Ferrari tells Top Gear to stop using knockoffs in live show
Apparently, word got around to Ferrari that Top Gear Live was not using real Prancing Horses for its stunt driving routine in Australia a few weeks back, and it sounds like the Italian automaker is none too happy about it. A spokesperson for Ferrari said, "We asked them to change it... for the Hong Kong [Top Gear Live] show (the last stop on the world tour). We said please use real Ferraris."The Ferrari spokesperson also said that Top Gear Live had admitted to using replica Ferraris. BBC's head of communications, Philip Fleming, says that he's been in contact with Ferrari but stops short of admitting that the show's supposedly Italian machinery was fake. Whatever the case, the Top Gear Live show in Hong Kong didn't use Ferraris at all, real or fake. Instead, the sequence was changed to incorporate unspecified drift cars that TG believes are more in keeping with the the interests of the local audience. Problem solved.
[Source: Stuff]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
akboss302 8:38AM (3/06/2009)
Ferrari is such a joke. Top Gear should be able to use whatever car they want. People have fake supercars all over the place, and although they are hideous, none of the manufacturers have a problem until it gets on TV. Besides, its not like Ferrari offered to give them real cars, they just said "Please BBC, instead of spending $25K on fake cars, we think you should invest $750K on real cars...but we don't want to pay for it".
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dd 9:04AM (3/06/2009)
You are a joke. It's both misleading and in bad faith to use replicas and pass them off as the real thing. It's the same as you wearing a fake Rolex, showing it off on TV and damaging Rolex' reputation because of little imperfections in the quality of the replica. Imperfections that may not be obvious but since this is a car show and the viewers are petrolheads, they are obvious enough - especially given that Top Gear was called out on it. Moreover, to a brand like Ferrari who markets itself on a limited production business model, it is damaging to the brand image.
Remember a year or two ago when Autoblog reported on the fake Ferrari ring in Italy and how they were arrested for fraud - among other things?
Herkimer 9:37AM (3/06/2009)
@dd
I disagree. People watch TV to be entertained. Honestly -- how much of what's on TV is real anyway?
I doubt TG could afford the risk of using *actual* cars for every stunt they pull...so why not let Joe six-pack have his fantasy, and let him think the shiny red car is a real supercar?
akboss302 9:29AM (3/06/2009)
dd: "It's both misleading and in bad faith to use replicas and pass them off as the real thing."
Yeah, because $250 for Ferrari belt buckle just shouts "brand consistency". Maybe my Acer Ferrari laptop will make me more authentic. Ferrari has watered down their image more than Top Gear ever could, and while they admittedly make amazing cars, people that blindly support their empire-esque image without thought or concern are just useless. I used to live in a predominantly Italian neighbourhood and every pickup, econo-car and minivan had a Ferrari logo pasted on it. Maybe Ferrari should call up each of them and say your Dodge Caravan is damaging our brand, then file a lawsuit, then sell more merch.
Red 9:37AM (3/06/2009)
@ dd,
akboss302 has a point. Considering Top Gear's big budget Hollywood-esque production, I can understand their effort to keep costs down. It's a more obvious misrepresentation in reviews and comparison tests, but this is not much different than what you'd find on any behind-the-scenes featurettes on DVDs from Bruckheimer, Bay or Moritz. I honestly don't get people's complaints against the show for using knock-offs in their stunt driving (I only know of the incident from this article, which states they were used in stunt driving...I admit to not having seen that particular segment).
That said, if Ferrari wants genuine Ferrari's rung out and/or destroyed for the sake of authenticity, more power to them. I just find it ironic this is the same company that occasionally didn't want the Ferrari name or likeness associated with car-based video games that used real-time damage because they felt it essentially misrepresented "the Ferrari image" and could potentially lower their value. Not picking on just Ferrari; several manufacturers did the same thing.
davet 12:42PM (3/06/2009)
akboss@929: Ferrari is interested in image because it makes money. Money that can then be shoveled by the truckload into the black hole of cash sometimes known as Formula One. Same can be said for their road cars. If you think that's wasteful feel free not to buy any of their stuff. If Joe RaceFan wants to support their favorite race team by buying something they can afford, I don't have a problem with it (personally, I have nothing Ferrari, though if someone wants to give me a 250GTO or 275LM or even a 246 Dino I'll try not to object too much). And why would they give Top Gear anything? It's not like they need whatever exposure Top Gear could give them.
Blackstar 12:55PM (3/06/2009)
@ dd
Get over yourself. A people selling fake products is a far cry from a live performance stunt show not using the actual cars. It's a specious argument at best.
Hate to break it to ya, but that guy in the Indiana Jones Stunt spectacular at Universal Studios, was not Harrison Ford. And neither was that the original van in the the A-Team Live Stunt Show; that was not Kevin Costner in the WaterWorld: A Live Sea Show, nor was that Crocket or Tubs in a real Ferrari in the Miami Vice Action Spectacular.
And to totally shatter your perceptions.... as I have said before, Disney's The Little Mermaid on Ice, oh yeah... TOTALLY FAKE! -> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/14/top-gear-live-lambasted-for-using-fake-ferraris/
There is no point in spending money on actual high end sports cars in live productions, films, or television shows. Between the initial cost, insurance, upkeep, maintenance, repairs and safety issues it is simply not practical in the real world. And any attempt to portray some misguided sense that anyone who doesn't use the real things is dishonest or trying to get with something is childish and puerile. No movie or TV show you have watched is using a real supercar.
But hey, you want to convince Ferrari to donate as many cars as the Top Gear crew needs for the show, be my guest. Then again, you could always just pay for them yourself. Being the purist you are, I'm sure you can afford it.
adrenalnjunky 12:57PM (3/06/2009)
I remember the original Miami Vice series - the black Daytona used for the first few seasons was a replica - that replica was an icon on one of the most influential shows of the time - but Ferrari pulled the same sort of stunt, and that's why the car was destroyed in season 3. Ferrari did send them a couple of Testarossas as a replacement for the kit car.
Level 3:14PM (3/06/2009)
Fake replicas are always used in big screen movies, they always blow them up because no ones wants to blow up a real super car..Last but not least in for entertainment purposes not comparison test, and if Ferrari wants the show to use real Ferrari's then by all means they should supply Top Gear with them just like any other entertainment show gets supplies from what they are promoting...
tankd0g 12:55PM (3/07/2009)
I wonder did Ferrari send the same message to Hollywood? Because with the exception of Redline, they NEVER use a real Ferrari for stunts.
Richard 8:42AM (3/06/2009)
I'm a fan of TG and Jezza's non-motoring column in the Sunday Times.
These guys, though, need to learn that you shouldn't think you're bigger than the industry you exploit.
Hmmm. It seems that a new world leader should learn that as well.
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Brad 8:53AM (3/06/2009)
I don't know that Ferrari has any place telling TG what cars to use in their live shows. I can, however, totally understand why they'd be irritated about the knockoffs being used. I certainly am.
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DayShifter 8:59AM (3/06/2009)
If they have the official logo, I think they can take legal action if televised..... (I think)
DayShifter 8:57AM (3/06/2009)
LOL!! That's what Ferrari gets....
Actually, they can use whatever car they want...... they should have used them anyway, just take the emblems off, just to rub salt in the wound.
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rooster 9:38AM (3/06/2009)
If Ferarri has design patents on the cars (I would be very surprised if they don't) and TG is using the designs for profit, I think Ferrari has the legal standing to punt TG for the replicas. Whether it is a good idea or not would depend on your opinion on how the replicas used in the shows affect the brand. If the sound/appearance/performance don't reflect positively, TG is toast.
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tankd0g 12:56PM (3/07/2009)
Umm... you do know they aren't selling these cars right?
rooster 4:00PM (3/07/2009)
They're selling advertising on the show, tickets for admittance, etc. Hence, profit based upon the cars that are presented.
TigerMil 10:15AM (3/06/2009)
EFF Ferrari. Unless they supply the cars to TG!! As if.
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Craig 11:22AM (3/06/2009)
I knew this would happen.
Anyone here recall the story of the man who turned a real 360 into a stretch limo. Ferrari demanded that he remove all Ferrari logos from his car as well or face legal action.
Not sure how that one turned out. Time for a search I think.
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Tagg 11:57AM (3/06/2009)
If some Chinese company used fake Ferraris people on here would be throwing a fit. However, since it is TopGear it seems to get a pass. Piracy is piracy no matter if it's the stealing of desgins, burning of CD's or the use of a fake car and portraying is as authentic.
This is no different than buying a Folex on the streets of Shanghai.
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