TINY interlocking bits of plastic block previously used as children’s toys to become miniature houses are now hotly anticipated kits of unprecedented detail that have officially become tools by car-makers to introduce new models.

In October, Land Rover launched its long-awaited new-generation Defender. In the same week, Lego released the same vehicle in a kit of intricate clip-together blocks. Both were instant hits.

Lego also launched a new Porsche 911 RSR and Turbo and has announced plans for a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette.

In a world where electronic technology was becoming the choice of children and hobbyists, now what was old is now new again as Lego takes on a new market and an eager audience.

The rebirth of the 87-year-old Danish brand Lego has been, in part, aided by a focus on vehicles and particularly the creation of the Lego Speed Champions series of racing cars.

The latest is the Nissan GT-R Nismo, a 193-gram replica of the sports coupe made from 298 plastic parts and available from January.

The Lego Nismo represents the first partnership between Lego and a Japanese car-maker and, to show the importance of the kit, was unveiled at Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama by Lego Group CEO Niels B Christiansen and Nissan’s executive vice-president Asako Hoshino.

Mr Christiansen said in a statement: “In addition to offering a wonderful and fun building and play experience, we hope the model will also inspire children to learn more about engineering and how to create things in real life.

“Just as engineers across decades have improved the design and performance of this car, children build, unbuild and rebuild during play – stimulating and developing crucial skills, such as creativity, resilience, problem-solving and critical thinking.

“Inspiring them to become the builders of tomorrow is our mission,” he said.

Mr Hoshino said: “The Nissan GT-R and the Lego brand are both renowned and loved by fans of all ages throughout the world, and we are honoured to be the first-ever Japanese car manufacturer to partner with the Lego Group.

“Many of our Nissan customers can trace their automotive passion back to when they built Lego cars as children. With this partnership, everyone can be a ‘takumi’ – the specialised craftsmen that build the GT-R.

“And it’s the GT-R’s 50th anniversary this year, so what better way to celebrate than to share the GT-R with Nissan and Lego fans around the world!”

The model was even given approval by Hiroshi Tamura, Nissan’s chief product specialist for the GT-R and known informally as “Mr GT-R”.

“The GT-R has been part of my life since I was 10 years old. Working with the Lego Group was like awakening my inner 10-year-old self to rediscover what makes the GT-R so special to me. It’s amazing how much the Lego Group’s attention to detail reminds me of our own craftsmen,” Mr Tamura said.

The Lego Speed Champions Nissan GT-R Nismo will be available globally in the New Year. It is one of the first in the 2020 Speed Champions themed sets, which will be 25 per cent bigger than in previous years.

Lego’s partnership with Land Rover created a 2020 Defender on a much smaller scale.

The Lego Technic Land Rover Defender has four-wheel independent suspension, a working winch, four-wheel drive complete with three differentials, a low-range gearbox, four-speed sequential gearbox and an inline six-cylinder engine with moving pistons.

The 2573-piece Lego Defender also comes with production-correct accessories like a rear-mounted spare tyre (which rotates to open the back door), roof rack and exterior storage compartment.

Lego also released a model of the 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo as the latest addition to its Speed Champions kits.

Far simpler than the Defender kit, the Porsche has 180 pieces. Lego also makes a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and McLaren 720S in its small-scale Speed Champions range.

The bigger and more challenging Technic range, which are 1500-plus pieces, include the 1967 Ford Mustang and Corvette ZR1.

By Neil Dowling