Toyota MR2 Turned into Ferrari F430 Replica Showcased at Meeting Alongside the Real Thing

This isn't the first time we've seen a Toyota MR2 dressed up as something else, in this case a Ferrari F430 Spider, but the story here is that the owner of the replica took it to a classic / sports car meeting of some sorts in The Netherlands parking it close to the real Italian deal. Talk about having faith in your creation... See all the pictures after the break.

Via: Autoblog.nl , Autojunk.nl

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MPH Show Website Polls Brits on their Ultimate Driving Partner and Cars

We've already reported on the upcoming Top Gear Live show at the MPH: The Prestige & Performance Motor Show at Earl's Court this November. Now the organizers' website has polled some 2,500 men and women on their preferences for dream cars and dream passengers. Details after the jump.

If you are into girls, your choices are U.S. singer Katy Perry, U.K. singer Cheryl Cole, U.K. TV host and model Holly Willoughby, former Friends cast member Jennifer Aniston or Hollywood star Halle Berry.

These lovely ladies will be riding shotgun in either a Lamborghini Gallardo, Spyker C8 Aileron, Bugatti Veyron, McLaren MP4 12C or Pagani [Zonda] Cinque

If, on the other hand, you are into guys you can choose from Twilight star Robert Pattison, action man Jason Statham, the needs-no-introduction Brad Pitt, ex-footballer David Beckham or Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.

These fine gentlemen will be your co-pilot of choice in a Ferrari 458, Aston Martin One-77, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alfa 8C Competizione or Bugatti Veyron.

Oddly enough, I had to Google two of the girls, yet knew who all the men were. Speaking of which, I have to ask: Katy Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Pattison and David Beckham? Really?

I think I'd rather cruise around with Mayor of London Boris Johnson or Octomom Nadya Suleman then any of them. And that's saying something. At least the polled seem to have better taste in cars than company.

By Tristan Hankins

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Ferrari's Already Sold Out SA Aperta Roadster Stops by Paris Show

The 'greener' California HELE wasn't the only new car on display at Ferrari's Paris Show stand. The 670-horsepower SA Aperta, which we reported on last week, also made its debut. All 80 examples of the limited edition, open-top 599s have been spoken for well before the car made its way to Paris.

Co-designed with Ferrari Centro Stile to celebrate 80 years of Italian design firm Pininfarina, the car was built partly as homage to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, the son and grandson respectively of company founder Battista Farina (latter Battista Pininfarina).

Like the Bugatti Veyron roadster, the SA Aperta features an emergency soft top [read: umbrella] and the same structural rigidity of the hardtop without adding any additional weight

Pricing is irrelevant as you can't buy one, at least not new. There is, however, an online configurator, which doesn't make any sense but anyways...

By Tristan Hankins

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Paris Show: Ferrari California HELE gets Stop- Start Tech, Emits 23% Less CO2

Visitors to the 2010 Paris Motor Show may have noticed a rather innocuous looking, black-topped Ferrari California on display at the automaker's stand. This is the Ferrari California HELE, which stands for High Emotion Low Emissions. Think of it as a Ferrari for the environmentally conscious.

Featuring a host of technological jiggery including intelligent fan and fuel pump control, adaptive gear shift and "electronically controlled variable displacement"...air conditioning, the California HELE is said to reduce CO₂ emissions by 23% over its non-HELE sibling.

That's 270 g / km down from 299 g /km. The California HELE also features a stop / start system that can restart the car's engine in an impressive sounding 230 milliseconds.

Ferrari is also introducing some new two-tone finishes - no doubt for the 599 GTO wannabes - and water-resistant leather for its California range. There's no word on pricing or launch dates, or in what markets the California HELE will be sold. No doubt buyers will pay a premium over the non-HELE base model.

By Tristan Hankins

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