LEGO Renault 5 Turbo 3E Model Reaches Review Stage Far Faster Than Anyone Expected

Just a few weeks ago, a fan-created LEGO version of the upcoming Renault 5 Turbo 3E looked like a fun project with a long road ahead. Today, it's already achieved what many LEGO Ideas submissions spend years trying to accomplish.

The scale model, designed by British engineer Dave Collins, has officially reached the 10,000-supporter milestone on the LEGO Ideas platform. That achievement moves the project into LEGO's formal review process, where company officials will decide whether it deserves a spot on store shelves.

What's particularly remarkable is how quickly it happened.

When the project first appeared online, it was given 32 months to gather the necessary support. Most successful LEGO Ideas concepts require months or even years to reach the 10,000-vote threshold. In this case, the Renault-backed build accomplished the feat in just 44 days.

Renault announced the milestone this week, celebrating the rapid success of the miniature version of its highly anticipated Renault 5 Turbo 3E. The automaker had actively promoted the project from the beginning, encouraging enthusiasts to support it through social media and other channels.

That support clearly paid off.

The model itself was created over a three-month period and serves as a tribute to the electric Renault 5 Turbo 3E, one of the most ambitious performance cars the French manufacturer has ever developed. Production of the real vehicle will be limited to just 1,980 units, a reference to 1980, the year the original Renault 5 Turbo made its debut.

Collins' LEGO creation consists of approximately 1,200 pieces assembled into a 1:12-scale replica. The model mirrors the full-size car's bright yellow finish and includes custom-designed decals created in AutoCAD before being printed on adhesive sheets.

While the build doesn't appear to feature major moving parts or advanced functionality, the level of detail has impressed both LEGO fans and automotive enthusiasts alike.

Renault isn't slowing down the promotion effort, either. To generate even more excitement, the company plans to display both the LEGO model and the actual Renault 5 Turbo 3E at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place this July.

As for the real car, it carries some eye-opening numbers.

The Renault 5 Turbo 3E is expected to become the most expensive production vehicle Renault has ever sold, with pricing starting at roughly $188,000. Power comes from electric motors generating 550 horsepower, enough to launch the compact performance machine from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.

Top speed is expected to approach 170 mph, placing it firmly in supercar territory despite its relatively small dimensions.

For now, LEGO fans will have to wait for the review panel's decision. However, considering how quickly the project reached 10,000 supporters, its chances look stronger than many observers initially expected. If approved, this could become one of the most unusual and sought-aftr automotive LEGO sets in recent memory.

And judging by the speed of its rise, Renault's tiny electric hot hatch may already have a second career ahead of it—one built brick by brick.