What To Do This Weekend: The 2018 DFW Auto Show

Park Place Dealerships and a multitude of luxury automotive manufacturers have set the stage with stellar lineups of automotive’s ‘best’. Park Place Dealerships, one of the only dealership groups to make an appearance, are back and ready to share our exceptional vehicles with spectators, experts, enthusiasts, and up-and-coming aficionados alike.

Here is a preview of some of the show-stopping models brought by the Park Place Premier Collection, that you will experience at this year’s auto show:

2018 Bentley Bentayga: Far more than good. Far more than fast. And currently not occupied in any current class, evidenced by its 600hp, twin-turbocharged W12 motor, 8-speed gearbox, and one of the most advanced all-wheel-drive systems ever developed.
Lotus Evora 400: A true picture of Lotus sportscar tradition of high-performance power and precision handling. Developed on the racetrack to be perfect on the road with its lightweight construction, exceptional agility, aerodynamic styling, and uncompromising performance.
Mclaren Sport Series featuring the McLaren 570s: This is a magnificent, hand-built series is built around a similar carbon-fiber tub that the first MP4 12C was based upon. With twice as strong aluminum and half the weight, the monocell allows for unprecedented power to weight ratio and handling precision. This 562 hp car is as comfortable on the road as it is on the track. The 570s spider goes from 0-60 in a staggering 3.1 seconds and is now firmly placed in the supercar category with pricing starts at $208,800.
Newly Redesigned 2018 Maserati Gran Turismo: Equipped with a new interior infotainment center and a refreshed front end, the Gran Turismo remains as timeless as ever before.
Maserati Ghibli: The Ghibli represents a full, assertive, elegant alternative in an ocean of cars that look, feel, and sound the same. With starting price of $73,050, it is unquestionable the value that the Ghibli represents. It is a personification of the inspiration for the brand, old-world Italian style and sculpture interpreted through the modern eyes of Maserati.

The pièces de résistance of the display is the $3.2 million Bugatti Chiron which is powered by an 8-cylinder, 16 liter, quad-turbocharged, and an almost unfathomable 1,479 horsepower motor. This certainly should be at the top of your Autoshow “To-Do” list. Porsche, Lexus, Mercedes, Jaguar and Landrover all have equally as impressive brand displays with experts ready to answer all your questions and help you explore the world of modern luxury at the DFW Autoshow. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Be sure to check out the Park Place Dealerships booth and visit with one of our Experts to find how you can win an exceptional prize package including:

2 V.I.P Tickets to the 2018 Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase

A weekend use of a Maserati

One a night stay at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas in Las Colinas

DFW Auto Show Information

Date: Feb 14-18, 2018

Times

Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ticket Prices

$14 for adults

$7 for senior citizens 65 and older

$7 for children 6 to 12 years old; children 5 and under admitted free

$10 for active and retired Military members (ID is required)

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018

McLaren Dallas and The Macallan Celebrate Renowned Poet’s Birthday

On January 25, McLaren Dallas and The Macallan Scotch celebrated renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns’ birthday with Scotch tastings and Haggis in the French Room Bar at The Adolphus in downtown Dallas.

While Burns, Scotland’s best known and most beloved poet, died in 1796 at the age of 37, he is still remembered worldwide on his birthday with traditional Scottish food, drink, and poetry. Burns is probably best known in the U.S. for the New Year’s Eve anthem “Auld Lang Syne,” the second most sung song in our country after “Happy Birthday.”

The Macallan national brand ambassador Raquel Raies introduced guests to the 1824 Masters Series, four different whiskeys increasing in scarcity and rarity through each expression. The tastings began with a 12-year-old Double Cask, then a 12-year-old Sherry Oak, followed by a 15-year-old Fine Oak, then finishing with the exquisite Rare Cask, handpicked from less than one-percent of the finest sherry-seasoned casks in The Macallan reserves.

As the tasting progressed, a bagpiper heralded the arrival of the Haggis, Scotland’s national dish. Ms. Raies addressed the Haggis with a dramatic reading of Burn’s traditional poem, before the theatrical cutting of the Haggis with a ceremonial knife.

Raquel Raise, The Macallan National Brand Ambassador and Bagpiper Matt Willis Herald in the Haggis at the Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas

Haggis is not for the squeamish, but it is very flavorful. It consists of a lamb or sheep’s organs minced with suet, onions, oatmeal, and seasonings and cooked in the animal’s stomach. Served with the traditional sides of “neeps and tatties” (turnips and potatoes) with a dram of Scotch, it was a fitting conclusion to an evening befitting a Scottish legend.

As Burns concluded in his “Address to a Haggis” (in a rough English translation):

You powers, who make mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill of fare,

Old Scotland wants no watery stuff,

That splashes in small wooden dishes;

But if you wish her grateful prayer,

Give her [Scotland] a Haggis!

McLaren Dallas is part of the Park Place Premier Collection, located at 5300 Lemmon Avenue, near Love Field.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. A new Park Place Porsche dealership will open in Grapevine this summer. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

December 7, 2017December 7, 2017

Park Place Lexus Witnesses Warm Smiles as PISD Teachers are Gifted Over $100,000 in Grants

On November 9, 2017, The Plano ISD Education Foundation and Park Place Lexus gifted 102 teachers with grants totaling more than $100,000 resulting in a truly heartwarming start to their holiday season.

“The Education Foundation spends all year raising money. We’ll raise about $900,000 this year for grant programs in the district, and this is a part of that,” said Chris Bragg, former President of the Education Foundation.

With each proposal, judges evaluated the number of students impacted, the uniqueness of the project, what value it would bring to the classroom or how the proposal would fill in gaps in current student learning. Over the years, Park Place Lexus Plano has been a willing supporter of the Plano education community, with one of the highlight events being the yearly Grant Patrol.

“Children are the future of this world,” says Anam Ali, Community and Events Strategist at Park Place Dealerships and a yearly participant in the Grant Patrol, “To see how passionate some of these teachers are and seeing the growth opportunities for these children definitely pulls the right strings.”

November 16, 2017November 16, 2017

Stuff the Trunk with Park Place Lexus Plano

Park Place Lexus Plano invites the community to share in our efforts to support the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County and to fill our Lexus trunk with new teddy bears! Through the end of the month, Park Place Lexus Plano will be collecting new, stuffed teddy bears in conjunction with the 25^th Annual Teddy Bear Ride on October 29. New teddy bears can be dropped off at Park Place Lexus Plano at 6785 Dallas Parkway and Spring Creek Parkway in Plano.

To sign up for the Teddy Bear Ride or simply find the details so you can cheer on riders the morning of October 29th, visit www.collincounty.org/teddybearride

$15/bike + new teddy bear to donate
$20/bike (inclusive of lunch from PDQ at end location) + new teddy bear to donate

Thank you- in advance- for all your support and assistance. We look forward to seeing you and your teddys at Park Place Lexus Plano!

About Park Place Dealerships:

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place’s new Land Rover Jaguar dealership opened last month in Grapevine. A new Park Place Porsche dealership debuts in Grapevine next year. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

October 17, 2017October 17, 2017

Park Place Volvo Supports The Children’s Trust to Enhance Child Life Services

For the past 17 years, Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health have united together to serve and provide a positive impact on the lives of children and their families. We strongly support the Children’s Health mission, vision, and multiple programs that are dedicated to serving children and families across the region. Park Place has contributed more than $418,000 to Children’s Health over the past 17 years, and Park Place Volvo Cars has contributed as presenting sponsor of The Children’s Trust membership drive and hosted the annual reception. In 2017, Park Place Volvo Cars will once again be the presenting sponsor for The Children’s Trust membership drive.

Park Place’s support continues as we proudly highlight the life-changing Child Life services and patient resources offered by Children’s Health to help patients and their families cope with hospitalization and improve physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. Representatives from Children’s Health Child Life services, a member of the Children’s Trust board and her son, and two pet therapy dogs had the opportunity to view the new Volvo XC60 (and experience the roomy interior perfect for dogs on-the-go), as we discussed their life-changing Therapeutic Arts program.

The Therapeutic Arts program provides patients and families the unique opportunity to engage in expressive interventions to improve the quality of life experienced during a normally difficult time in a child’s life. With the ability to serve from either bedside or in a group setting, the families and children are provided a healing environment to approach treatment holistically by acknowledging their emotional needs.

Children’s Health first offered music therapy in the 1990s, and now has the largest music therapy program in the region. Music therapists speak a universal language, helping them reach and communicate with patients in ways other therapists cannot, such as calming fear and anxiety, allowing patients to express their feelings, and easing their distress. Children’s Health’s board-certified music therapists use musical experiences to support a therapeutic relationship with patients and family members throughout the child’s hospitalization.

The Paws for Hope Pet-Assisted Therapy Program delivered by PetSmart Charities delivers the comfort of home and loving support of a fur-ever friend in what can be a stressful setting. Animals have the power to transform the unfamiliar and scary experience of being hospitalized to a positive coping environment.

Park Place is honored to continue partnering with the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas and to support the betterment of the lives of children across the community. The new 2018 Volvo XC60 is now available at Park Place Volvo Cars Dallas.

September 28, 2017January 22, 2018

The 2017 Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase In Retrospect

The Inaugural Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase and Park Place’s 30-year celebration is over, yet we cannot help but smile with gratitude for the accomplishments and memories created on September 9^th. 2,750 ladies and gentleman of all ages dressed to the nines in their take on ‘concours casual’ wear, accenting the rolling hills of the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas with brilliant hues, statement hats, and luxurious fabrics.

Of course, the star (or should we say stars) of the show were the 134 vehicles, valued at roughly 50 million dollars, on display from Collectors and our own Park Place Dealerships. At this years event, there were four categories: vintage, classic, contemporary, and exotic/supercar. 100 vehicles and their Collectors were competing to see if their days, hours, and years of hard work and dedication would win them the distinction of either Best in Class, Chairman’s Choice, Salesmanship Club Award, and Best in Show in the showcase’s inaugural year.

The 2017 Collector’s Showcase winners include:
Best In Show
1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
John Wampler (with his dog Lady Jane):

Chairman’s Choice Award
John Ridings Lee – 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante
Salesmanship Club Choice Award
Corky Helstrom – 1952 MG Roadster
Best In Class – VINTAGE
Jeff Wildin – 1933 MG Magna L-Type Racer
Best In Class – CLASSIC
Michael Mann – 1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo
Best In Class – CONTEMPORARY
Paul Grussendorf – 2009 Aston Martin DBS
Best In Class – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR
Eddie Lee – 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR

Park Place also featured some of their very own showroom vehicles, allowing show-goers the rare opportunity to interact with some of the most powerful, reliable, and show stopping vehicles in the world from brands such as Lotus, Bentley, Mercedes, Volvo, Porsche, Range Rover, Lexus, and Bugatti. The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase attendees received an exclusive look at the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom, which made Dallas,TX, its priority stop after unveiling at Pebble Beach the week before. The McLaren 720s Velocity, featuring a 100% bespoke design and MSO paint job, also made a bold statement with its two pearlescent hues of red and carbon fiber parts amongst the ranks of its high-performance counterparts.

As attendees made their way to the Porsche Pavilion to enjoy sensational bites from Cool River Café, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, and Outlaw Taproom, they were met face to face with the grill of the rare 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante that escaped demolition during Mussolini’s war effort by being smuggled across the border in boxes under the cover of darkness. John Ridings Lee, winner of the Chairman’s Choice Award, and owner of this piece of history shared his story – telling us that he found the boxes and dedicated years of his life to personally restore this piece of automotive history. Sitting next to its vintage ancestor, was the powerful Bugatti Veyron, and the newest member of the family, the three million dollar, Chiron, was based across the Concours with the rest of the supercar line up from the Park Place Premier Collection.

Highlighting the private collection cars was a 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, ’54 Jaguar Xk120SE, ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, ’71 DeTomaso Pantera, a one of a kind ’99 BMW M Roadster, and 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR which hosted the attention of showgoers and fellow collectors alike. The rolling hills adjacent to the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas were transformed into a spectacle of timeless luxury for the 2,750 attendees of this first-time event.

In 1987, Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships– and 30 years later, we celebrated success, heritage, and our commitment community with an unparalleled lineup of super luxury vehicles and a $30,000 donation to the Momentous Institute of Dallas. Owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, the Momentous Institute is committed to repairing and building social, emotional health for all children so that they can achieve their full potential.

The expectations were high, and Park Place Dealerships in accordance with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas Las Colinas, delivered what some young enthusiasts dubbed a ‘once in a lifetime experience’ not like any other in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We are pleased to share that plans for a 2018 show are underway, and collectors, vendors, and Park Place members could not be more excited to have the to opportunity cruise down the Luxury & Supercar Showcase road once again.

‘Best in’ Awards created by Brad Oldham (PC: Michael Ainsworth)

Ken Schnitzer, Chairman and Founder of Park Place Dealerships, with Brad Oldham, Sculptor and Designer of the 2017 ‘Best in” awards. (PC: Michael Ainsworth)

Thank you for sharing in the experience, and for taking part in an exceptional memory 30 years in the making.

September 13, 2017

Inaugural Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase Sells Out

Park Place Dealerships Donates $30,000 to Momentous Institute

Ladies in stylish hats and gentlemen dressed in resort attire strolled the rolling hills of the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas September 9th amid some of the world’s most rare and beautiful automobiles.

Park Place Dealerships donated $30,000 to the Momentous Institute in celebration of their 30th anniversary. Owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, the Momentous Institute has been committed to building and repairing social and emotional health for all children so they can achieve their full potential. Each year, the organization directly serves more than 6,000 children and family members through its nationally acclaimed Momentous School and innovative Therapeutic Services.

Guests at the inaugural Park Place Dealerships Luxury & Supercar Showcase were among the first in Texas to see the new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom, arriving straight from Pebble Beach. They also had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with an extraordinary 1500-horsepower, $3 million Bugatti Chiron, while comparing the modern supercar to its vintage ancestor: a rare 1938 Bugatti that escaped demolition during Mussolini’s war effort by being disassembled and smuggled across the border under cover of darkness. Guests also saw Bentley’s first luxury SUV – the Bentayga, supercharged McLarens, Maseratis, a Porsche 918 Spyder and 919 Hybrid, the new Lexus LC500, Jaguar F-Type SVR, a Mercedes-Benz-AMG GTC Roadster, Volvo XC90, Range Rover SVR and many more new vehicles.

More than 100 cars from private collectors competed in a juried Collector’s Showcase, including a 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra once owned by Carroll Shelby, a 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a ‘54 Jaguar XK120SE, ‘57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, ‘60 Porsche 356B Roadster, ‘61 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, ’71 DeTomaso Pantera, ‘72 Fiat Dino Spider, a one-of-a-kind ‘99 BMW M Roadster, 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR, 2010 Aston Martin DBS, 2015 Lamborghini Huracan, and many others.

The Collector’s Showcase winners included:
Best In Show
1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
John Wampler (with his dog Lady Jane)

Chairman’s Choice Award
John Ridings Lee – 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante
Salesmanship Club Choice Award
Corky Helstrom – 1952 MG Roadster
Best In Class – VINTAGE
Jeff Wildin – 1933 MG Magna L-Type Racer
Best In Class – CLASSIC
Michael Mann – 1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo
Best In Class – CONTEMPORARY
Paul Grussendorf – 2009 Aston Martin DBS
Best In Class – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR
Eddie Lee – 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR

In addition to the lineup of rare and exotic vehicles, guests enjoyed fashions by NorthPark Center, exquisite food and beverages by Four Seasons’ LAW and OUTLAW Taproom, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, and Cool River Café. Several food trucks were also on-site.

Guests also enjoyed live music, specialty boutiques with upscale offerings by Bachendorf’s, Niven Morgan, Sovaro, Mulberry, Montblanc, RIMOWA, Rebecca Taylor, and even a Kids Concours presented by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, featuring a special Hot Wheels interactive area, drinks from Pecos Pete’s All Natural Tea and Soda shop, freshly popped popcorn, and big yard games.
Partners included Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Hill & Wilkinson, Celebrity Cruises, Irving CVB and Chamber, Absolut Elyx, Perrier Jouët, Peroni Italy, Brad Oldham Sculpture, Bachendorf’s, The Trade Group, Fernic Building Maintenance, Lisa R. Daniels, Digital 3 Printing, D Magazine, NBC 5, Celebrity Cruises, LAW, OUTLAW Taproom, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, Cool River Café, Marie Gabrielle, Frost 321, Perks & Provisions Company, Sugaire, and Lilium Florals.

Plans are already underway to grow the Luxury & Supercar Showcase into an annual event.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Bugatti, Lotus and Maserati. Park Place recently opened a new Land Rover Jaguar dealership in Grapevine. A new Porsche dealership will debut next year in Grapevine. For more info, visit parkplace.com

September 11, 2017

School is Back in Session for the 2017 Teachers of the Year

Yet another summer of luxury has come to a close, and class is back in session for a new academic year. Park Place Dealerships is dedicated to organizational excellence, and in an effort to support our exceptional community of educators who are dedicated to a promoting excellence in the classroom, Park Place awards area winners of the annual “Teacher of the Year” with the opportunity to drive a Park Place vehicle during their summer vacations away from the classroom.

For years, we have shown our appreciation for teachers and their dedication to their students in the Carroll, Allen, Grapevine-Colleyville, Plano and most recently Mansfield school districts. This year, Park Place was gifted with the opportunity to speak with the very enthusiastic and engaged winners of the 2017 Teacher of the year award.

Rhonda Selph, Jon McCormick, Kevin Moore, and Cody McGregor were just four of the winners of a summer spent in Park Place style- and they were not the least bit shy when it came to sharing their experience with Lexus, Mercedes, and Park Place. With a combined well over 30 years of teaching experience, each educator was more than deserving of an exceptional summer vacation.

Rhonda Selph already misses her vehicle- comparing her time in a new 2017 Lexus to that of her trusty Silver Bullet: “I did enjoy experience features on it [her Lexus] that my ‘Silver Bullet’ doesn’t have. Truly, I miss the heated/AC seats.” See our “When You Drive a Lexus” blog post for a complete overview of her summer in Lexus.

Kevin Moore shared the sentiment about his IS experience: “I am most impressed with the handling, safety, and comfort features. The turn radius is great and the backup camera is better than most. The lines keep you focused on what you need to focus on.”

He closes out his experience saying, “The seats are amazing. I feel like they conform to my back, and the ventilated seats are something that I’ve never had before and I don’t know if I will ever again be able to live without – especially in a Dallas summer. If you can’t tell, I love the IS!”

We look forward to continuing our support of the Teacher of the Year program, especially through our new exclusive partnership with Mansfield ISD. This time, two teachers will earn the opportunity to sport a luxury, Park Place vehicle for an entire year.

Thank you to our teachers, and good luck as they enter a new academic year of striving for educational excellence .

September 5, 2017

Park Place and Cattle Baron’s Ball Celebrate 20 Year Partnership

Park Place Dealerships and the Cattle Baron’s Ball have a 20-year relationship that will continue as we approach this year’s event.

The 2017 Cattle Baron’s Ball will be held Saturday, October 21, at Gilley’s Dallas, featuring Brooks & Dunn on the Main Stage. Over the past 40 years, Cattle Baron’s has raised nearly $70 million towards the ongoing pursuit of a cure for cancer.

This year, Park Place will offer the winner of the raffle the choice between a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE, 2017 Volvo XC60, or a 2017 Porsche Macan with an estimated value of $58,000. For more information on the raffle and other raffle prizes, visit www.cattlebaronsball.com.

Cattle Baron’s has provided more than 30,000 services to cancer patients in North Texas, rides to and from treatments, and wigs free of charge. The American Cancer Society is the beneficiary of the event whose mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place recently opened a new Land Rover Jaguar dealership in Grapevine and will open a new Porsche dealership in Grapevine next year. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

Category: Community