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"  LAS VEGAS \u2014 Yes, you read that correctly: This Mercedes-Benz R500 cost a cool mil to build. And it&amp;#039;s such a flawless, over-the-top execution of a pure show car that we actually dig it. &amp;quot;If we had to do it again, that&amp;#039;s what it would cost to duplicate,&amp;quot; said Gary Bell, whose Alpine Electronics comes out each year and creates a show car that&amp;#039;s over the top\u2014way over. &amp;quot;We unbolted everything we could unbolt\u2014except the engine, transmission and roof.&amp;quot; The Alpine team widened the bodywork of the car by 6 in. and lengthened it by 9 in.. Thirty-inch TIS wheels are in the rear, while 26-inchers ride upfront. The proportions of this car are wilder than just about anything at the show this year. The R500 (originally a four door) now only has one power-operated big suicide door on each side. The tiny steering wheel is not only in the center of the car, it&amp;#039;s in the center console. The ride made its first appearance at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, but at SEMA, this thing has been drawing a constant crowd. The &amp;quot;Million Dollar Car&amp;quot; may be far from functional\u2014or practical\u2014but it sure is an inventive and well-crafted concept. \u2014Ben Stewart EARLIER: Lamborghini Unveils $1M Reventon "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a2242/4229513/>