Ferrari Theme Park; Kia's Turbine Drifter; Wards Top 10 Engines

Motoring Channel Staff - 12/12/2005

Any self-respecting car lover may get a mild thrill from the dodgem cars at Disneyland, but for those who live and breathe motoring you may want to book a flight to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Mid-East.

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the small-but-wealthy UAE will be the new home to a brand-new Ferrari Theme park.

Ferrari together with ALDAR Properties recently announced an exclusive agreement to develop an innovative and exciting Ferrari theme park in Abu Dhabi, which will be built around the legendary Italian auto company, featuring an interesting mixture of attractions, from family rides to race tracks and virtual simulations as well as hotels, retail centres and even residential areas for people who wish truly live Ferrari.

"Mubadala's purchase of Ferrari shares earlier this year allowed ALDAR an opportunity to forge a relationship with one of the world's leading brands," says ALDAR's chairman, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh.

"We are delighted that this opportunity has swiftly progressed into an exclusive agreement, which has arisen from the natural synergy of ideologies and objectives between Ferrari and ALDAR," said Al Sayegh.

"This relationship will allow ALDAR to create an exciting destination within Abu Dhabi which offers something for the entire family and underlines the already strong relationship between the Ferrari Brand and the UAE.

"The development will provide entertainment for the whole family and the initial concept envisages a race track, numerous rides and attractions, an opportunity to allow visitors to learn the story and history of Ferrari, to participate in Ferrari motoring activities, and to experience the Ferrari brand also through virtual simulations. 

"Another important feature of the facility will be an advanced and sophisticated circuit where tests and driving courses will be organised, as well as races. The concept will also include hotels, retail, residential and hospitality elements embracing the design ethics of the Ferrari brand.

"We have immediately commenced our design programme, so that we can launch the development to the world very early next year," mentioned Al Sayegh.

"The development will be then be constructed on a fast track, targeting a public opening in 2008."

Commenting on the announcement, Jean Todt, who is Ferrari's director general, said "The agreement with Abu Dhabi offers Ferrari many opportunities: the site will be an important attraction for fans and car lovers worldwide, whilst the structures for sportive and driving activities will have a special appeal for all Ferrari enthusiasts and drivers."

Giulio Zambeletti, brand development and partners director of Ferrari seemed upbeat: "Ferrari products and stores are having a great success worldwide; hence the confirmation of the enormous potential that our brand can inspire.

"Ferrari and ALDAR are working together with a team of professionals from all over the world, on a project that will be a dream come true," finished Zambeletti.

We're not sure whether you'll be able to exchange real cash for 'Ferrari dollars' at the proposed theme park, but if successful the 2008 attraction could spawn a number of car-branded theme parks.

"We are extremely excited and honoured to be working with Ferrari on what will be a world class development," added Christopher Sims, ALDAR's CEO.

"We have engaged the world's leading designers and creative talents to ensure that this great project will be worthy of the Ferrari and ALDAR brands. When completed it will significantly add to Abu Dhabi's tourism offering - without doubt it will make the Emirate a destination of choice within the region."

In other Ferrari news, Pope Benedict XVI enjoyed a special gift from Michael Schumacher during the handover of a €950,000 cheque from the charity sale of the 400th and final Ferrari Enzo. He was gifted an F2004 (F1 race car) steering wheel, with the following dedication: "The Formula 1 World Champion's steering wheel to His Holiness Benedict XVI, Christianity's driver".

In other eye-opening auto news that fails to be easily categorised, U.S. based Kia Designer, Marc Mainville, has entered his radical turbine design for the Kia Sidewinder concept into the Los Angeles Automotive Show design contest.

The competition is essentially a forum to discover the car that is ideal for the Californian lifestyle.

The Kia Sidewinder is a two-seat racer powered from a compressed natural gas turbine, which feeds electricity to a series of in-wheel, high torque, electric motors.

Kia chose drift racing as its theme for the "LA Adventure", because Los Angeles was the scene of the first officially-sanctioned American drifting event, a racing type that is growing in popularity thanks to the immense spectacle it offers, not to mention the burnt rubber and smoke.

This environmentally-responsible, lean, mean, thrilling machine has been designed to grab the crowd's attention - which is in no doubt thanks to the sectioned rear end, while carving lines sideways through the race course.

Finally today we must report on the winners of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2006. Ward's is an American automotive authority who has for more than a decade listed its annual 10-best engines.

'Best' doesn't strictly mean most powerful either; the group cites "packaging, technology, power and fuel economy" as part of judging criteria. Two companies took a pair of awards - Audi and General Motors - while Nissan and Toyota and each took out awards for their 3.5-litre V6 engines.

The following is the 2006 list, released on December 9th 2005:

• Audi AG: 2.0-litre FSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)

• Audi AG: 4.2-litre DOHC V-8 (Audi S4)

• BMW AG: 3.0-litre DOHC I-6 (330i)

• DaimlerChrysler AG: 5.7-litre Hemi Magnum OHV V-8 (Dodge Charger R/T)

• Ford Motor Co.: 4.6-litre SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT)

• General Motors: 2.0-litre supercharged DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Cobalt SS)

• General Motors: 2.0-litre turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Saab 9-3 Aero)

• Mazda Motors: 2.3-litre DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed 6)

• Nissan Motors: 3.5-litre DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35 6MT)

• Toyota Motors: 3.5-litre DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)