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Speed Racer's Mach 5 goes to Detroit

The retro racecar used in the upcoming <i>Speed Racer</i> movie will be on display beginning next week at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.

Laura Burstein
Laura Burstein is a freelance automotive and technology journalist. She covers car news and events for a variety of companies including CNET, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz. Laura is a member of the Motor Press Guild and the BMW Car Club of America, and spends much of her spare time at high-performance driving schools, car control clinics, and motorsports events. She's also an avid Formula 1 fan. When she's not at the track, Laura's rubbing elbows with car cognoscenti at auto shows, auctions, design events, and various social gatherings. Disclosure.
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Laura Burstein

Ladies and gentlemen, start your salivating. Those of us silly enough to go to Detroit in the middle of January to look at cars will be able to gawk at the super-cool Mach 5 from the Wachowski brothers' remake of the classic 1960's 'toon. The car is slated to be on display at Cobo Hall in Detroit during the 2008 North American Auto Show, beginning Jan. 13 for press and Jan. 19 for the public.

Although, like most Hollywood prop cars (and more than a few Hollywood people), it will probably be just an empty shell.

The real-life version of the Mach 5 was first revealed back in June, around the time production plans for the movie were announced. Sadly, previous reports say the driving scenes were filmed with the Mach 5 on a crane, and most of the effects were computer-generated. Still, it's fun to imagine tearing down the road in that sweet little road rocket. If I were Trixie, I'd insist on driving.