Ferrari F430 2006 News

We see numerous replica supercars come and go, including some that could fool even an expert’s eye, but rarely do you hear of the cars’ builders being busted by the cops, despite the obvious copyright infringements and other breaches of the law that typically go hand in hand with replica supercars.  That wasn’t the case for the unscrupulous builders of these replica Ferraris, who were arrested and had the contents of their workshop in Valencia, Spain seized by the local authorities. A total of 19 cars, most of them Ferrari F430 replicas, though some Aston Martin models were also present, were seized by police. Eight men were arrested and charged. The cars were sold over the Internet and were priced from 40,000 euros (approximately $59,300), according to the police. There’s been no mention of what donor vehicles were used for the replicas but a Toyota engine was visible suggesting one of the vehicles may have been an MR2. The mid-engine Toyota is a popular choice among replica supercar builders. The replicas themselves were made from fibreglass and featured highly detailed engine bays, the police said. We can see that Ferrari wheels and even Ferrari-labeled brake callipers were also copied. www.motorauthority.com  

But here I am behind the wheel of not one, but two Ferraris, a Lotus, a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin and a Porsche.

The fight to be first to own the fastest road going Ferrari has created a $50 million backlog in Australia.

The Royal Adelaide Showground at Wayville has been teeming with people wanting to get a glimpse of their dream cars and those researching the vehicles they have a genuine chance to own.Motor show director Ian Digby says the crowds are up by about 10 per cent on 2005 figures and could continue towards a record level – testament to the interest in the auto industry of the South Australian public. "If we were to sustain the increase over five days, we would get a record," he says. "Over 65 per cent of our crowd comes in on the weekend and, even with the weather, the response has been good – and the weather forecast is improving."The crowds have been given plenty of treats, among the most significant for the SA automotive industry being the birth of a new, small-scale, local car maker.SC Cars, of Mt Barker, had to work night and day in the fortnight leading up to the Adelaide Motor Show in order to get its first prototype MGB-bodied, V8-powered sports car on the stand.But SC boss Graham Crowley says the hard work has definitely proved worthwhile."The interest has been very strong. We've got around a dozen quality leads and one who's pretty close to buying one," he says."They love the British styling and the Japanese running gear. It's all been positive – we couldn't have asked for a better start."Mr Crowley hopes about 12 of the specialised MGBs will be built in the small car factory at Mt Barker each year and he has a vision that, one day, a single make race series will be held using the cars.Priced from about $65,000, the car has the body of a 1970 MGB MkII, with a four-litre, 32-valve DOHC Toyota/Lexus V8 engine as its heart.It produces a massive – considering its weight of just 881kg – 260kW of power and can do a 0-400m drag in 10.5 seconds, while having an estimated top speed of 250km/h. Mr Crowley says the SC will rival Ferrari's 430 and motor show goers have at least been able to make that judgment based on appearance alone and not performance, with a F430 on show at Wayville.Ferraris, Lamborghinis and the aristocratic Bentley Azure were always going to be the "drool-producers" of the show – the cars which prompt longing stares and conversations which start with "When I win the lottery".The new Bentley Azure is one of the most expensive cars – at a starting price of $649,000 – but Bentley sales have improved in recent years.Bentley PR manager for South-East Asia and Australasia James Barclay says the Azure is the company's new pinnacle product."We're developing the products we want, including the new Azure – which is a pinnacle product – to give us a complete range," he says.Mr Barclay says the Bentley brand had benefited greatly from investment by the VW Group and it was showing in the results: "Globally we did 1017 cars in 2003, in 2004 we went to around 6500 cars with the GT and some Arnage, last year we went to around 8500 cars, it's positive times for us."The car is entirely hand-built – each one takes more than 600 man hours to build, including the 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8, which bears the name of the engine technician who assembled it.But it has been some Australian-made products that have been capturing the most attention, namely the FJ-inspired Holden hot rod, the Efijy, and the backyard-built super sports car, the Redback Spyder. Holden stand manager Ray Purrington says: "It's been great, like it's been since we launched the Efijy in Sydney. There must have been thousands of pics taken of this car by now. It's a car that people respond to."The Efijy is expected to carry the Australian flag in Motor City, Detroit, later this year when it takes part in the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise, America's largest annual celebration of hot rods and custom cars.A Redback Spyder is already in the U.S. where its maker, Nick Tomkinson, is hopeful the concept will get the support needed to produce the car in small numbers for the public to buy at a cool $250,000."It's been overwhelmingly positive. Adelaide has embraced the car. The crowd really knows their stuff. We've got one guy really interested in buying one. It's all good," he says.

At $1.3 million the V12 Pagani Zonda roadster, pictured, one of the most expensive cars to be revealed in Queensland, will roar to life among close to 20 environmentally friendly diesel and hybrid (petrol/electric) examples.Queensland's annual motoring extravaganza has drawn a record number of cars making their Australian or Queensland debuts which reflects the buoyant state of the local new car market.More than 216,000 (22 per cent of the national market) new vehicles were purchased in Queensland last year, with the Sunshine State leading the way in growth.What has also helped build the imposing list of Motor Show exhibits is the scheduling of the show a month later than normal because it swapped dates with Melbourne which avoided clashing with the Commonwealth Games."Visitors this year will see more than 50 cars that either are just released or still to be released, while there are quite a few more they may never see on the roads, such as the Holden Efijy concept or ultra-rare exotics like the Pagani Zonda," Chris Beecham, chairman of the motor show organising committee said."By putting on their best displays the companies are acknowledging the growing influence of Queensland car buyers."From the industry's viewpoint, the show provides a strong kick-start to the sales year."Also competing for exotic bragging rights will be Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti and F430, the $650,000 Bentley Azure convertible, Maserati GranSport Spyder, the Lamborghini Gallardo Roadster and Murcielago, Jaguar XK convertible and Australia's 300km/h Redback Spyder which is featured on the cover of the motor show program in The Courier-Mail today.The Porsche range returns after several years which features the all-new Cayman S coupe which sits between the Boxster and the 911.The traditional display of motorcycles will have a spectacular star, with predictions the "Croc Chopper", being custom-built on a special show stand, could fetch up to $120,000 when it is auctioned on the final night for the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation charity.Fuel-efficient, environment-friendly cars will appear in record numbers.Lexus debuts Australia's first luxury sedan with petrol-electric hybrid power, the 450H, and Honda with an all-new Civic hybrid.The latest examples of clean, powerful and economical turbocharged diesel engines will be displayed by traditionally sporty brands BMW, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar.Citroen, Peugeot, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Holden will show "oil-burners".An added attraction will be the staging of the official V8 Supercars championship launch featuring all cars, drivers and transporters at South Bank from 10am-2pm on Saturday.Both Little Stanley St and Glenelg St, just outside the motor show, will be closed for the free event.While the V8 launch only runs on one day the motor show continues until Saturday week.

With only six Superamericas coming to Australia, there won't be too many sightings on the street of the exclusive 320 km/h convertible.Just as impressive as its top speed and its 0-100 km/h time of just 4.2 seconds, the glass roof can open in just 10 seconds - even on the move.The Revocromico roof can change its light transmission properties to let through anything from one per cent to 99 per cent of the sun.Powered by a 5.7 litre 375 kW V12 engine from the 575M Maranello, the Pininfarina-designed Superamerica is produced in a limited series and is available with either an F1-style or manual gearbox.Also on the Ferrari stand at the Melbourne International Motor Show will be the mid-engined F430 and F430 Spider.The F430 is the benchmark mid-engined sports car, and the F430 Spider combines all of its style and performance with a carefully strengthened body and an automatic electric top.Joining them will be the F612 Scaglietti, a proper four seater with a generous boot that embodies the true spirit of a grand tourer and is powered by the same mighty V12 as the Superamerica.Melbourne International Motor Show runs from Thursday 9 February to Sunday 19 February at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).