the toolings had aged poorly (having been introduced in the late '60s). I gave it up when I found the pieces that made up the belly pan and frame were so severely warped, they were nearly impossible to put together (I'm going to try a mix of Scotch painter's tape and clamps the next time). With LEGO, this problem is nearly non-existent.
Just hoping that the 30683-1 Speed Champion polybag is available somewhere locally or, better still, as a GWP. Otherwise it's double price from Amazon again :-(
They should have included a Ken Block minifig on his honor like they've done with Paul Walker, specially when the car was designed for him to drive in the last Gymkhana and that's why this car is known for.
I can't understand LEGO's decision for not including him.
Funny that it has 'tron' in the name, 'cause it looks like it came off the "Game Grid".:D
This looks as good if not better then the McLaren. Lego has really cranked up the details on Speed Champions Sets.
As to the stickers, these really should be expected in Speed Champions sets at this point. If Lego want's to keep a <$30 price point, printing everything just isn't cost effective, especially with modern racing vehicles.
While I'm not a fan of stickers, I just can't begrudge Lego for them in this range. I'd rather have the accuracy at the cost of some stickering time.
Is this the first Speed Champions car to include a windshield wiper?
This is a very nice set, although I won't be getting it.
Fire up the quattro!
(Had to say it, Life on Mars comes into my head whenever I quattros).
@TheOtherMike said:
"Is this the first Speed Champions car to include a windshield wiper?"
You are correct. Nice catch!
@sjr60 said:
"Just hoping that the 30683-1 Speed Champion polybag is available somewhere locally or, better still, as a GWP. Otherwise it's double price from Amazon again :-("
Depends where you are in the UK, but I got my Solus GT from the Legoland Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre!! They seem to always get new Polybags in now & again!! Hope this helps!!
The box art for this set is wonderful. The contrast of the snow with the car's red.
As a casual SC collector, the prices are what's really going to get me. I haven't bought a Speed Champions set since 2022, back when they were $20. They were never a pre-meditated purchase, it was just a "hey I've got a $20 on me" impulse buy... now it's an awkward price I can't justify on a whim (hah, I say that like I could justify the $20 ones too!)
I am really liking the nice selection of space parts available in this set. Looks like there’s a new wedge tile there on the rear quarter panel. I definitely like that.
EDIT: oh and in red on the front splitter. Nice!
Wow, this looks SO spot-on to the actual vehicle. I kinda took a break from SC last year as I didn't *love* many of the sets (nor the increased price), but I may have to get this along with the McLaren F1 car.
It's not a bad looking Lego car, even though it looks much blockier than the source material. I suppose I just have to assume that digital rendering is accurate to the real car, which I have never seen either with my own eyes or on film/TV etc., BUT it is a total sticker nightmare!
Also, as with the James Bond Aston Martin Speed Champion car, as well as other SC exotic race cars (such as the Pagani Utopia), it is a shame TLG did not choose (dark) pearl silver metallic ABS bricks, instead of just grey.
"It's not a bad looking Lego car" is an understatement!
I really like the design, that aspect looks superb, and it seems an interesting set to build, but I stand by what I wrote before regarding the stickers and bland grey colour.
@chesney107 said:
" @sjr60 said:
"Just hoping that the 30683-1 Speed Champion polybag is available somewhere locally or, better still, as a GWP. Otherwise it's double price from Amazon again :-("
Depends where you are in the UK, but I got my Solus GT from the Legoland Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre!! They seem to always get new Polybags in now & again!! Hope this helps!! "
Thanks. The only place that stocks the occasional polybags local to me is Tesco. Shame that they were all GWPs before last year's!
@Sarria said:
"They should have included a Ken Block minifig on his honor like they've done with Paul Walker, specially when the car was designed for him to drive in the last Gymkhana and that's why this car is known for.
I can't understand LEGO's decision for not including him."
That bothered me too. Especially with a name like “Block”…
@dimc said:
"Shaping looks great. Might get on a discount, I just can't imagine it'll look that great if you leave off most of the stickers. Ah well, I know it's a bit of the cost restriction plus the outrageous paint jobs on these cars. "
I feel the same as you. I wonder what it would look like without all the stickers. I prefer cars without ads.
33 Sticker are fine. BMW Hypercar & GT3 got 71 sticker.
RIP Ken.
Dad fractured vertebrae using a skimobile, and always warned us about them. 'You never know what's under the snow.'
BTW, the same is true of 3-wheelers on dirt (no longer exist because too damn dangerous) and quads = quads. Just sayin'.
@StyleCounselor said:
"RIP Ken.
Dad fractured vertebrae using a skimobile, and always warned us about them. 'You never know what's under the snow.'
BTW, the same is true of 3-wheelers on dirt (no longer exist because too damn dangerous) and quads = quads. Just sayin'.
"
That's so sad! Also, true, but we also live in an era where people eat detergent to be 'famous', and many things that shouldn't be eaten now have to have a warning: 'DO NOT EAT.'...
As far as cars go, your mileage may vary.
@Sarria said:
"They should have included a Ken Block minifig on his honor like they've done with Paul Walker, specially when the car was designed for him to drive in the last Gymkhana and that's why this car is known for.
I can't understand LEGO's decision for not including him."
Most likely Lego did not want to pay a licensing fee to use his name and likeness.
@dvdln said:
" @Sarria said:
"They should have included a Ken Block minifig .... I can't understand LEGO's decision for not including him."
That bothered me too. Especially with a name like “Block”…"
That might not have been Lego's decision, although I would have liked to see him with this car as well. Did you notice they also don't call it the Hoonitron? It is also not the Las Vegas Hoonitron livery but the non-Hoonigan livery used on the original Audi press reveal and the video where Ken reveals it.
Licensing negotiations are probably complex enough by themselves; adding driver-specific sponsors (like Monster, Toyo Tires etc) certainly does not make it easier, especially when the person in question has sadly deceased.
@Sarria said:
"They should have included a Ken Block minifig on his honor like they've done with Paul Walker, specially when the car was designed for him to drive in the last Gymkhana and that's why this car is known for.
I can't understand LEGO's decision for not including him."
All other model kits lack the Hoonigan branding, so its probably not LEGO's fault.
@regent8585 said:
"33 Sticker are fine. BMW Hypercar & GT3 got 71 sticker. "
yeah, but that set has 2 cars, so roughly 35 stickers per car
I'm in doubt. I like this Audi car, except for the enormous rear spoiler and the price
Speed Champion model prices are now at EUR 26, where earlier ones where below or at EUR 20 which is reasonable for a 274 part set with a lot of stickers
Maybe wait for an attractive offer, I like to collecte these models
Want it because it reminds me of 8120
That is one gorgeous set! And man, that driver seems extra happy to be driving this Audi! :D
It has probably been said a hundred times in the comments, but the biggest issue with this set for me was the ridiculous amount of stickers! More annoyingly, this set includes several pre-printed parts, so why not more? One particular angled slope required THREE stickers, and there's two of them - this was extremely fiddly and took me nearly 10 minutes to do, and disrupted the pace of the build itself. Why were more parts not printed!? If you ever needed a set as an argument for more parts to be printed, then this would be a prime example! I would say I enjoyed the build, or would have if not for having to apply so many damn stickers!
@Pink_Ice said:
"Want it because it reminds me of 8120"
Which, while not having nearly as many stickers, did have them on 1x1 pieces. So glad Lego has stopped doing that, except for the anomaly that is 76188.