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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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!”
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.
Park Place Dealerships will open its first dealership in the Austin area on State Highway 45 and Parmer in the first quarter of 2020. The dealership will sit on eight acres, and will house the Jaguar and Land Rover brands.
“While we have currently 16 dealerships spread across Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, this will be the first opportunity to introduce the Park Place brand into the Austin market,” said Ken Schnitzer, CEO of Park Place Dealerships. “As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Austin is an ideal fit for Jaguar and Land Rover because of its rich culture and diverse charm.”
Located at 13910 FM 620 North, Park Place Jaguar Land Rover North Austin will feature a large, glass enclosed showroom that will accommodate up to 12 new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. The 70,000-square-foot facility will include a five-story garage, a shop with 42 service bays, a nine-car service drive and a 2000-square-foot carwash.
Amenities Included
Park Place invests in facilities that are client friendly, energy efficient, and designed with both its clients and employees in mind. Amenities include spacious Wi-Fi enabled work stations, a children’s play area, a beverage and snack station, as well as several client waiting areas arranged with contemporary furnishings and flat-screen televisions.
Texas-based Good, Fulton & Farrell is the architectural firm for the project. Hill & Wilkinson has been selected as the general contractor.
World-Class Vehicles on Show
For the past 32 years, Park Place Dealerships has been guided by its core values to provide an unparalleled automotive ownership experience. As one of the largest luxury dealership groups in the country, Park Place builds trust with clients through passionate service, personal commitment to excellence, honesty and integrity. Park Place also invests significantly in training and career development to insure the team of bright, talented and passionate members (Park Place employees) are the best at what they do.
Park Place Jaguar Land Rover North Austin will showcase Jaguar’s world-class lineup of cars comprised of the award-winning XE, XF and XJ saloons, the dramatic F-TYPE sports car, the F-PACE performance crossover – the fastest-selling Jaguar ever, the new E-PACE compact performance SUV and I-PACE, an all-electric performance SUV.
Electrification in 2020
Beginning in 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will offer the option of electrification, giving customers even more choice. The company will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across the model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines.
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true ‘breadth of capability’ across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque each define the world’s SUV sectors, with 80 percent of this model range exported to over 100 countries.
About Jaguar Land Rover
After Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile manufacturer, acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008, it merged the two marques into a single company.
Land Rover is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles and Jaguar is one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques. In 2018, Jaguar Land Rover sold 592,708 vehicles in 128 countries.
For many, Lexus retains a strong place in driver’s hearts due to the brand’s 30 year history of ownership experience. If you drive a Lexus, there’s a good possibility it’s not your first, and if it is, it’s a good chance it won’t be your last.
In addition to celebrating its 10 millionth vehicle sold globally, Lexus recently earned the title of ‘Best Luxury Brand’ according to Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own Awards. KBB’s 2019 5-Year Cost to Own Awards are based on several factors outside a brand’s total cost of vehicle ownership well beyond the monthly payment. These vital values included insurance costs, fuel costs, fees, maintenance, repairs, and depreciation.
Four Lexus models were KBB 5-Year Cost to Own category winners. The 2019 Lexus UX won the ‘Best Luxury Subcompact SUV/Crossover Award.’ The Lexus UX made its debut in December 2018 as a luxury subcompact SUV with intentions of being an urban explorer on wheels. A signature design, sedan-esque luxuries with SUV seat positioning, and intuitive technology have established a new niche segment for SUV enthusiasts.
The Lexus NX won the award for ‘Best Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover’. The NX driving experience is fashioned for owners who have a busy lifestyle and enjoy the sporty feel of the road. The NX300’s 2.0L engine outputs 235 horsepower (HP) with 258 lb.-ft. of torque, which produces enough power for one’s daily commute. Additional design and safety elements are available to enhance the athletic abilities of the compact model.
Earning ‘Best Luxury Mid-Size SUV/Crossover (2-row)’ is the 2019 Lexus RX. Lexus ignited the luxury crossover category with the RX model in 1998, and the RX hasn’t looked back since, as 2018 marked an all-time year for RX sales. The effective Electric Power Steering (EPS) provides exceptional driving feedback for all drivers. RX also empowers all vehicle occupants with cutting edge multimedia options including an eight-inch multimedia screen, Scout GPS Link navigation, and nine audio speakers.
The winner of KBB’s ‘Best Luxury Car’ went to the gifted and talented, 2019 Lexus GS. The midsize sport sedan offers a stout appearance and luxury appeal within the industry. A comprehensive standard safety system is designed to protect all occupants and drivers on the road as the Lexus Safety system+ offers a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Intelligent High Beam (IHB), and more. GS drivers will appreciate the subtle Lexus interior styling plus modern touches of exterior character.
Enjoy all new or pre-owned Lexus models today from our Park Place locations in Plano and Grapevine. For more details on inventory options, visit www.parkplace.com.
Bentley Debuts Racing Model to Inspire Bespoke Creations. Book your bespoke experience at Bentley Dallas.
As Bentley produces their illustrious 2019 models to honor its 100th anniversary, the British automaker debuted a rare Continental GT to celebrate the milestone.
A jaw-dropping Bentley Continental GT Number 9 Edition appeared at the Geneva Motor Show early March. The Number 9 Edition pays homage to Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’ Birkin – one of the original ‘Bentley Boys’ of the 1920s and 1930s. Mulliner – Bentley’s in-house commissioning facility – manufactured the Continental GT that takes inspiration from the historic motorsport legacy. Only 100 Number 9 Edition models will be available this year following its hand built production in Crewe, England.
The Original No.9
The original No.9 was commissioned by Birkin, who was also a Bentley customer, investor, and racing driver. Following their use during World War I in aero engines, superchargers became more commonly tested on cars. A British designer and engineer, Amehurst Villiers, teamed up with Birkin to develop a supercharger that would increase performance. The supercharger would increase power and speed due to its positioning in front of the engine.
Nicknamed the ‘Blower,’ the 4.5L machine was raced at the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hours event by Birkin, who set a lap record at the track. The first No.9, which was also driven by D.J. Benefield and Eddie Hall, finished 2nd at the BRDC 500 mile event in 1930. Amazingly, each model produced today will include a wood insert from the seat of the original 1930 No.9 race car. The centenary vehicle was an imposing green car that eventually became regarded as the legendary racing Bentley of the pre-war period.
Each Number 9 Edition will have exterior components that feature an eye-popping ‘9’ graphic in the grille as well as special badge work, paint, and wheels. Interior stylings are highlighted by an exclusively crafted dashboard and special ‘Blower’ subtleties for the door panels and seating. All 100 models will also include 18K gold plated organ stops inspired by the original No.9 ‘Blower,’ and ‘1 of 100’ treadplates.
Today’s Bentley Continental models continue to deliver a stunning appearance with every glance and turn. Park Place clients are encouraged to bespoke their own Bentley models or view inventory to find special commissioned models available for sale. Visit parkplace.com or contact a Bentley Sales Experience Manager for more details.
Left to right: Park Place Dealerships president Jordan Case; Morgan-Stanley financial advisor Drew Case; and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, keynote speaker at the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series.
During the Spring 2019 UNT Kuehne Speaker Series event, Jerry Jones shared his innovative business strategy for the Dallas Cowboys, and discussed his key to success: his willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo. He spoke about the vibrant partnership between UNT and the Dallas Cowboys, and inspired attendees with his bold goals for the future of the North Texas region.
The UNT Kuehne Speaker Series, sponsored by Park Place Lexus, was established in 2013 to provide a forum to engage conversation about topics of national and global relevance.
Jordan Case, president of Park Place Dealerships, is a 1980 UNT graduate and former quarterback (1978 – 1979). He established himself as one of the most accurate passers in school history with a 61.6 completion percentage and a 111.6 passing efficiency mark. He finished his North Texas career with 2,608 passing yards, and was inducted into the UNT Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have a five-year Kuehne Speaker Series sponsorship pledge from Park Place Lexus, which helps ensure the sustainability and success of this cornerstone event,” said Dr. David Wolf, vice president of university advancement. “Jordan Case was a star quarterback during his time at UNT, and now he’s a star alumnus!”
