The perfect size for play, LEGO Technic 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar delivers just as much in the build as it does when finished.
42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar is one of two colour options for the upcoming LEGO Technic set, also available as 42184 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut White Hypercar for the same price of £46.99 in the UK, $49.99 in the US, and €52.99 in Europe for 834 pieces. Shipping from August 1, the LEGO Technic set offers plenty of technicality at a compact size and affordable price point – but how well does it achieve those goals? Let's dive in with our detailed review of 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar.
Release: August 1, 2024 Price: £46.99 / $49.99 / €52.99 Pieces: 801 Minifigures: 0 LEGO:
Lofty ambitions fall short in terms of display
While the size of 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar gears it well towards play, the shorter length and lower piece count leaves some areas feel wanting in terms of display. The doors, while achieving the signature upward opening, don't quite feel stable when closed and leave uneven gaps with the base of the car. In terms of silhouette, the real Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is aerodynamic and sleek, with defined wheel arches to add definition throughout the body of the car.
Much of that is lost in the brick-built version, with just one element used to recreate the front arches and an inaccurately rounded bonnet that tucks in just a tad too far before the (imagined) windscreen. The back half is a closer iteration and 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar looks far from bad when complete. The colour also lets it down, with the dark grey 'paint job' leaving it looking quite drab in the version we had for review, with the orange accents doing little to brighten it up. The white is a more eye-catching option to be sure, but that doesn't help with the shape and structure issues that remain in the other colourway.
It's only when doing a direct comparison with the real car that you might notice where it falls down, but it certainly achieves what it's trying to do.
Every inch is geared towards play
So what is that purpose? The budget-friendly price point of £46.99 / $49.99 / €52.99 and the smaller size, complete with the detachable knob on the roof for on-the-move steering, all make it clear that this LEGO Technic model is designed to be used. Interactive features like the dihedral synchro-helix door system and authentic moving V8 engine carry through actual features from the car to the compact model to great effect.
Small and light enough to pick up in one hand, even for young builders, the robust LEGO Technic building techniques are sound enough to put 42173 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut Grey Hypercar through its paces. Even for people with plenty of brick-built cars in their collection, the unique doors add enough to help it stand out from the crowd, as well as offering full access to the interior from both sides.
Even the boot opens fully, meaning none of the LEGO Technic mechanisms you've spent time building are hidden from view for good. For engine fans, this is the advantage of these smaller builds; where larger LEGO Technic cars stack inner mechanics together and end up with at least some of them blocked from view in order to bulk out the car, everything is visible when you open the bonnet, boot, or side doors, allowing you to track how the steering, V8 pistons, and so on function in practice.
A solid intro to LEGO Technic
The size and price make this an accessible entry to LEGO Technic, starting with a technical build that's not too tricky for newcomers to grasp and resulting in a fun (if slightly bland-looking) final product. At just 28cm long, it's ready to race on shelves and tabletops, while still remaining robust enough to zip around the house.
The mechanics and features will appeal to any car fan but, while well-suited to the Koenigsegg, don't necessarily bring much more to the table than other LEGO Technic cars at this scale. With LEGO Technic pushing boundaries in other areas, with intricate space-themed models ranging from rovers to mechanical orbiting planets this year, it might leave some long-term LEGO Technic car fans feeling like they're retreading familiar ground.
For newcomers to the theme, however, it's a strong choice and one that will probably help you to answer whether you want more LEGO Technic down the line. It crosses off every checkbox on the foundations of a LEGO Technic set, even if it doesn't exceed expectations, and won't break the bank if this is a new area for you.
This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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Our honest opinion: While not the most accurate display model, the Jesko makes for an affordable and welcoming entry to LEGO Technic as a theme.
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