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

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).

Visitors to the park can also upgrade to an AED 375 (US$102) premium ticket that gives them priority access to all rides and attractions, access to an exclusive lounge area and other benefits.

Claus Frimand, General Manager of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, is feeling confident:

"We are on schedule to open the park with a wide selection of rides and attractions. We have managed to turn one of the world's most exclusive brands into an extraordinary experience which families and fans will come back for time and time again."

The park has also announced a new attraction: a Ferrari-fied merry-go-round called Carousel. The attraction will feature four design studies never before seen outside of Maranello, created by design students under the banner of, "Ferrari: new concepts for the myth". These cars will feature moving brake pedals / accelerators and working horns.

This "Disneyland for Ferrari Fans" is the world's largest indoor theme park, with a surface area of 200,000m² (2.15 million sq. ft.) and many rides including what is claimed to be the world's fastest roller-coaster, the 240km/h [149mph] Formula Rossa.

By Tristan Hankins

Citroën Releases Dating 2.0 to Help People Find a Date for The Paris Motor Show (and Market the DS3)

Ooohweee, does Citroën know how to get this pale, pajama-wearing, cries-himself-to-sleep-every-night hippie blogger interested. Screw match-dot-com, we've got a car dating service now. The French brand know for its wild and out of this world concepts (see GTbyCitroën, Survolt, Revolte, etc.) has created a new form of match-up for the car enthusiast called Dating 2.0, and it's one nifty little time-waster.

Just be aware that the first step is asking your preference, not what you are. Don't make the same mistake I did and wind up looking at a dude in boxer briefs. Well, unless that's your thing, in which case go for it.

I, on the other hand, went with classy, busty, and shapely for my little lady and ended up with a "beautiful, alluring, and enigmatic" fish supper-enjoying mermaid and a red DS3. Yeah, I thought it was weird, too, so I tried it again...and it got even weirder.

Next, I chose funny, toned, and sporty (or something thereabouts) and ended up with a dominatrix-looking chick in leather with "a dominant personality and a unique dress sense". And...and...she's wearing a studded collar with a friggin' leash.

Try out this Dating 2.0 (link below) for yourself and leave your kinky results in the comments below. As for me, I'm off to the store to snag some furry handcuffs.

By Phil Alex

Link: Citroën Dating 2.0

Hasselblad H4D Ferrari is Another Cynical Marketing Excercise

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.

The Ferrari limited edition is nothing more than a standard Hasselblad H4D camera painted "rosso fuoco" red and with the Ferrari shield applied.

More thought seems to have been put into the box which features a glass top and separate compartments for the camera and lens / accessories.

Hasselblad will build just 499 units of its H4D Ferrari, possibly as a nod to the Ferrari 430 16M Scuderia Spider which was built in the same numbers. Hasselblad has promised to release more details in October, which we await with baited breath.

By Tristan Hankins