Ferraris were fake, say noisy revheads

The three Ferraris that wowed the crowd by doing burnouts just inches from each other in the confined spaces of Acer Arena were apparently fakes.

Underneath their exotic red panel work, the "Ferraris" were believed to be infinitely less glamorous Toyotas.

The replica Ferraris are reportedly based on Toyota MR2 underpinnings. The now-discontinued Ferrari 360 Spider sold for about $400,000, while the MR2 cost less than $50,000 new.

Closer inspection of the slightly blurry image of the "Ferraris" in action shows they appear to be missing an air intake above the rear wheels. Other details, such as the windscreen surround, appear out of proportion with the genuine Ferrari 360.

The secret was uncovered by an observant showgoer backstage.

"When they came out on stage I thought something doesn't look right and something doesn't sound right," said the fan, who declined to be named. "Then when I saw them backstage they had their engine covers up and the engines were definitely not Ferrari engines."

The Ferrari 360 has a glass cover on the engine, so the top of the V8 is clearly visible, but the ones used in the show appeared to have covers hiding the engines.

The news of the fake Ferraris has even caught the local director of the show by surprise. James Cregeen told the Herald yesterday he had assumed the Ferraris were real. "I got pretty close to them and they certainly looked like the real thing. You've got me intrigued now. I'll have to get on to the UK."

Much of Top Gear's appeal has centred on its apparent disregard for the well-being of ridiculously expensive cars, but it seems the stage show was not willing to play Russian roulette with more than $1 million worth of exotic Italian machinery.

Several Herald bloggers who saw the show complained that the sound of the "Ferraris" had been drowned out by loud music and one suggested the cars may not have been genuine.

Mr Cregeen is waiting to hear from Top Gear in Britain.