In 1990, a new Lego Space faction appeared on shelves, with a new windscreen color (transparent neon green), a new fuselage color (red), and a new gimmick (magnets!)

M-Tron marks the start of Lego really starting to take an interest in the lore of their space factions, beyond just an aesthetic and a vibe. The M-Tron vehicles almost all have names in the same two-word “[noun] [verb]er” pattern – Pulsar Charger, Beacon Tracer, Vector Detector, Particle Ionizer. They also have a defined goal and M.O.. The goal varied between European markets (repair and rescue, hence the fire-engine red coloration) and America (mining), but the method was always the same: picking shit up with MAGNETS. Which is to say, actual strong metal magnets which interfaced with normal plastic Lego pieces via special connector bricks.

In addition to their magnet gimmick, M-Tron was notable for lacking any permanent base set. They were a fully nomadic faction, with more ground vehicles than average. The theme lasted only two years, until 1991, but was recently paid tribute in the 2024 Space Collectible Minifigures Series with a modern take on their red-and-white uniform.