Ford Explorer made of Legos headed to Florida to be a part of Legoland Driving School attraction
A unique Ford Explorer rolled off the assembly line today in Chicago. It featured the model’s trademark eye-catching craftsmanship with one notable distinction – it was created from more than 380,000 Lego bricks and marks the beginning of a long-term alliance between Ford and Legoland Florida.
The bright red Legoland Florida edition Explorer, created by 22 designers, weighs 2,654 pounds and is supported by a 768-pound interior aluminum base. After its debut at the Chicago plant which produces the Explorer, the vehicle will be loaded onto a trailer with transparent sides so motorists can see the Lego Explorer as it makes its way to the new 150-acre Leogland Florida theme park just outside Orlando. There it will be featured in front of one of the park’s attractions, the Ford Driving School for children.
“Ford is excited to support the alliance between Legoland Florida and the Southeast Ford dealers. The Legoland Florida Explorer and the Ford Driving School attraction are great opportunities to showcase our products and safety messages to families and visitors in a unique way,” said Tracy Magee, Ford experiential marketing manager.
Legoland Florida opens Oct. 15 and will cater to kids ages 2 to 12 with more than 50 family rides, shows and attractions and a historical botanical garden.
“We’re less than a month from opening and the anticipation level is incredibly high,” said Legoland Florida General Manager Adrian Jones. “This is the only park of its kind in the world built exclusively for kids ages 2 to 12, and it will be a total departure from anything families with young children have seen before. It’s a completely immersive experience, engaging kids’ imaginations and their sense of adventure through interactive play.”
The driving school is divided by age. There’s a Ford Junior Driving School for children ages 3 to 5 years old and a Ford Driving School for those ages 6 to 12. The children watch a video with driving instructions and safety tips – starting with the basics like safety belts and the difference between the accelerator and the brake – and move on to stoplights and stop signs. Children then have the opportunity to drive in their own electric vehicles on curbed roads with maximum speed limits of 3 mph.
While the children are behind the wheel, park employees, known as “model citizens”, are nearby to ensure the experience stays positive. After the drive is complete, the children are issued their own Ford Driving School license.
The school was the brainchild of Florida-area Ford dealers that worked with Legoland Florida management, and is designed to introduce the fun and responsibility of driving skills to children.
