Park Place’s Super September Giveaway: What Is It?

If you said “It’s probably just a sales promotion,” you’d only be half right!

Since you know us, you know that we do things differently, so we aren’t holding back when it comes to all the bells and whistles.

Here’s the pitch — if you purchase a vehicle in September at any of our dealerships and you’re automatically entered to win:

  • Two VIP tickets to the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
  • Complimentary valet parking for Showcase.
  • Complimentary stay and golf package for two at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas.

There are rules, of course, but pretty reasonable ones.

  • You have to buy a vehicle on or before September 25th to be eligible to win.
  • The giveaway is non-transferable.
  • Complimentary valet is good for one vehicle at the Park Place Luxury and Supercar Showcase.
  • VIP tickets are super-valuable but not for cash – they have to be redeemed for the 2019 showcase.
  • The complimentary hotel stay is valid for one night at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas and NOT eligible for the weekend of September 27-29.
  • You’ll need to contact the Four Seasons for details on room availability, booking tee times, and the golf package. It’s valid for one year from issue date.

All in all, not a bad gig – especially if you’re thinking about trading in your whip anyway.

Look forward to seeing you soon – and if you’re the lucky winner, we’ll see you at the Showcase, too! 

Learn More: http://bit.ly/ParkPlaceSuperSeptember

 

Park Place Premier Collection to Add Karma Automotive To Its Selection of Luxury Brands

Park Place Premier Collection, part of the Park Place Dealerships group, has added Karma Dallas to its selection of luxury brands on Lemmon Avenue. Karma Automotive chose Park Place because of its 32 years of luxury automotive experience as Karma looks to expand their specialized retailers in several key U.S. markets.

“Karma is an electric brand with their sights set on growing the luxury mobility experience,” said Ken Schnitzer, Chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “The release of the 2020 Revero GT luxury electric vehicle this year and then the all-new fully-electrified global platform in 2021 will appeal to our client base who enjoy impressive engineering and design. Dallas is one of only 18 Karma dealers across the United States and is poised to electrify high-performance drivers across Dallas/Fort Worth.”

By establishing Karma in the U.S., the world’s most demanding luxury market, Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou says he believes the company can succeed anywhere.

“To win in our luxury electric vehicle niche, it’s not enough to simply offer a great product and owner experience, we must also be sure we establish distribution points in the right places,” said Zhou. “By gradually expanding our presence this way I am confident our company – and our products – will be well prepared for the world’s discerning luxury buyer of the future.”

Based in Southern California, Karma Automotive designs are rooted in the nature around them. Karma’s vehicles offer timeless design powered by electricity, fuel and the sun. Their vehicles are unapologetically conspicuous in their beauty and uncommonly light in their footprint. Which offers an unparalleled ownership experience, focused on the discerning buyer.

Karma Automotive currently offers the 2019 Revero, the ultimate plug-in hybrid sedan, at a starting price of $130k. The Revero contains a 403-horsepower electric motor and a 235-horsepower generator to charge the mid-mounted lithium-ion battery. The solar roof of the Revero isn’t just for show. It was developed to charge the 12v battery as well as the high-voltage battery, adding to the electric range. Mother Nature will provide enough power for 500-1000 miles per year.

Later this year, Karma will start delivering the updated 2020 Revero GT. The GT offers similar capabilities as its predecessor while boosting its electric driving range to 80 miles and extending to 380 miles with the highly efficient three-cylinder onboard generator.

Karma combines stunning design and a dominant presence with their electric vehicles. This is truly present in the badges of each vehicle, all of which are painted by hand and set in a precision-machined ring of aluminum. Look closely and you may notice some subtle differences between each unique piece, so every car made is truly one of a kind.


About Karma

Karma Automotive designs, engineers, and markets luxury electric vehicles, all from its Southern California base of operations. Founded in 2014 and employing nearly 1,000 people worldwide, Karma Automotive is committed to elevating and growing the luxury mobility experience for its customers and draws on global relationships and technology partners to achieve this.

 

About Park Place Dealerships

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, and now Karma, one of the most luxurious electric cars in the world. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

Car Purchasing 101: Park Place Sheds Light on Upgrading to the Luxury Experience

Purchasing a vehicle, whether it’s the first time or 20th time is, for lack of a better term, a big deal. This is a purchase that majorly impacts your finances and one that could really elevate your lifestyle (like moving from a worn out, older vehicle to your first new luxury car) or improve your current transportation situation (like upgrading from a Coupe to a Four-Door for more passenger room.)

If you want another perspective on going Mercedes when tech is a top priority, check out this post from Mama Challenge’s own Autumn Reo.

Either way, life happens, and you do not need something as important as a new car purchase to add any more stress. In fact, finding your new car should be easy and memorable. That’s where Park Place is committed to stepping in and helping shed light on the process as it is today to put you at ease.  

Disclaimer: We do have quite a lot of information in this article, so feel free to scroll to the section that fits your immediate questions if you’re in a hurry!

GETTING STARTED

First and foremost, it’s important to know what you want so that our team can help find the best fit for your needs. So, let’s get you started on your car-buying journey.

A great starting point is always Google. Yes, we are completely serious. Google can help you first figure out what sort of vehicle or brands you’re interested in, see what area dealers are around, and allow you compare shop freely without committing to a specific location too soon.  If you don’t know where to start your search, we recommend these three simple questions to ask yourself:

  1. Why am I looking and why do I need a new (or pre-owned) car?
  2. What are my must-haves (heated seats, interior fabric, exterior color etc.)?
  3. What am I comfortable investing?

These three questions will really help drive your search and guide you through various pages of inventory on 3rd party sites. Be sure to use the filters once you have some items identified, and narrow your search results. Our team at Park Place designed ParkPlace.com to be more than just an inventory hub, but also a go-to place for quality research where you can view information on brands, learn about the ownership experience, and then browse inventory that matches your criteria.

For example, this past year we created a page on Electric and Hybrid vehicles in response to the all-new, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE being released. Check out this Electric Vehicle hub we built out for the introduction of the All-New Jaguar I-PACE

LEASE VS. BUY

When deciding to lease or buy, there are two top-level points to keep in mind. We will provide a true compare/contrast of these options later on in this informative series.

  1. Mileage: How many miles do you drive per month?

 If you drive a good amount for work or for personal reasons, you should definitely estimate your monthly usage to ensure you aren’t at risk for going over your mileage at the end of your lease. Mile overages can be very costly when you turn in your vehicle at the end of your lease, and if you’re paying extra for extra miles it might be more cost-effective over time to simply purchase and not worry about miles traveled. Either way you are making some form of monthly payment towards a vehicle investment.

Now, there are differences in down-payment depending on leasing and buying which leads you to our initial point of determining what you are financially comfortable investing in a new or used auto.

  1. Vehicle Customization

If you like to customize your vehicle with any 3rd party parts or tune-ups, your vehicle will not be eligible to be turned back in at the end of your lease. Ask about manufacturer options and packages prior to purchasing/leasing to see if the manufacturer already creates or offers a spec similar to the tune-ups you want, that way you’re doing your homework in the event you want to lease and be able to turn your vehicle back into the dealer.

New, Pre-Owned, or Certified

At Park Place, we sell three different kinds of vehicles:

  1. New Cars: At Park Place, these are the base manufacturers for each dealership. So Park Place Motorcars only sells new Mercedes-Benz vehicles and is a certified Mercedes-Benz service center. At Park Place Volvo, we sell new Volvo cars and are a certified service center for Volvo machines.
  • Pre-Owned: Park Place not only sells Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but it’s important to look at all of their pre-owned inventory which can include other luxury brands or economy/non-luxury brands as well. You’ll get the Park Place experience, without having to commit to a new vehicle or lease necessarily.
  • Certified: Certified or Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) provide reassurance that a certified dealer has inspected, serviced, and restored to like-new condition an on-brand vehicle.

Whether New, Pre-Owned, or CPO the benefits, perks, and rewards remain the same at Park Place. This means that you do not need to buy new to be Park Place Preferred. That includes complimentary car washes, special discounts on services, parts and accessories, access to loaner vehicles when servicing, and exclusive offers from local retailers from food, floral, and experiential opportunities.

NEXT STEPS:

Now you’ve found something you like so it’s time to test drive.  In our next article, we’ll briefly go over a few things to ask or look out for on your test drive depending on your driving habits and what the car will be used for.  Until then, we invite you to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you can get notifications whenever we do the test drive for you.

YouTube is actually a top-source for automotive content from how-tos to one-to-one comparisons and full vehicle walkarounds. There’s a wealth of videos that can help you experience the vehicles and technology you think you want in your next vehicle in case you can’t make it into the dealership quite yet.

Take the Mercedes-Benz A-Class or Volvo XC40 for example.  Park Place produced a full-walkaround to show clients or potential clients the ins and outs of the newest vehicles from our array of luxury manufacturers.


Have any questions about the new car buying process you want us to address? Send us an email to social@10.2.54.33 and we will do our best to make car purchasing a seamless and approachable experience.  #yourparkplace #carbuying101

 

 

Bentley Dallas Celebrates Centenary of Iconic Brand

Bentley Dallas put on the party of the century July 10th in honor of Bentley Motors’ Centenary.

 “The policy was simple,” W.O. Bentley said when he founded his namesake motor company July 10, 1919. “We were going to make a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.”

True to its founding principles, Bentley continues to make fast cars with an emphasis on comfort and luxury.  And they are arguably the best in their class.


In celebration of Bentley’s Centenary, Bentley Dallas hosted a cocktail reception featuring a new 2020 Bentley Continental GTC convertible displayed next to an exquisite 1937 Bentley Sports Tourer by Vanden Plas in their Lemmon Avenue showroom.

Powered by its original 4.25 Liter engine, the ’37 Bentley with serial number B1KU was exported to the US in the late 1950s. While it still includes the initial body with matching numbers on the original parts, it’s not just a showpiece. The engine still purrs like a kitten. The rolling work of art will be offered at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach sale August 16-17. 

Guest were serenaded by Armenian singer Goga and his trio, which played everything from pop music to opera. Bachendorf’s displayed a limited-edition Breitling timepiece among other beautiful pieces. Guests enjoyed a celebratory toast with Champagne Palmer and delicious canapés by Dallas Fish Market and Dallas Chop House.  A “100 Extraordinary Years” cake also marked the notable anniversary.

The old English company, now part of the Volkswagen Group, began celebrating its 100th anniversary earlier this year with the showing in Paris of its 2020 Bentley Continental GT convertible.

The 2020 Bentley Continental GT is a $225,000 coupe propelled effortlessly by a 6-liter 12-cylinder engine with 626 horsepower. With all-wheel-drive and a well-developed suspension, it can conquer mountain curves or devour autobahns with its 207-mph top-speed – yet it’s still capable of getting 24 mpg on the highway.

The new Continental will also be available in a convertible (GTC) as well as a 4-liter twin-turbo V8 version.

The impressive Continentals join the popular Bentayga SUV as well as the Flying Spur and Mulsanne sedans in Bentley’s current offering of vehicles.

Bentley Dallas is part of the Park Place Premier Collection on Lemmon Avenue.

View Event Photos Here.


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, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

 

2019 Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular Breaks Record with $770,000 Raised

Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Escapes to Margaritaville


With a playful theme of “Escape to Margaritaville,” fans filled the Hilton Anatole ballroom May 5th looking for rare treasures, unbridled laughter and fun encounters with their favorite players and coaches at the sold-out 2019 Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular. And the Rangers hit a grand slam!

“The Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play has always been our largest fundraising event and this year’s total made a record $770,000,” said Karin Morris, executive director of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “The funds raised at this event directly impact our programming and partnerships. Since last year’s event, we have welcomed more than 25,000 kids to the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota.”

The annual event featured Texas Rangers players, coaches, broadcasters, and alumni. Fans enjoyed unparalleled access to their favorite Rangers for autographs, photos and lively baseball conversations with a player, coach, former Rangers player or staff member seated at their table.

“This is the 15th year Park Place has been involved in this event and every year it surpasses our expectations,” said Jordan Case, Park Place Dealerships president. “Supporting the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation ensures children throughout North Texas will have opportunities to succeed through scholarships, new training facilities, and programs. Together, we are making our community stronger.”

(L to R) Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation executive director Karin Morris; and Park Place Dealerships president Jordan Case; with one of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club owners, Rangers COO and chairman of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Board Neil Leibman; Park Place Lexus Grapevine GM Gary Venner; Rangers manager Chris Woodward; and his wife, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Advisory board member Erin Woodward. Photo Credit: Michael Ainsworth

The live and silent auctions raised more than $225,000, also a record. The highest amount in the live auction was a $31,000 bid for a trip on a private jet with Hall of Fame catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez to see the Rangers play against the Angels in Anaheim. The amount was doubled when the Rangers agreed to allow both of the two top bidders to take the trip for a total of $62,000 for the dream trip. 

Other notable experiences included a roadtrip to Boston to see the Rangers play the Red Sox that included transportation on the team plane and dining with Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley; a trip to the Dominican Republic for a tour of the Rangers’ new Baseball Academy; private hitting and pitching lessons with current Rangers players, and many other exclusive experiences. Memorabilia from the worlds of sports and entertainment included a license plate signed by the stars of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off;” a framed photo autographed by legendary players Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio; an autographed seat back from the original Texas Stadium; a photo signed by the cast of “The Sandlot;” and countless signed jerseys and equipment from a wide range of sports.

Fans and players competed against each other in a spirited game of Heads or Tails. Tim Willett, auctioneer, would flip a coin and contestants placed their hands on either their head or derriere. If the coin landed on tails, all those with hands on their heads would sit down.

– Rangers players (L-toR) Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus, Joey Gallo and Hunter Pence play Heads or Tails

Contestants were eliminated round by round until only two people were left on stage. Willett tossed the coin for one final flip, and Leta Farnsworth won tickets to the Paul McCartney and Billy Joel concerts later this year at Globe Life Park.

The highlight of the evening is always when the players compete in a pair of game shows. The entertainment began with a new game: Heads Up, where a player holds a card up to their forehead with a word or name written on it. Their teammates then give them clues to try to guess the answer. Rangers pitchers Jesse Chavez and Chris Martin were teamed up with catcher Jeff Mathis to battle Rangers’ bullpen coach Oscar Marin and pitchers Shelby Miller and Drew Smyly. The resulting antics were hilarious as players stammered and shouted answers under pressure as they tried to beat the clock. Jesse Chavez was holding a card with “Kanye West” on it and his teammates prompted him with, “Kim Kardashian’s husband!” To which Chavez replied, “Chloe?” The audience erupted in laughter.

The Rangers’ rookies never fail to entertain. Kyle Dowdy, Brett Martin, Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado performed a hysterical skit to “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Don’t worry. They won’t be taking this show on the road any time soon. But it certainly made for some memorable moments.

Rangers’ rookies Kyle Dowdy, Brett Martin, Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado perform a skit (Photo by Michael Ainsworth)

If you think the Rangers are competitive on the field, imagine what happens when the infielders match wits with the outfielders in Fielders Feud, a popular spinoff of the popular Family Feud TV game show. Players tried to guess the top answers given by 100 Rangers fans in a survey taken at Globe Life Park. Both teams were stumped when it came time to guess the fans’ responses to the question, “What are your favorite memories from Globe Life Park?”

Rangers Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel moderates Fielders Feud with Infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa , Logan Forsythe, Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus competing against Outfielders Hunter Pence, Delino DeShields Jr, Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara

Players were able to match answers such as “Beltre’s 3000th hit” and “Striking out A-Rod in the ALCS.” But the crowd let out a gasp when “Rougie’s Punch” was not one of the top answers.

“The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation was recognized last year with the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence for our Richard Greene Scholars program,” concluded Karin Morris. “As part of this recognition, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will receive a $10,000 grant from Major League Baseball Charities.”

Named after the former Mayor of Arlington who led the campaign to keep the Rangers in Arlington and construct Globe Life Park, the Richard Greene Scholars program provides a $10,000 scholarship every year to a student at each of the Arlington ISD high schools. During the recipient’s senior year, he/she rotates through an internship every six weeks at different community service and local government entities. 

Now in its 22nd year of operation, the Richard Greene Scholars program has provided more than $1.2 million in college scholarships to Arlington high school students. In addition to financial aid, the program has become a cornerstone leadership development program by engaging recipients with local civic and business communities, including Arlington ISD, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the City of Arlington, the Texas Rangers and the Rangers Baseball Foundation, and several other civic partners. 

Since its inception in 1991, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation has invested more than $30 million in our community to help children through support of programs including the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, presented by Toyota; youth fitness and wellness programs like the just keep livin programs; scholarships and summer programming for children in challenging circumstances.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place 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 and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

A Star in the Room: Consistency with Kirk Franklin

Grammy Award-winning artist Kirk Franklin
celebrates the consistency in music and family


Kirk Franklin was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and was adopted by his 64-year-old Aunt, Gertrude Franklin.

“I had a rough childhood,” says Franklin. “I didn’t know my mother or my father. I had a lot of abandonment issues. So, I got into a lot of trouble and didn’t do well in school. But Gertrude really believed in my musical gifts. So, from the time I was four I would take piano lessons once a week.”

Gertrude paid for his piano lessons by recycling aluminum cans and old newspapers.

“Unfortunately, Gertrude died before she heard any of the music that I recorded. So, she didn’t get a chance to see me get my life together. I kind of live with that ‘chasing the ghost’ type of energy in my life.”

Franklin organized “The Family” in 1992, forming a 17-voice choir with neighborhood friends and associates. Their debut album, “Kirk Franklin & The Family,” was released in 1993. Eventually earning platinum album sales, it spent nearly two years on the Gospel music charts, as well as moving up the R&B and Pop charts.

It was the first gospel music album to sell over a million units.

The group released “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” in 1996, sealing Franklin’s stardom. The album was certified 2X Platinum, and earned Franklin his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.

Since his debut in 1992, Franklin has received six platinum certifications on his albums, including the 3X Platinum “Gods Property,” which won him a second Grammy for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album.

Franklin has worked with a variety of artists over the years, including Cheryl “Salt” James of Salt-N-Pepa, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Bono, and TobyMac. The winner of more than 40 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards and 14 GRAMMY Awards, Franklin states, “I really believe it happened because I am a firm believer in the message I preach.”

“One thing about music is that you can’t have a bunch of musicians playing what they want to play,” explained Franklin. “They have to play what the song demands. So, what you don’t want to feel is that everyone is playing different notes, because it’s not a melody… it’s not a nice harmony. And it doesn’t sound good, nor does it feel good. The star in the room is always the song.”

“What I love about Park Place is that the star in the room every time you go is always the client. You can tell that they have been rehearsing, that everybody’s playing the same note.”

“Park Place team members are committed every day to create an ownership experience that can’t be found anywhere else,” explains Dave Evans, Park Place Dealerships Chief Marketing Officer. “Our clients tell us fabulous stories about Park Place members who have gone above and beyond to make their experience memorable. We want people to think of Park Place as My Place.”

“Coming from a past where a lot of things in my childhood were very inconsistent, consistency has been something I have always strived for,” Franklin concludes.


“Park Place is ‘My Place’ because they make me feel like a classic song.”

 

 

Volvo Care Keys and New Top Speeds Make For Safer Car Sharing

In an effort to realize their Vision 2020, Volvo Cars introduced speed restrictions and a new product concept called “Care Key” that is standard on all cars for safe car sharing, to help address and highlight the dangers of speeding. 


TOP SPEEDS: 112 MPH

World leader in vehicle safety, Volvo Cars, is sending a strong and very loud message about the dangers of speeding.  Early March 2019, Volvo Cars announced its commitment to address the growing dangers of speeding by reducing the top speeds on all of their cars to 112 mph.  This new speed restriction will first appear in 2020 with Model Year 2021 vehicles, and aligns with the company’s commitment to protect their drivers. 

“Volvo is a leader in safety: we always have been and we always will be,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive, Volvo Car Group. “Because of our research we know where the problem areas are when it comes to ending serious injuries and fatalities in our cars. And while a speed limitation is not a cure-all, it’s worth doing if we can even save one life.”

This update is in line with their ‘Vision 2020’ which is easily one of the most, if not the most, ambitious safety promise in the Automotive Industry.  Vision 2020 aims to reduce and eliminate any fatalities or major injuries in a Volvo vehicle by 2020.  

VOLVO CARE KEY

Volvo Cars introduces Care Key as standard on all cars for safe car sharing

Care Key is similar in that it allows you set top speeds with the key, ensuring any drivers sharing a vehicle (like a newly licensed teenager) cannot go above the speed limit. Not only is this supposed to protect your investment in a Volvo, but also the passengers turned drivers you care for most. 

The benefits of these two safety updates could surpass just safety, but also offer financial benefits to Volvo Cars Drivers. The luxury manufacturer is inviting insurance companies to the table to discuss special offers and incentives for those that are benefiting by investing in Volvo in the next few years as these safety measures are implemented.  Mr. Samuelsson pointed out that safer technology being included in their future models should have only a positive impact on insurance premiums. 

Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars President & Chief Executive

“We believe that a car maker has a responsibility to help improve traffic safety,” said Mr. Samuelsson. “Our recently announced speed limit fits that thinking and the Care Key is another example. Many want to be able to share their car with friends and family, but are unsure about how to make sure they are safe on the road. The Care Key provides one good solution and extra peace of mind.”

 

Now will these initiatives change consumer behaviors for safer roads? While that’s the hope, it’s clear that Volvo Cars is serious about starting the conversion about a possible manufacturer obligation to their customers and making the roads safer for their drivers, co-drivers, and passengers alike.

Stay tuned to Volvo Cars and to our blog for continued coverage of Volvo’s commitment to vehicle safety as more technology and measures are introduced to help Vision 2020 come to fruition. 

The Fine Art of Custom Configuration with Video Game Technology

Bespoke. Custom. Options. Specifications. Configurations. Whatever you want to call it, personalizing one’s auto during the vehicle purchase is the name of the modern ultra-luxury purchase experience.  Now enhanced with video game technology, McLaren Supercar Configurators put the power in the hands of the consumer, taking their model and making YOUR ideal supercar. 


McLaren has transformed what has previously been viewed as a “standard process” into an art form enhanced to be even more realistic for the singular production super cars.  From Speedtail Exclusivity and MARC Configuration, to the array of in-dealer options to experience, your McLaren could potentially be made up of everything you like. No Compromises. 

The McLaren 600LT Marc Configuration 

This real-time configurator takes video game technology to create “unprecedented levels of realism,” according to McLaren Automotive.  Like most ordered goods, sometimes visualizing what the end product will really look like is difficult. That’s, in part, why the in-dealership/in-person experience is still very much relevant to auto contenders. You have experts guiding you and top-technology showing you.

MARC stands for the McLaren Automotive Real-Time Configurator.  It helps customers for some of their most recent releases including the Senna and 600LT, visualize their vehicle in an almost-realistic way before delivery, ensuring they are 100% happy with their choices prior to ownership. MARC uses ultra photo-realistic detail and its a mark of McLaren’s digital pioneering spirit.

Though a measure of the clear technological success of the brand, MARC brought a couple of challenges with it. 

‘Usually in a computer game when you represent a surface you represent a reflection on that surface in one way, but with clear coated carbon fibre the light reflects off the carbon fibre layer differently to the clear coat layer, almost like two reflections,’  says Doug Wolff, Partner Technology Manager at Unreal Engine Enterprise.

A bespoke client can still begin the process online choosing from different specifications on any of the McLaren Line Up.  MARC then extends that level of detail from just paint color, wheel design, and trim to customizing your brake calipers, seatbelts, or a variation of a carbon fiber upgrade. Clients can see how they work together in amazing detail to ensure that their 1/1000 permutation is exactly what they envisioned for their supercar moment.

Speedtail Car Configurator

Road and Track recently were invited to take this specific configurator, only available to the 100 or so people who have purchased the new speedtail, for a spin.  We’ve linked their full review here, but in short, the experience is “what dreams are made of.”


So are you ready to configure your supercar? Contact McLaren Dallas to learn more about our current in-dealership configuration experiences.  

West Texas Roots Run Deep, a #MyParkPlace Moment

The intersection of education and sports
 forever changed two local men’s lives. From young athlete, to coach, to client, Dr. Nate Hearne shares his perspective on trust.


Dr. Nate Hearne grew up in poverty: one of eight children living in a small three-room house that lacked indoor plumbing. His mother worked as a domestic helper and his father a gas station attendant in a small West Texas town. He struggled with trust issues. But he left a lasting legacy on many young people along the way.

“I grew up wearing hand-me-down clothes with patches sewn on them,” says Dr. Hearne.  “I hated elementary school. I wanted to quit. But when I started seventh grade, I had a science teacher, Mr. Clyde Hague, who greeted me every day with a smile, a firm handshake, and an encouraging word. Because of his affirmations in the classroom, I came to a self-awareness that those C’s and D’s I made in elementary school were not an indication of my intelligence.”

Dr. Hearne met another strong influencer when he tried out for seventh grade football.

“Because of my football coach, Mark Wallace, who affirmed me on the field every day, I came to the awareness that those clothes with patches on them and holes in my shoes were not indications of who I was going to be.”

Athlete to Coach to Client

Hearne went from being a kid who hated school to wanting to be a coach and a science teacher.

“Those men saved my life.  I continued making good grades. I went to high school and made the honor roll. I attended college on an academic scholarship.  I coached football and taught science for 25 years. And the only reason I went into teaching and coaching was to live out those two men’s legacies. Every athlete that I coached, I wanted to give him that big Coach Wallace hug and tell them, ‘I knew you could do it.’ I wanted to affirm every student that came into my classroom as Mr. Hague had done for me.’’

Friday Night Lights

Dr. Hearne was an assistant coach in the Permian High School football program when they won six State Championships. In 1988, an author followed Permian through their football season and wrote “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream,” which made the New York Times “Top Ten Bestsellers” List. In 2004, the film was released. A few years later the television show became an Emmy-Award winning series.

“When my book, “Friday Night Lights: Untold Stories from Behind the Lights” was released, many former students reconnected with me,” said Dr. Hearne. “One of those students was Tony Carimi. I was his basketball coach when he was a 16-year-old high school sophomore. Recently, Tony invited me to speak at the annual executive leadership meeting for his company, Park Place Dealerships, and we reminisced about the good ol’ days.”

A Coach’s Impact

Today, Tony Carimi is the Chief Operating Officer at Irving–based Park Place Dealerships.

“Coach, do you remember that conditioning drill you had us do called snakes?” Carimi asked. “I said, “Yes, I definitely do.”

For this drill players would run out of the main gym and up into the stands. They would run up and down the stairs, snaking their way through the stands, across all the stands. And they’d have to do this before practice even began.

“Tony could run those snakes drill all day and never break a sweat. He ran his hardest and never quit… never slowed down. I remember one day hearing the upper classmen berating Tony.”

“Carimi, slow down. You’re making the rest of us look bad, if you don’t slow down we’re going to get you after practice,” his teammate said.

“I blew the whistle to end the conditioning, and called Tony over. I looked him in the eye. ‘Carimi, don’t you EVER let anyone else dictate your behavior on this team. You have been blessed with a special gift, and I want you to use that gift every single day,’ I told him.”

“You have individuals and experiences that leave an everlasting impression on your life,” remembers Carimi. 

“Coach taught me valuable leadership and character qualities.  He invested in cultivating and growing not only great athletes but even better humans.  He personally helped maximize my potential for the short-term goal of winning a game, while planting seeds to help maximize my potential in the larger game of life.”

The Right Touch

Dr. Hearne and Carimi recently teamed up to make a dream come true for Dr. Hearne’s wife, Callie.

“I wanted to do something special for my wife’s birthday,” recalls Dr. Hearne. “As I drove by the Park Place Motorcars store in Arlington one day, I remembered how Callie always dreamed of driving a Mercedes-Benz. But I absolutely hate the car buying experience. It’s just hard for me to trust.”

Park Place has just the right touch with its “One Touch” solution, providing clients with a single person to walk them through the entire purchasing process. This allows the sales associate and client to build trust to help with all of the client’s needs.

Dr. Hearne remembered Tony was in upper management at Park Place and gave him a call.  Carimi said, ‘Coach, don’t worry about it. Call your wife and have her meet you at the dealership.’

“When she sat in the car, I asked how she liked it, said Hearne. “Of course, she said she loved it. And then I told her it was hers. Even the receptionist was crying. It was a magical moment.”

An Honor to Give Back

“For me, it is an honor to be part of something so special in his life,” said Carimi.  “To help Dr. Hearne purchase Callie’s dream car was a role that was decades in the making. For me to be a member of an organization that reflects the constant striving for excellence that he helped impress upon me as a young man, brings the story full circle.  Through my role at Park Place, combined with the relationship I have had with Dr. Hearne for more than 30 years, I was able to leave an impression on his life.” 

“My wife and I had never been treated with such respect and professionalism before in the car buying experience,” concluded Dr. Hearne. “Park Place is ‘My Place’ because it’s all about the service.”

“It is more than just games won or transactions that business creates,” said Carimi. “To know that Dr. Hearne is able to look in his rearview mirror as he leaves our dealership and say, ”wow,” makes all of those snake drills worth it!”


Miss a story? Watch Dr. Hearne’s #MyParkPlace moment online at www.ParkPlace.com/MyPlace

 

 

 

Park Place Reveals Mobile Pop Up for all New Automotive Experiences

Park Place Dealerships revealed its new mobile pop up at the 2019 DFW Auto Show this past March. The Mobile Experience Unit will be used across DFW at events throughout North Texas to bring the Park Place brand directly to the automotive enthusiast.

“The mobile pop up gives us the opportunity to expand the presence of our brand beyond the parameters of the dealership,” said Dave Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Park Place Dealerships. “Experiences play a huge role with customers today and are the main drivers of customer engagement. We believe the mobile pop up allows us to engage with the consumer wherever we want to take it.”

 

During the DFW Auto Show, the pop up will be onsite to deliver an inclusionary experience for everyone who stops to visit the Park Place area. The mobile unit has already provided innovative experiences for clients at both the 2018 Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase and at the COTA track.

Park Place continues to be an innovator in the automotive space by developing unique offerings to expose current and potential clients to the brands. In the past year, Park Place introduced and expanded Park Place Select, an automotive subscription service.

“As a company, we must be in tune with where our clients spend their time and how they use their vehicles,” remarked Evans. “Our client’s transportation needs are as diverse as they are, and range from attending festivals and sporting events to shuttling friends and family to racing their cars, or simply enjoying life. We expect the mobile pop up will help us deliver an unparalleled, client-focused experience.”


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, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.