LEGO have officially revealed the next Creator Expert set, the utterly adorable 10252 Volkswagen Beetle! This amazing reproduction of the iconic VW Beetle is LEGO’s latest inclusion into the range of Creator Expert cars, joining an illustrious club that boasts the Volkswagen T1 Camper Van, Mini Cooper and Ferrari F40 as members.
UPDATE: If you’d like to see what I thought of this set, please check out my review of 10252 Volkswagen Beetle – it’s seriously shaping up to be one of the best sets of 2016 and an instant classic!
Weighing in at 1167 pieces, the LEGO Volkswagen Beetle will cost LEGO fans US$ 99.99 | UK £69.99 | CA $129.99! That’s a pretty fantastic price for such an impressive looking model. Unfortunately, there is no Australian price yet, but my prediction is that it will cost AU$150.
Update: The Australian price has been confirmed as AU$150. Yay!
The release date for the LEGO VW Beetle is 1 August 2016 and it will be available for sale directly via LEGO.com or LEGO stores. LEGO VIP members will be able to get early access to this set from 14 July onwards.
Here’s the product links to LEGO.com if you want to buy the VW Beetle:
- 10252 Creator Expert Volkswagen Beetle (US) – US$99.99
- 10252 Creator Expert Volkswagen Beetle (AUS) – AU$149.99
The Volkswagen Beetle is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable cars in the world thanks to the bug’s distinctive features and shape.
The 1960s Beetle that this model is based on features a groovy Azure Blue colour scheme and faithfully re-created characteristics such as curved fenders, flat windshield, VW logo, and an authentic 4-cylinder air-cooled engine and fuel tank.
The insides of the LEGO VW Beetle features beige-colored, forward-tilting seats, dashboard and steering wheel.
To celebrate the laid back, surf and beach culture that’s synonymous with the Volkswagen Beetle, LEGO have also included a surfboard and an esky (slang for cooler in Australia) filled with ice and a couple of bottles of umm, water. Yes, water. I like to think that the surfboard proudly bears Australia’s national colours as a nod to how important surf culture is to us antipodeans.
Just like the Mini Cooper, the LEGO Volkswagen Beetle comes with an option of 4 license plate stickers to customise your Beetle. In addition to the Californian plates, we also get to choose from Queensland, Australia, WOB (Wolfsburg, headquarters of Volkswagen) and MAT. I’m not too sure what MAT stands for. The designer video suggests that it’s from the UK. If you know what it means, please let me know in the comments!
Edit: Ken has pointed out in the comments that the Queensland CAD plates are possibly an easter egg, referencing LEGO designer Mel CADdick who hails from Queensland!
Here’s a look at the bonnet and boot of the car, which hold the authentic 4-cylinder air-cooled engine and access to the spare tyre and fuel tank.
And here’s a comparison with a real Volkswagen Beetle. I daresay that LEGO have done a damn fine job replicating the bug’s overall shape and look.
The LEGO VW Beetle including surfboard and cooler measures over 11” (15cm) high, 10” (29cm) long and 4” (12cm) wide.
I’m pretty excited about the LEGO Volkswagen Beetle. The T1 Campervan is in my personal top 5 favourite LEGO sets of all time – the VW Beetle would go very well alongside it. I love the attractive azure-blue colour scheme and most of all, how well the designers have captured the curves and iconic shape of the Beetle.
The curves on the car and all the SNOT (Studs Not On Top) goodness gives it a very organic and natural feel to it. Check out how the previous Volkswagen Beetle (10187) looks and you can definitely see how far LEGO designs have in just 8 years!
I drive a Volkswagen in the real world, so I’m naturally a big fan of the brand and can’t wait to get my hands on the new LEGO Volkswagen Beetle! This set has all the makings of an instant classic and yet another impressive vehicle in LEGO’s rapidly expanding garage of Creator Expert cars.
Check out the designer video:
So what do you think of the new LEGO Volkswagen Beetle? Let me know in the comments and take the poll below!
Anselmi Nousiainen says
Those MAT 278B plates seem to be British indeed. Looks like it’s 1963 English license plate model.
Jay says
That’s what I thought. Thanks for confirming that!
Kim Jewitt says
Do you know the pieces required to make the surfboard? I’d love to make one and put it on the rack of my VW camper van!!!
Jay says
Hey, you can look up the pieces and instructions in the manual here: http://cache.lego.com/bigdownloads/buildinginstructions/6172765.pdf
Greg says
Will the VW Beetle be available in retail stores in Australia? And if so when? Thanks
Jay says
Yes it will eventually make it, but I’m not sure when. Fingers crossed we get them in time for Christmas
Greg says
Thanks
Todd says
I think the old one looked more like a beetle than the new one does but I will still add it to my collection anyway.
Its also annoying that its exclusively online and Lego shops. We have none of the latter in Sydney. I don’t get why they restrict their market like that. Don’t they like money. Its the only reason I haven’t bought the f40 yet and also why I haven’t bought the beetle yet. As I’ve not seen it in department stores and didn’t know it existed until now. Anyway that’s enough whining. Love my kombi and mini….and all my stars wars kits….
G says
presumably this can be configured in either LHD or RHD?
Jay says
Probably, although the new curved part above the wheels is exclusive to this set in this colour for now. Fingers crossed they release more variations of it in the near future!
Lorenzo Liverani says
I like It but not for the colour. I think they wasted a good chance to make it like Herby (The movie). It would have been more funny And different then the older version. (My opinion)
Jay says
I can definitely see people modding it to look like Herbie once it comes out!
Julian says
It’s a winner in my eyes.
The only question for me is whether this will end up in my garage before the Porsche 911 GT3 RS?…. In Lego form, that is! 🙂
Jay says
I hope your garage has space for….both? 🙂
Michael says
Love it! Will have to save my pennies!
Jay says
Lucky that it’s pretty affordable!
Duncan says
So beautiful I wish I had the budget for it.
Jay says
Put it on your Xmas wishlist!
anthony says
The designers kicked a goal with this one.
Jay says
100%
Louis says
If you look at the video at 4:02, it seems the MAT is part of the MAT 278B, so a 2-line format license plate. The rear of the car seems to also accommodate for a 2-line license plate. The man says it’s a UK format, googling seems to indicate pre-1976 cars can have that format of license plate (3 letters, 3 digits, and a letter), because today’s UK plate format is different.
Jay says
Dan pointed out above that the B signifies that it’s from 1964, which is the exact era this Beetle is based off. Pretty cool!
Matt says
Being a huge VW and Lego fan I will 100% be buying this set. Will look amazing alongside the epic Campervan set. The price is extremely good value and compared to the larger Beetle from a while ago this looks a lot better. Being from the UK I adore the numberplate as my name is Matt 🙂 I’m fairly certain the plate has the initials of the designer as his name is Mike.
Jay says
Nice one! You can just tell everyone that it’s a customised plate specially for your name. This is exceptional value and would look awesome next to the T1!
Dan says
If it is from the UK, MAT – AT would be the regional identifier (this one is the registration office in hull) M and the numbers would be the vehicles id, next one would be MAT 279, up to MAT 999 and then NAT 001
The last letter is the year, that was introduced in 1963 so B = 1964
Jay says
Oh, interesting! It’s a 1960s Beetle, so the year definitely seems right!
Mark says
Awesome! It will look great next to the T1 Campervan. It would look really schmick if all the LBG parts were chromed.
Jay says
Any day now till LEGO design a Creator Expert Cadillac with chrome spinners and working hydraulics!
Steppedonabrick says
I’m loving how much effort LEGO are putting into the Creator Expert line for all us AFOLs and this is no exception. Nice colour and I reckon the build looks great. I’ve been waiting for news of this but thought it was just rumours. Thanks for the post!
Jay says
Definitely! The colour is my favourite thing about the Beetle. Not to mention the upcoming Big Ben and rumoured Christmas train for the end of the year.
The great thing is that the price for these Creator Expert sites haven’t been outrageous, which is a huge win for us all!
Monty says
An awesome addition to the creator car set, honestly the least exciting for me so far is the Ferrari, it just seems to lack the same quirky character as the combi, the mini and now the beetle. However, although not generally a completionist, I am sure I will eventually purchase the Ferrari – whereas I cannot wait for the beetle 🙂 Qld plates of course…. (even though it is not my state it is the closest of the four !)
Jay says
I guess it depends if you’re into supercars or not. The Combi, Mini and now Beetle are fairly entrenched in pop culture and have a lot more mainstream appeal than the F40.
Well they’ve had ACT plates for the Mini Cooper and now QLD for the Beetle. Eagerly awaiting some VIC plates!
Ken says
Gotta love the Qld plates. CAD-156 – Go Melody Caddick! Nice one. Not sure about MAT? Another designer?
Jay says
Brilliant observation! Editing the post to include that 🙂
Icepcacklady says
Damn! I wonder when it will be released in the U.S. That looks really great!
Jay says
1 August 2016 with early access for VIPs on 14 July!
Tas says
Not impressive… not as good as Mini Cooper or Camper Van
jal11180 says
I would like for you to build a better one yourself if you think that you can do so anyway.
Jay says
I love the colour scheme. Sick curves too.