I found this article so I had to post it:-
The three $200,000 Ferraris that performed hair-raising stunts in the Top Gear Live New Zealand shows may have been fakes.
The 35,000 petrolheads who attended 10 shows this month in Auckland may in fact have been watching a trio of Toyota MR2s (worth about $60,000 apiece) rather than Ferrari 360 Spyders.
The MR2 is closely modelled on the Ferrari, and an owner can complete the job by installing a new bodykit.
Suspicions about the vehicles’ authenticity were raised during Australian shows, when crowd members said they had compelling evidence that the 360 Spyders were not geniune.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that blurry images showed the possible replicas were missing an air intake above the rear wheels.
Crowd members also told the newspaper the engines were visibly not Ferrari and the wheelbases were too short.
Adrienne Mora, of the Ferrari Owners Club of New Zealand, was at last Sunday’s show, but says she sat too far back in the crowd to notice if the Ferraris were fakes.
But like Australian audience members, she said it was impossible to hear the characteristic Ferrari engine roar, as the music was turned up so loud.
“If they are fakes, it’s a good way of covering up the engine noise.”
Gary Wood, past president of the Ferrari club, thinks fans might feel shortchanged.
“It is cheeky of them, isn’t it? I’m sure if Ferrari were made aware they would be somewhat concerned.”
Kiwi racing legend Greg Murphy co-presented all 10 New Zealand shows and says he didn’t recognise the Ferraris were fake, but wasn’t close enough to make a valid call.
Top Gear Live PR representatives were unavailable for comment.
