LEGO® Porsche 911 RSR 42096 – The Ultimate Technic™ Racing Icon
Experience the thrill of motorsport engineering with the LEGO® Porsche 911 RSR 42096, a stunning LEGO Technic™ Porsche model designed for true racing enthusiasts. Inspired by the legendary endurance race car, this meticulously crafted LEGO Porsche captures the essence of high-performance racing with its aerodynamic bodywork, aggressive rear wing, and realistic cockpit details.
Built for precision and authenticity, the LEGO Porsche 911 RSR features a detailed six-cylinder boxer engine with moving pistons, independent suspension, and a functional differential for ultimate realism. The race-inspired livery and black-spoke rims add to its dynamic appeal, making this LEGO Technic Porsche a must-have for collectors and builders alike.
Whether you're a LEGO Porsche fan or a motorsport enthusiast, the LEGO® Technic™ Porsche 911 RSR 42096 delivers an immersive building experience that celebrates the art of engineering and design. Display it proudly or put it to the test—this LEGO Porsche 911 RSR is built to impress!
The real Porsche 911 RSR is a 500bhp race car built for top-level motorsports, with a price tag of around $1.1 million—making it significantly more expensive than the road-going GT3. Now, LEGO has captured the essence of this high-performance machine with the LEGO® Technic™ Porsche 911 RSR 42096, bringing its iconic design and racing spirit into an immersive building experience.
Box
The Lego Porsche set consists of 1,580 parts, all packaged in unnumbered bags. Before starting the build, you'll need to empty them all out, and to avoid excessive rummaging, it's a good idea to do some sorting first—just as I did. Organizing panels into one pile, beams into another, and so on will make the assembly process much smoother.
Inside the Lego Porsche set, you'll find 13 bags, a sealed bag containing the instructions and stickers, and four rubber tires. One key phrase is noticeably absent from that description: “numbered bags.” That’s not an oversight—this 1,580-piece Lego Porsche set comes without numbered bags. It’s rare to see a newly designed Lego Technic Porsche set of this scale without that now-standard convenience. If you're tackling this build, be prepared to sort through all the pieces first to streamline the process.
The Lego Porsche set includes plenty of stickers, spread across two large sticker sheets. While most of them serve a clear purpose—though I personally prefer printed elements—some feel unnecessary. One example is a pure white sticker applied to a white piece on the roof. Its only apparent function is to smooth out the texture of the panel and ensure it matches the other three roof panels. For a Lego Technic Porsche, it would have been great to see more printed elements instead of relying so heavily on stickers.
The instruction manual dives straight into the build with no special features, though there is a spread at the end of the booklet matching the Technic model against the real car.
When it comes to parts, the Lego Porsche set doesn’t introduce any entirely new elements, but it does feature several existing pieces in new colors. One of the most notable is the red towball pins—only the third color for this piece in 24 years. Since they aren’t used in visible locations, it’s likely that this new color was introduced for another set and just happens to debut here. Additionally, the curved gear rack appears in black, making this Lego Technic Porsche only the second set to include it in this color and just the fourth set overall to feature the part in any shade.
The only printed elements in this Lego Porsche set are the curved wheel arch panels, which were first introduced in the orange Lego Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Each of the four white panels features unique printing to accurately replicate the car’s striping. While stickers are widely used throughout the set, these printed elements help maintain a seamless and polished look for this Lego Technic Porsche model.
Building
The build process for the Lego Porsche kicks off with the rear differential and double-wishbone suspension. This serves as a preview of what’s to come—well-designed and solid, but without groundbreaking innovation. While the Lego Technic Porsche maintains a high level of engineering and accuracy, experienced builders may find the techniques familiar rather than revolutionary.
The base frame and front suspension, which also features a double-wishbone design, come next in the Lego Porsche build. This stage reinforces the set’s solid engineering, maintaining the structural integrity seen in previous Lego Technic Porsche models. While the build remains engaging, it follows a familiar approach, prioritizing accuracy and stability over groundbreaking new techniques.
The engine in the Lego Porsche is a flat-six, constructed in traditional Lego Technic style with moving pistons. This design, while impressive, hasn’t seen much innovation over the last 30 years. It remains a classic feature of Lego Technic Porsche models, showcasing the brand's commitment to detail but sticking to a familiar technique that has stood the test of time in automotive-themed builds.
Next, the frame of the Lego Porsche is extended at both the front and back to support the bumpers. Following that, the steering and seat are installed. The steering mechanism uses a simple rack-and-pinion system, but there is a noticeable amount of slop—about 45° of movement on the steering wheel before the wheels actually begin to turn. While the Lego Technic Porsche design keeps things functional, the steering mechanism isn’t as precise as some might expect, especially given the level of detail in other areas of the build.
At this stage, even though the Lego Porsche doesn’t look very complete, the remaining build mainly involves adding the body panels. Most of the larger panels, except for the wheel arches, are covered with stickers. While the bodywork starts to take shape, it’s clear that the final visual appeal comes from the meticulous application of stickers to complete the car’s sleek look. This process is a key part of bringing the Lego Technic Porsche to life, though some might have preferred printed elements for a more polished finish.
For the Lego Porsche model, this translates to a sparse interior with a focus on a stunning paint job, but it leaves a bit to be desired in the technical department. While the exterior looks fantastic and showcases the visual appeal of the Lego Technic Porsche, the interior lacks the same level of detail and complexity that might be expected from a set of this scale. It’s a great-looking model overall, but technically, there’s room for more innovation and sophistication.
The rear diffuser on the Lego Porsche is an intricate design that looks stunning in all black, resembling the tail fins of a spaceship. The top of the splitter is adorned with a silver sticker, adding a sleek touch, while the top of the wing features PORSCHE branding, further enhancing the authenticity of the build. This attention to detail gives the Lego Technic Porsche a bold, high-performance look, capturing the essence of the real car.
The roof of the Lego Porsche features two small antennas, one of which is made using a rapier element—an excellent and creative use of that piece. Unlike the Lego Chiron and 911 GT3 RS, the roof in this model isn’t a structural element of the car, meaning it doesn't contribute to the overall stability. As a result, there's no way to lift the vehicle by grabbing the roof. The only way to lift the Lego Technic Porsche is by picking it up from underneath, which requires two hands for proper support.
The interior of the Lego Porsche is minimal, reflecting the "minimize weight at all costs" design philosophy of a racecar. In the real car, even the seat is permanently fixed, with no means of adjustment, and instead, the pedals move to accommodate different drivers. Similarly, the Lego Technic Porsche takes a no-frills approach to the interior, with the seat being a rigid structure made from studless beams, offering no adjustments. It’s a true representation of the real car's utilitarian design, focusing on function over comfort.
Overall, the Lego Porsche is a solid facsimile of the real car, capturing many of its key features and design elements. However, the steering wheel could benefit from a better design, and it would be more accurate if it were mounted a bit higher. While the model does a great job of representing the essence of the car, these small adjustments would improve both its functionality and its overall authenticity.
The working features on this Lego Porsche model are quite limited, focusing primarily on steering, suspension, moving pistons, and the ability to open the engine cover and doors. However, the front hood does not open. One of the more underwhelming elements is the bar down the center of the windshield, which is actually the single wiper blade that rests in the vertical position. Its simple design feels somewhat lackluster, and it’s not immediately clear that it's meant to be a wiper, making it one of the less impressive features of the build.
Conclusion
The Lego Porsche 911 RSR exterior is almost on par with premium models like the Chiron and 911 GT3 RS, with attention to detail that makes it visually impressive. However, the interior is noticeably simpler and lacks many of the features seen in those sets, though its price reflects this difference—coming in at half the cost of the other models. The working features, such as the steering, suspension, and moving pistons, all function well, and while the design doesn’t introduce anything groundbreaking, it’s reliable, aside from a bit of steering slop.
Certain aspects of the design, however, fall short of expectations, like the windshield wiper and the driver’s compartment. The passenger compartment is particularly disappointing, and it stands out as a clear weak point in the overall design. Additionally, the lack of numbered bags is simply not acceptable for a set of this size, especially in 2018. There’s also a small error in the instructions (page 174, for those curious), which contributes to the feeling that the set was rushed.
Despite these flaws, if you’re okay with spreading your LEGO pieces out and spending several hours searching for the right parts, you’ll be rewarded with a great-looking model of one of Porsche’s most iconic racecars. The Lego Technic Porsche 911 RSR may have its shortcomings, but it still delivers a visually impressive and satisfying build for enthusiasts.
