Mar 7 2008

Road & Track tests the Mach 5

Mach 5

The Mach 5 was on display at the Detroit auto show.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Somehow, a reporter for Road & Track got to test the Mach 5, the car from the upcoming Speed Racer movie. We got to see the Mach 5 at the Detroit auto show, although the one we saw looked like a nonfunctional mock-up. Some of the features and specs covered in the Road & Track article seem fictional, such as the "crampons" that are supposed to wrap around the tires for better traction. But the article includes pictures of things such as the saw blades that pop out from the front, so we're not really sure what to believe. The car in the article is supposed to be powered by an 8-liter quad turbocharged V-12 putting out 1,700 horsepower. According to the spec sheet handed out at the Detroit auto show, the fictional car only has 1,000 horsepower. The article also points out that Yokohama designed special tires for the Mach 5, and the car's builder says that most of the film's budget was spent on the car. But when we see stats such as 0.6 seconds to 60 mph, we have to assume that the entire article is fictional.

 

Recent posts from Crave:

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 7 comments (Page 1 of 1)
Come on who is kidding who??
by MartyC March 7, 2008 12:39 PM PST
The author of the article says: "I was driven to a giant state-of-the-art indoor testing facility, complete with a 1-mile drag strip and an oval identical to the Daytona International Speedway's." Yeah right. So you aren't sure if the article is real or fictional? Can you say SPOOF?
Reply to this comment
Not fiction!
by Mr. Bloggerific Himself March 7, 2008 12:44 PM PST
How DARE any of you suggest the Mach 5 isn't real, just ask Pops Racer, he knows! He built the Mach 5 and therefore it is quite real. I should know, I've seen it action! You can ask Pop Racer about that too, he spoke to me just before Speed began the race. The race was held in Africa and one of the drivers, Racer X, who is Speed's long-lost brother (unbeknownst to Speed) was there! I should know, I was there and saw the whole thing! Right along with Trixie and Spritle and Chim Chim! Oh! My belly hurts from all that candy! Just ask Pops! So, yes, as you can see, there is no questioning that the Mach 5 is real.
Reply to this comment
How About thwe April Edition
by Aulderon March 7, 2008 12:51 PM PST
This wouldn't have been the April edition as in April Fools type article.
Reply to this comment
April Fool!
by randomnoise March 7, 2008 12:59 PM PST
Road & Track has a long history of April Fool articles. They road tested a train once, and the Queen Mary another time. Gotcha!
Reply to this comment
From the article
by Finagle March 7, 2008 1:53 PM PST
"This last part, and much of everything else, is a re-creation of what may happen in a Speed Racer episode and the upcoming movie. As for driving a real Mach 5, I'll just have to keep pretending" Sort of puts the article in perspective as just another daydream.
Reply to this comment
I read it as soon as it went up and...
by double_clutch March 7, 2008 4:20 PM PST
...took it seriously. I half believed it until the end, until I got disappointed in having taken it seriously. It's still doesn't hurt to imagine what a drive would be like.
Reply to this comment
I read it as soon as it went up and...
by double_clutch March 7, 2008 4:20 PM PST
...took it seriously. I half believed it until the end, until I got disappointed in having taken it seriously. It's still doesn't hurt to imagine what a drive would be like.
Reply to this comment
Powered by Jive Software