Park Place – Page 60 – Park Place Dealerships

July 2, 2015

McLaren 650S GT3 Takes First Win in Asia

The McLaren 650S GT3 and the FFF Racing team by ACM continues the strong start to the season with a victory in the GT Asia championship.
Former Formula 1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) alongside former series race winner Hiroshi Hamaguchi (JPN) took victory at the Okayama circuit, Japan. The result marks the maiden win for the 650S GT3 in Asia, and the 11th for the Woking built racer in only its first season.

The FFF Racing team by ACM is making its debut in the GT Asia championship this season, running three examples of the McLaren 650S GT3.

The double-header race weekend saw FFF Racing team by ACM with strong pace in qualifying, before Liuzzi and Hamaguchi moved through the field and built up an insurmountable lead. The second race of the weekend was a close contest, and saw FFF Racing Team by ACM bring all three cars home with two in the top ten, as well as posting the fastest lap of the race.

“The 650S GT3 has made a strong start to its debut season in the European and North American championships, but to secure the first win in Asia is a fantastic result. It is particularly impressive for a newly established team, against a very competitive grid, in only the third round of the season. Congratulations to everyone in the FFF Racing team by ACM, and hopefully this is just the start of things to come.” Andrew Kirkaldy, Managing Director, McLaren GT.

See more of the McLaren line-up at Park Place McLaren Da llas.

July 1, 2015July 1, 2015

Porsche Ranks Highest in J.D. Power Study

Porsche is dominating the competition for the third year in a row. The brand achieved top rating in the 2015 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. Several of its models also won top honors in their vehicle segments. This is the first time that five Porsche models ranked in the top 3 in their respective segments.

The Porsche 911 ranked highest for the fourth consecutive year in the Midsize Premium Sporty Car segment.

The Porsche Boxster and Cayman swept the first two places in the Compact Premium Sporty Car segment.

In its first year of production, the Porsche Macan was awarded the highest rank in the Compact Premium SUV segment.
“The success of Porsche is primarily dependent on the satisfaction of our customers,” said Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “We see these awards as confirmation of our strategy for high quality standards in design, development and production and in continuously offering Porsche customers a unique purchase and ownership experience.”

Porsche Cayenne and Panamera achieved third place in the Midsize Premium SUV and Large Premium Car categories.

The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study measures the number of problems experienced by U.S. customers during the first 90 days of ownership. Initial quality is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, with a lower score meaning higher quality.

Porsche scored only 80 points on the problems per 100 scale, compared to the premium industry average of 110. The overall industry average was 112.

June 29, 2015

Local Organizations Benefitting from Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Fundraiser

Texas Rangers baseball players put on quite the show off the field. The 15th annual Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular, held recently at the Hilton Anatole Dallas, gave fans a chance to get up close and personal with their favorite players and coaches.

The annual event is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser, raising more than $610,000 for the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation this year. “Park Place Dealerships is proud to be part of this worthy endeavor,” said Jordan Case, president of Park Place Lexus. “The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation touches the lives of thousands of kids across our community, and that’s the real reason behind this fun evening.”

The “Big Top Bash” theme featured circus acts and carnival games such as the strongest man, ring toss, and a fire breather. The Triple Play event also featured live and silent auctions, giving fans opportunities to get unique sports and entertainment memorabilia or even secure a seat on the Rangers team plane to Seattle in August, or a trip on the owner’s private jet to Los Angeles to see the Rangers face the Dodgers.

The highlight of the evening was players going head to head in game show-style competitions. You’d think a championship series was on the line the way these guys battle each other in the fun games.

The fan favorite Fielders Feud pitted infielders Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Adam Rosales and Prince Fielder against outfielders Shin-Soo Choo, Leonys Martin, Carlos Peguero, and Mitch Moreland. The Outfielders were victorious this year.

The Rangers added Win Lose, or Draw to the lineup with hilarious interactions between Anthony Bass, Robinson Chirinos, Carlos Corporan, Ross Detwiler, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Nick Martinez, and Shawn Tolleson.

The entire Texas Rangers roster attends the event to chat with guests, sign autographs, and take pictures with fans. Each year, guests remark how much they enjoyed the personal interaction with players and coaches.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children in need and provides funding for youth in crisis, youth health initiatives, youth baseball programs, and youth education. Celebrating its 24th year, the Foundation has given back more than $13 million to help area children.

Following are some of the organizations that benefited over the past year:

o Constructed a custom-designed ball field for the Southlake Miracle League for children with special needs.

o Provided equipment and uniforms for more than 3,000 kids to play baseball in the Rangers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) programs in Dallas, Arlington, Lancaster, Austin, and Fort Worth McKinney Little League Baseball program.

o Keller Sports Park after vandals damaged the ball fields by driving vehicles across the park.

o Donated $10,000 to Celeste High School to help install lights on the baseball field.

o The Globe Life Texas Rangers Baseball and Softball grant program.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 1,700 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Infiniti, Volvo, smart, Jaguar, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place is currently building a new Mercedes-Benz dealership in Arlington, scheduled to open fall 2015. For more information about Park Place Dealerships, visit parkplace.com.

June 26, 2015July 8, 2015

Behind the Badge: Lexus

Lexus’ relentless pursuit of perfection started years before it launched its first luxury sedan in 1989.Toyota’s newly-formed luxury division needed a brand name and a logo that would evoke images of luxury. Over two-hundred names were suggested, including Verone, Chaparel, Vectre, Calibre, and Alexis.

“Finding an appropriate name proved to be a difficult exercise. It had to be elegant, but not effeminate; classy, but not prissy; bold, but not brazen. And it had to be unique.” (Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit by: Chester Dawson)

Alexis was the frontrunner, but there were a few hesitations. “The chief argument against this appellation [Alexis] was that it sounded like the name of a person, not a car.” (Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit by: Chester Dawson)

Eventually “Alexis” was shortened to “Lexis” which evolved into “Lexus” and Lexus’ identity started taking shape.

With a brand name in place, Lexus needed a logo. How do you convey luxury and sophistication of Lexus so it’s recognized with a single glance?

The Lexus logo is simple yet symbolic. The letter “L” surrounded by an oval border portrays Lexus’ timeless elegance and sophistication. The smooth, oval shape resembles the aerodynamic quality of Lexus vehicles.

Celebrity Lexus owners include Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Cameron Diaz, and Christie Brinkley.

Experience the luxury and beauty of Lexus at Park Place Lexus Grapevine and Park Place Lexus Plano.

June 25, 2015June 25, 2015

Lexus Creates Hoverboard of the Future

Lexus has partnered with world leading experts in super conductive technology to create one of the most advanced Hoverboards ever developed.

“At Lexus, we constantly challenge ourselves and our partners to push the boundaries of what is possible,” said Mark Templin, executive vice president, Lexus International. “That determination, combined with our passion and expertise for design and innovation, is what led us to take on the Hoverboard project. It’s the perfect example of the amazing things that can be achieved when you combine technology, design and imagination.”

The Lexus Hoverboard operates using magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement. Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible.

Wrapped in a design that is uniquely Lexus, the Hoverboard features the iconic Lexus spindle grille signature shape and uses materials found in the luxury car brand, from the high tech to natural bamboo.

The Lexus Hoverboard is part of the fourth project in the Lexus ‘Amazing in Motion’ campaign that showcases the creativity and innovation of the Lexus brand.

Testing of the Lexus Hoverboard will be taking place in Barcelona, Spain over the coming weeks.

Check out Lexus’ other amazing creations at Park Place Lexus Grapevine and Plano.

June 24, 2015

Park Place Motorsports- Pursuit of Victory in a Porsche

Following an impressive run that has seen the team earn a victory and a top-five in successive races, Park Place Motorsports drivers Patrick Lindsey and Spencer Pumpelly will head to this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen in pursuit of victory in their sleek Porsche 911 GT3. Currently sitting sixth in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GT Daytona standings, the team knows it must achieve maximum points as the season nears its halfway mark.

“The Six Hours of the Glen is always a big challenge. With such a high speed circuit you’re pushing at the absolute maximum the whole time, but we feel as prepared as ever,” stated Park Place Motorsport driver and team principal Patrick Lindsey. “At Laguna Seca we proved that we had an unbeatable pace, and this track should reward a similar setup and approach. With Spencer on board we have a great shot at it, I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

While many teams will run a three-driver line up for the six-hour event, Lindsey and Pumpelly have elected to keep the lineup to just them.

Spencer Pumpelly, a former winner of this event, looks forward to the challenge ahead.

“A two-driver lineup should hopefully give us an advantage this weekend,” stated Pumpelly. “Each practice session is only an hour, and with Patrick being as quick and as fit as he is, there’s no need for us to add to the mix. Anything can happen, but we’re well prepared and this has historically been a good Porsche track, so we’ll see what happens come Sunday.”

Porsche 911 GT3

Practice for the race begins this coming Friday, June 26, with the race going green at 10:10 AM ET on Sunday, and finishing six hours later. The first four hours will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 10:00 AM ET, with FOX Sports 2 broadcasting the remainder of the race beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Photo credit: Sideline Sports Photography

June 22, 2015

2016 Jaguar XJ- Sports Sedan Redefined

The 2016 Jaguar XJ’s all-aluminum luxury sedan is now more desirable than ever. An updated exterior design, enhanced information and entertainment systems, new available driver assistance features and greater differentiation are in the model line-up.

Subtle changes to the exterior design, accentuated by full LED headlights, add to the XJ’s already distinctive looks. Materials such as semi-aniline leather and inlay veneers enhance an interior already considered the most luxurious in the segment.

Matching this traditional craftsmanship is state-of-the-art technology, including a new infotainment system.

InControl Touch Pro offers features such as door-to-door navigation, Wi-Fi and 1,300W Meridian Digital Reference audio.

The driving experience is better than ever, thanks to a V6 diesel engine which offers more power and torque and less fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, and an electric power-assisted steering system that enhances Jaguar’s reputation for unrivalled agility and responsiveness.

“More dynamic and distinctive than ever, we’ve engineered our flagship sedan to deliver even greater levels of luxury and performance.”

“Featuring our new world-class infotainment system, interior materials and finishes which create an even more bespoke feel, and with our higher output, lower emissions diesel engine, the XJ rewards drivers and passengers like no other luxury car.” Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar XJ.

The new XJ features a larger, more upright grille, while sculpted chrome blades in the outboard air intakes emphasize the car’s mature, prestigious character.

The full LED headlights accentuate the ‘quad lamp’ design feature that Jaguar sporting sedans have made their own. They are further enhanced with active front steer- and static bend lamp functions, and auto high beam-assist. LED headlights also provide a color temperature closer to that of daylight than Bi-Xenon lamps, improving visibility and driver comfort, and are also more energy-efficient.

The LED rear lights feature a new J-signature tail and position light graphic, making the XJ even more distinctive. The rear bumper now features a gloss black valance and a slender chrome insert. Oval exhaust finishers complete the look.

The XJ’s peerless interior design has been taken to the next level. So luxurious has it become that the outgoing Portfolio trim is now used for the Premium Luxury model. The new Portfolio gains quilted soft-grain leather seats with diamond stitching and embossed headrests, and figured ebony veneer.

The Autobiography model, new to XJ in the 2016 model year and available only with the long-wheelbase body, can be identified on the outside by chrome front bumper air intakes and 20” Mataiva wheels. Inside, there’s a unique Autobiography Intaglio, quilted semi-aniline leather seats with contrasting stitching, a leather headliner, rich oak inlay veneer, and illuminated stainless steel tread plates, air vents and boot finisher.

The new R-Sport model features a three-piece front splitter, deep side sills, side power vents and rear spoiler. A gloss black finish enhances the grille mesh, rear valance and, as standard in select markets, the window finishers. Wheels are 20” Venom. The interior gains sports seats, R-Sport steering wheel and tread plates, Jet headliner and piano black trim.

Coming this fall.

Check out the full Jaguar line-up at Park Place Jaguar Dallas and Plano.

June 19, 2015

Behind the Badge: Bentley

The story of Bentley begins high in the sky in the early 1900s. The now world-renowned British maker of luxurious cars started out designing and manufacturing rotary engines that were used on airplanes during World War 1.

Bentley rose to fame in the aviation industry with the Bentley BR1 aero-engine. Shortly thereafter, the company branched out into the automotive industry and Bentley Motors was born in 1919.

Bentley factory in Cricklewood, outside London in early 1920’s

Bentley showroom in Central London in 1920

Founder Walter Owen Bentley, known to everyone as W.O., was known in the automobile industry. Prior to finding success with plane engines, he worked with his brother selling cars before launching the brand bearing his name.

W.O. Bentley with his car

The Bentley logo has 2 versions – a “Winged B” and the flat “B” logo with wings on either side.

The letter B simply stands for Bentley while the wings on either side symbolize speed, as if to say the car can fly.

What’s interesting is the badge colors and the number of feathers in the wings on either side of the “B” varies depending on the type of car.

Vintage cars typically have 13 feathers on the left and 14 on the right.

Crewe cars have 10 feathers on each side.

Derby cars have 10 feathers on the left and 11 on the right, which is the most commonly used logo today.

The red Bentley logo is used to identify V8 models while the 12-cylinder models are adorned with the black Bentley badge.

The Bentley logo is made up of three main colors: white, black, and silver.

The white symbolizes charm and purity, black stands for elegance and superiority of the luxury cars, and silver is the overall sheer sophistication of the brand and the detail that goes into a Bentley.

Check out the full Bentley line-up at Park Place Bentley Dallas.

June 15, 2015

Summer in a Lexus: Teacher of the Year Winner Shares Her Adventure

Park Place Lexus Plano is also a proud supporter of Allen and Plano Independent School Districts. Each year, two lucky Teacher of the Year winners from each district get to spend a summer in a Lexus, attend a Texas Rangers game, and spend the day at the Dallas Arboretum all courtesy of Park Place Lexus Plano.

Jamee Little, Allen ISD 2015 Elementary Teacher of the Year winner shares her adventures in a Lexus from Park Place Lexus Plano.

Her journey starts here:

“What an amazing day to get an amazing car! The people at Park Place Lexus Plano were phenomenal and their customer service was the highest of quality. They answered every question with a genuine smile and were truly happy to help me through this process. Take it from someone who doesn’t own a Lexus, YET…you can see why customers come here and keeping coming back! Thanks Park Place Lexus Plano !!

Driving my Lexus home for the first time was….AWESOME! There is nothing like the smell of a NEW car! My sweet little 2015 Lexus RX 350 is so fun to drive! The ride is smooth and the car handles like a dream. (I swear I am a different driver in this thing!)

Good Morning Beautiful…..I love waking up and walking out to a new car!

She might look small but she is mighty!! Went on a quick shopping trip and there is room to spare!

Took the 2015 Lexus RX350 out to the Rolling Stones concert with some great friends. Love this car!”

Check back for more of Jamee’s Summer in a Lexus adventures.

June 15, 2015June 15, 2015

Park Place Recognizes Teachers of the Year with a Summer in a Mercedes-Benz

Park Place Motorcars Grapevine is proud to support the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. Each year, two lucky Teacher of the Year winners get to spend a summer in a Mercedes-Benz. This year, Julee Vorachard of Cannon Elementary and Kristinia Haney were named 2015 Elementary & Secondary Teachers of the Year.

Julee Vorachard (middle) Kristinia Haney (2nd from right)

Kristinia Haney, a teacher at Collegiate Academy picked out a shiny red Mercedes-Benz GLK350 to drive for the summer.

On top of spending the summer in a Mercedes-Benz, the winners get tickets to a Texas Rangers game, passes to the Dallas Arboretum, and cool Mercedes-Benz grab bag with other goodies all courtesy of Park Place Motorcars Grapevine.