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VIDEO: C&D Pits Lexus LFA Against Ferrari 599 HGTE

In 1971, one of the greatest one-on-one boxing matches took place in New York's Madison Square Garden: the bout between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. So big was this event, advertisers dubbed it, 'The Fight of the Century'. Now, two different contenders take to the ring (uh...tarmac). The reigning champion: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE. The challenger: the Lexus LFA. Video after the jump.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has announced that it will be opening to the public for a short Inaugural Period, beginning at 7pm on October 27th, 2010. This period, which will no doubt be used to sort out any kinks, will continue up to the park's official, Grand Opening in November.

Unlike most parks, which sell tickets based on age, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi's tickets will be sold according to height. Guests under 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) will pay AED 165 (US$45), while guests over 1.5 metres will pay AED 225 (US$61).

Why can't carmakers stick to building cars? You don't see Dyson and Prada making a limited edition vacuum cleaner or Apple and Westinghouse producing an iPad integrated refrigerator (so far).

And yet, here we are. Swedish camera company Hasselblad (famous for its camera's use on the Apollo moon missions) and Italian supercar maker Ferrari have collaborated on a limited edition model of the Hasselblad H4D camera.

Ferrari may have sold all 80 examples of its awkwardly named SA Aperta before the roadster's world premiere at the Paris International Motor Show on September 30, but that hasn't deterred the company from launching an online configurator for the rest of the world to see.

A Ferrari F40 with just 10,500 miles (16,898 km) on the clock is set to go under the hammer at the Historics at Brooklands Auction in Surrey, England. Organizers believe interest in the vehicle will be high, valuing this particular example between £280,000 and £320,000 (US$439,432 and US$502,208).

The long-anticipated roadster version of Ferrari's front-engined 599 is finally here but don't get too excited as all 80 examples have already been sold even before the car makes its formal world premiere at next week's Paris Motor Show. Named SA APERTA, the new member of the 599 family was designed in celebration of Pininfarina's 80th anniversary.

Anderson Germany has taken its tools to the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, preparing this matte gray example. The most obvious exterior change is the fighter plane style paintjob with black bonnet stripes and the carbon fibre door mirrors and rear diffuser.

What is believed to be a test mule of the next Ferrari 612 Scaglietti using the current model's sheet metal as camouflage, was spied doing the rounds at the Italian firm's Fiorano race track near Maranello. From what we know up until now, the 612 Scaglietti's replacement is due in showrooms by early 2012 and will benefit from a lighter chassis and a revised V12 engine with direct-injection.

One of the perks of being an F1 driver for an automaker is that you get a lot of free stuff, including cars - not because white collar execs love you, but because they want to milk every single ounce of fame out of you. In the case of human billboards Ferrari team drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, aside from those lovely gas station employee-like hats and polos, they also get their pick of cars from the Fiat Group.

Ferrari has announced a virtual simulator to give fans of its Scuderia F1 team something to do between races. Using input from its F1 drivers (Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella) and engineers, the Ferrari Virtual Academy will be revealed live at Monza in Ferrari's paddock at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix.

It took 11 accidents involving the freshly launched 458 Italia with five of them being ruined by fire, and a whole lot of media attention from the internet, for Ferrari to finally investigate the issue and announce a total recall on their latest supercar.

Being that Ferrari considers itself as something out of this world that is not subject to the same unwritten rules as the rest of the automakers, the company did not publish a broadly available press release to inform the media, and consequently, the public, about a problematic product that puts at a fiery risk the lives of its clients. Instead, the Italian brand simply answered questions to individual media outlets such as CNN through its spokespersons.

After Ferrari announced in June that they would be organizing special presentations for people to view a topless 599, is it surprising that the Italian Stallion previewed a 599 roadster (or "Barchetta", perhaps?) at Pebble Beach? Not particularly. What's surprising is that it took this long for A) the car to come out, and B) someone to spill the beans. Who cares about non-disclosure agreements and a "no cell phone" policy, on with what we can expect!

What's the deal with cheesy Pontiac-based replicas? Every time I see one, I ask myself how anyone in their right mind would ever think it's a good idea (unless purely testing one's kit building and car chopping talents). This ebay-situated Firebird-based 308 replica can be yours for the low-low price of $6,500; if you'd like to try your luck with the auction, feel free. We won't judge either way (sinner!).

With so many Ferrari 458 Italia super-duper-cars going flambé on their owners, it was just a matter of time when someone would get one roasting on film. This prime example of Italy's hottest model was cooked somewhere in China's eastern coast.

We'll remind you that Ferrari has admitted through its UK spokesperson that it is currently investigating the 458 fires. According to media reports, in the past three months, a total of 11 Ferrari 458 Italia models (including this latest incident in China) have crashed with five of them being ruined by fire. Grab a bag of chips and enjoy the short film "A qualcuno piace caldo" right after the break.

Turns out that we're not the only ones to think that the unusually high number of brand-new Ferrari 458s catching fire, is well, at tad suspicious, to say the least. So does Ferrari which is looking into the potential issue. While at least 10 Ferrari 458s have been involved in accidents since the beginning of the year, Ferrari is investigating three specific cases in which the supercar caught fire. One of those cars was roasted in a storage facility blaze at London's Heathrow airport.

While we're all for special / limited edition models, we can't help but scratch our heads after learning that the Fiat Group's Abarth 695 Ridicolo Tributo Ferrari has been launched in Spain with a price tag that starts at -hold on to something- €46,339, or about US$58,900 at the current exchange rates! Talk about paying tribute to Maranello...

And before you say "oh, Spain might have high taxes on cars", or something along those lines, we checked out some local prices on various sports models, and let's just say that you can buy a brand-new Nissan 370Z and still be left with a LOT of pocket change. Tell us what you think in the comments section after the jump

Auto Blitz

VIDEO: C&D Pits Lexus LFA Against Ferrari 599 HGTE

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

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

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

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

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Announces Pay-By-Height Pricing and Merry-Go-Around with Never Before Seen Prototypes

Hasselblad H4D Ferrari is Another Cynical Marketing Excercise

Ferrari Launches Online Configurator for SA Aperta even though it's Sold Out...

Low, Low Mileage Ferrari F40 Goes to Auction at Historics at Brooklands

Paris Preshow: Ferrari SA APERTA, aka the 599 Roadster

Anderson Germany Tuned 430 Scuderia is a Fighter Plane in Disguise

SPY VIDEO: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Test Mule Filmed Revving it up at the Fiorano Circuit

Ferrari F1 Drivers Alonso and Massa get their own Abarth 695 Tributo

Fauxmula 1: Ferrari Virtual Academy gives you the chance to Race F1 Online

Amen: Ferrari Finally Admits 458 Italia Fire Risks, Recalling 1,148 Cars

Ferrari teased Ferraristas with a 599 GTO Roadster at Pebble Beach

Pontiac Firebird-based 308 Ferrari Replica kills two nameplates with one stone

VIDEO: This is what a Ferrari 458 Italia on fire looks like on film

Surprise, Surprise: Ferrari looking into 458 Italia Fires

¿Qué? Abarth's 695 Tributo Ferrari Priced from €46,339 / $58,900 in Spain!

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