Ferrari 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  

A fleet of 11 supercars, which included two Bugatti Veyrons, have sold at auction for just 3.1 million euros (approximately $4.4 million) in France. The cars originally belonged to Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, but were seized by French authorities during a 2011 investigation over the alleged theft of public funds in the African nation.The cars were seized at the President’s 101-room mansion near the Champs Elysees in Paris and included the aforementioned Bugattis -- which are priced at the equivalent of $1.5 million in overseas markets -- as well as a rare Ferrari Enzo ($1.7m overseas), a Maserati MC12 ($1.5m overseas), a Porsche GT2 RS ($560,000 here), a Ferrari 599 GTO ($569,000 overseas), a Rolls-Royce Phantom ($1.1m), a Maybach ($1.1m), an Aston Martin Vanquish ($472,000) and a pair of Bentleys, including an Azure ($750,000 here).According to International Business Times, the cars were sold by auction house Drouot and most had little or no mileage on them. Considering that a Bugatti Veyron alone, even used, will set you back more than a million dollars, the winning bidders have made quite the deal. Other items seized from the President’s Paris residence included vintage wines, jewellery, and paintings by renowned artists such as Degas and Renoir.Court documents reveal that the 11 cars were among a larger fleet of 26 exotics that were shipped to France from the US in 2009 at a total cost of $12 million. Many have since been transported on to Equatorial Guinea -- despite most of the roads there being little more than dirt tracks.The documents also reveal that an arrest warrant has been issued for Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue for the charge of misuse of public funds. The government of Equatorial Guinea is allegedly trying to appeal the case and have the investigation blocked on the grounds of diplomatic immunity, since it claims the Paris mansion where the cars were seized was part of the country's embassy.www.motorauthority.com

Six years after it was named Telstra South Australian Business of the Year, Australian Clutch Services is delivering motor components to a range of export markets. Chief executive Brenton Jordan said the Wingfield-based business had seen significant growth in exports, particularly to Europe. “We have set up a distribution site in Poland with our own warehouse and we can cover (delivery to) most of Europe overnight,” he said. “In European areas we specialise in a lot of 4WD and off-road products. France is our strongest export market currently.” ACS also had distribution centres in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth to meet domestic demand. Established in 1988 by Mr Jordan, ACS supplies re-manufactured and new clutch components and systems.  The business employs 32 staff and operates from a purpose-built facility at Wingfield. “The next market we want to move into is the American market,” Mr Jordan said. “We are going to develop product for high-end vehicles such as Corvette, Lamborghini and Ferrari. “(The US) is very competitive and that's why we’re only looking at a niche segment of the market.” Earlier this year, ACS won three awards at the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association's trade show: Best website, Best Stand and Best New Aftermarket Product (Performance). Mr Jordan said ACS was a good local success story amid much “doom and gloom” in the Australian automotive industry.  

It may have been depicted reversing out a second-story window during the movie, but a surviving and fully-functioning Ferrari replica made famous by the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will be auctioned in August.One of two functional examples created for the cult film, the Spyder will go under the hammer of Mecum Auctions at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California.This Ferris faux Ferrari was not used for the defenestrating destruction towards the end of the film, but was used for the airborne “I'm a professional” carpark valet scene, which apparently took nine takes to get right. Both working movie cars were used for this shot, and both apparently ended up with broken front suspension.Officially known as a Modena Spyder California, the replicas were built for the film by California firm Modena Design and Development.  This particular example was bought back by one of its creators -- Neil Glassmoyer-- in 1988, and has owned it ever since.Mirroring the styling of Scaglietti’s original Spyder California prototype, the fibreglass-bodied replica is built over a tubular steel chassis, with a 427 cubic inch (7.0 litre) Ford V8 mow residing under the bonnet.A 260 cubic inch (4.3 litre) Ford V8 was originally used, but the 373kW engine was fitted to the 1200kg roadster as part of a ten-year restoration that was completed in 2010. Incidentally, genuine Ferrari 250 GT Spyders came with a 206kW 3.0 litre V12 engine.   The exterior of the Modena Spyder California remains as per Ferris’ day off, with red paint and tan leather offset by authentic touches like Borrani chrome wire wheels, Smiths instruments, and a Nardi steering wheel. The whereabouts of the second working replica is unclear, but the (rebuilt) ‘out the window’ car is reputed to be on display at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Cancun, Mexico. The value of the example up for auction remains uncertain, but is unlikely to approach the US$10.9 million paid for an ex-James Coburn genuine example by British radio personality Chris Evans in 2008. 

If you’re looking for a car with some significant history and one very famous owner, then Swedish supercar dealer Garage Zénith might be worth a visit.The officially recognised Ferrari and Maserati dealer has a handful of rare Enzo supercars up for sale, but two of the cars, featured in the gallery left, were previously owned by none other than seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher.Both cars were specially built for the racing legend during his time with Ferrari and come with a number of personal touches including his initials dotted around their interiors.The regular Enzo also has a number of famous signatures under its hood, including that of Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo. Interestingly, it has 8,500 kilometers on its odometer, suggesting Schumacher did manage to drive the car somewhat during the time he owned it.The same can’t be said for the FXX, whose odometer reading is just 900 kilometers, though this makes sense considering the car can only be used at the track and Schumacher has access to much faster track toys.This particular FXX is the only black example of the Enzo-based experimental supercars, of which only 30 were ever built, and it famously appeared on Top Gear back in 2009 with Schumacher taking it for a power lap at Dunsfold Aerodrome.Both of these cars were gifts to Schumacher for his achievements at Ferrari, so it’s odd that they’re now up for sale. If you’d like to own one you’ll have to front up some serious cash; the Enzo will set you back approximately $1.47 million while the FXX will cost you close to $2.67 million.www.motorauthority.com 

We're big fans of hauling the mail on track, but we have learned to rein in our wilder tendencies on the street. That's why games like Need for Speed Rivals are such a good outlet for our excess hooliganism.From the scenes in this official trailer for the upcoming E3 electronics and video game conference, the game appears to offer a level of realism and detail--in looks, if not in consequences--that will help suspend your disbelief as you work out your road-going frustrations. As a bonus, there's the added fun of sticking it to the cops or the crooks, if that's your thing.To be available on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Playstation 4, the new game lets the driver play as either the street racer or the cop, living out both sides of the furiously fast scene.As the trailer demonstrates, however, the next generation of car games are going to be truly gorgeous, even video-realistic at times. Let's just hope the gameplay lives up to the look.One of the most striking cars in the game will be the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, as part of a new partnership with the Italian supercar maker. Expect more enticing Ferrari models to come.Underlying the whole game is a network allowing players to transition from single-player to multi-player games at any time, appearing and disappearing at will. Need for Speed Rivals goes on sale November 19, 2013.www.motorauthority.com

The hardcore version of Ferrari’s 458 Italia supercar, the spiritual successor to 2007’s 430 Scuderia, is reportedly being prepped to be unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show this September. The biannual event has been favoured by Ferrari of late for debuts concerning its entry-level mid-engine model, with 2007’s Frankfurt Auto Show playing host to the debut of the 430 Scuderia followed by the debut of the 458 Italia at 2009’s event and the 458 Spider at the most recent 2011 show. Thus, it’s easy to see why Car and Driver is reporting that the new hardcore 458, which some are suggesting will be called the 458 Challenge Stradale or perhaps even a 458 Monte Carlo, will be shown in Frankfurt in just a few months.   Like its predecessors, the hardcore 458 will be lighter than its donor 458 Italia. The previous 430 Scuderia weighed 100kg less than the regular 430, meaning the hardcore 458 could end up weighing about 1300kg. The car is also expected to borrow a number of elements from the 458 Challenge racer, and utilise knowledge learned during development of the new LaFerrari flagship supercar. Look for new gear ratios and a more tightly calibrated tune for the 458 Italia’s seven-speed dual clutch transmission. There should also be stiffer suspension, uprated brakes, stickier rubber and the aforementioned lighter kerb weight. Peak output from the 458’s 4.5-litre V8, meanwhile, is reported to see an increase to around 450kW, up from the current 425kW rating. This is said to be courtesy of forged internals, the redline moved up 300 revs to 9,300 rpm, and the exhaust system made less restrictive. Finally, new aerodynamic features are said to be planned, including the use of active winglets on the rear diffuser. Oh yes, one of the best supercars on the market is about to get a whole lot better. www.motorauthority.com

Luxury car buyers in Australia are paying too much, according to a British exotic brand that has just slashed a massive $100,000 from its local pricetags.