lambodiecast

I don’t know the reason behind it, but it took Norev a very long time to finally release their long awaited 1/18 scale model on the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 Super Veloce. It was introduced a long time ago, but only became available after the AutoArt version was on the market for some time … are the two related? I have no idea, but now it is finally available, so time to add it to the collection.

I had to wait a few weeks for it to become available in Europe, apparently Norev decided to release it in the United States first, add shipping and customs to the price and we are talking AutoArt money, that was a bit steep for me, so I waited it out and got it from a supplier in France in the end.

When it arrived I was very anxious to get it out of the box and take a close look at what the buzz was all about, people had been talking about this one for a few weeks, some like it and others dislike it … so time to make up my own mind on this one.

First impression : this is a very nice 1/18 scale model, the paint is nice, not perfect, but very nice, and the metallic flakes in the bright orange make it shine ever so nicely under direct light, but once the first impression is over you start noticing small issues here and there.

For one the entire engine cover, rear section and that massive rear wing are finished in … matte black ?! What are they thinking at Norev ? This is carbon fiber on the real car, so at least try to make something look like it instead of painting it matte black, sure it is matte carbon fiber and not glossy like on the AutoArt model, but still plain black paint is a bit of a disappointment here I must admit.

While at the rear of the model, take a look at those taillights … now these look very good, a lot better compared to the Norev made Murciélago LP640, so they did improve the molds on this new model just as they promised. However, still no open grilles, not even those massive ones at the rear … if you look closely at an AutoArt Murciélago you notice the fans behind these grilles in the back, and that makes the model look so much better.

Going onto the side we pass the glossy black wheels covering nice disc brakes and orange calipers … these look perfect on an orange car like this, I really don’t understand why AutoArt insists on using yellow calipers on most of their shades, let’s be honest, yellow calipers on an orange car ? But take a closer look at those disc brakes, am I the only one that thinks these are a bit small ? Sure they give the impression of being drilled, but I can’t shed the feeling they are too small, especially at the front.

On the other hand, the tire at the rear looks a bit big, the side walls are too high to be correct, the front look really nice, but the rears are a bit odd looking … however Norev didn’t make the same error as AutoArt with the side sills, here they are nicely color coded with the rest of the car, only the narrow upright sides are black … just like on the real car.

Norev decided to use the standard, small SV logo on the corner of the doors … the larger one used on several AutoArt shades was an option, when you take into account AutoArt will release the orange shade with the large SV logo on the side it is nice to know Norev puts the small one on … so we have a choice.

Up front things look correct on the Norev scale model, the luggage compartment doesn’t open here, but I don’t really mind this, my model did have a small paint chip on the black spoiler, but that’s easily fixed … I must note that the paint quality on this Norev isn’t at the same level as AutoArt, there are several dust particles in the paint, and the corners and gaps could use a bit more orange paint too … but remember the price paid for Norev and you accept this.

For me personally the interior of the Norev is a bit rough, it all looks like plastic and less detailed … I know I shouldn’t be comparing with the two AutoArt Super Veloce models I already own, but I think it’s only human, and here the Norev clearly shows it’s inferior price and the fact they probably don’t target the same market segment as AutoArt, which is fine by me actually.

Opening the engine cover pleasantly surprised me, the engine is nicely detailed, there is some copper paint on the exhaust manifolds, the Lamborghini scripting looks good, so no complaints here … this is nicely done by Norev. And what’s more … the side air intakes stay open ! Yes, finally a model with open air intakes … if you leave the engine cover open that is, if not there isn’t room for the intakes to open up … you can’t win them all now can you.

So is this 1/18 Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 Super Veloce model from Norev worth adding or should you get the orange shade from AutoArt ? It depends on your collecting profile … I am getting both, that’s for sure, but if you must make a choice it all comes down to details.

Can you live with the fact that AutoArt messed up the lower side air intakes and uses glossy carbon fiber on the engine cover, rear section and rear wing ? I know that AutoArt is correcting the side intakes now, so that’s solved, but don’t expect these re-released models to be available before early 2012 … so can you wait for them ? I couldn’t, so I have an orange AutoArt on order already.

So back to Norev, sure it also has some issues, but let’s talk money for once, the Norev sells for €45 (perhaps even less if you look for it) while AutoArt are going for €110, that’s more than double the price … so back to the initial question : is the AutoArt worth the premium or will this Norev do ? That’s a question only you can answer for yourself … I never doubted the fact of getting the Norev, just to have a complete collection, and after getting the matte black version from AutoArt I made my mind up … I’m getting all shades, it just looks so nice.

our RATING

Overall rating

8/10

Original price : € 45