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Mercedes-Benz To Offer AMG Version Of GL Crossover SUV

There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to 2013 models and Mercedes-Benz. Some of then are making their debuts now (like the popular SL550 Roadster) and others have already started to grace our showrooms. (Such as the all-new ML-Class SUV and the SLK Roadster) Certainly, the excitement never ends in our industry, and when it comes to the popular Mercedes-Benz GL Crossover SUV, we’re hearing news that there is something extra special to ignite attentions: An AMG model – the GL63 AMG, due to arrive early next year.

The GL63 AMG does it with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that puts out 550 horsepower, coupled with a seven-speed transmission. It also is said to sport a fuel-efficient ‘start-stop’ system that shuts the engine off at stoplights to conserve fuel. (and pennies at the pump) The model includes the signature AMG stainless-steel running boards, floor mats “sports pedals” and steering wheel.

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Volvo Self-Drive Convoy to Herald New Age Of Relaxed Driving

A Spanish motorway played host to a convoy of self-driven cars on a 125-mile journey, in the first public test of such an endeavor.  Each car was linked via a wireless connection, in groups – mimicking a manned vehicle as the group ‘lead’.  Volvo, who developed this ‘road train’ is convinced that it will be widely available in the very near future – heralding a new age of ‘relaxed driving’; Volvo says drivers “can now work on their laptops, read a book or sit back and enjoy a relaxed lunch” while driving.

Read more on BBC news

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Wired Magazine Reviews The 2012 McLaren MP4-12C

Wired Magzine editor Basem Wasef drove and reviewed the McLaren MP4-12C recently and posted an intricate recap of his experience with the car:

Following the excursion on public roads, I arrive at the track. I bring the 12C to a steady halt as my co-pilot, a McLaren engineer, walks me through the launch control procedure. After flipping the requisite switches and pressing firmly on both pedals, releasing the brake ignites a weirdly efficient takeoff with almost no wheelspin, and a jowl-flattening whoosh of acceleration that viscerally delivers on its promised sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

Read more about his experience, comparisons to other luxury super cars, and the performance of the MP4-12C: for the full article, click here to read on Wired Magazine.

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Park Place Lexus Plano to Build New Dealership to Keep Up With Growth of Lexus

In 1991, Park Place Dealerships opened their first Lexus store and after 15 expansions, Park Place Lexus Plano is preparing for the next chapter. The company announced today it is moving the dealership to Spring Creek Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway, approximately three and a half miles north of the current Preston Road location. The new multi-million dollar facility will open in the fall of 2013.

“We are positioning the dealership for the additional growth that will come from Lexus introducing new products over the next several years. As Collin County continues to grow, we must also be prepared to manage an expanding market,” said Ken Schnitzer, Chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “We will build a facility that is aesthetically exciting, but also extremely efficient so we can provide the best ownership experience for our clients.“

The 170,000 square foot facility will sit on 27.5 acres with five acres reserved for future development.  The new car showroom will accommodate up to 14 Lexus models in stylish, contemporary surroundings.  The interior of the facility will feature a lighter, softer palette with classic furniture that is tailored and sophisticated. Park Place Lexus will use rift oak, white marble and grey washed hardwoods.  The interior design continues with the direction set by the dealership’s exterior elements emphasizing light and transparency with a series of glass panels and dynamic curved ceilings.

The exterior will feature soft, smooth lines that invite guests into Park Place Lexus Plano.  A curved, sweeping wall that is the length of a football field features the Lexus emblem and can be seen from the northbound and southbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway.  The feature wall starts at 35 feet on one end and rises to 50 feet at the other, framing the showroom and showcasing cars on the plaza with branded Lexus images above the fleet of cars.  The dealership will front the access road of the Dallas North Tollway with additional entry points on Spring Creek Parkway.

Park Place Lexus Plano will increase its service and make-ready bays from 68 to 119. More than 8,000 square feet will be dedicated to a dent and ding body repair as well as a tint service facility.  The service drive will encompass nearly 7,000 square feet allowing Park Place to easily provide personalized service for every client.

“After expanding the dealership 15 times over 21 years, we are simply out of space,” said Jordan Case, President of Park Place Lexus. “We started with 36 employees and have grown this store to more than 300 members today. Over the next several years, we will be adding technicians, sales associates, and service advisors among other job positions. We expect to have a 10 percent increase in jobs once the dealership opens.”

Located in Collin County, Park Place Lexus expects to see significant growth as a result of the demand for the Lexus brand as well as continued growth coming from Collin County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population in Collin County increased nearly 60% from 2000 to 2010. Eight of the 10 fastest-growing cities in North Texas are in Collin County. Historically, after Park Place has opened a new dealership, the company has seen up to a 20 percent growth in sales and service.

The architectural firm for the project is Dallas-based Good Fulton & Farrell Architects with Hill & Wilkinson handling duties as general contractor.  Emily Owens Design Group has been selected as the interior designer.  Civil engineer is Spiars Engineering.

Park Place Lexus is the only automobile dealership in the United States to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Given by the President of the United States, the award recognizes a company for performance excellence.  Park Place Lexus Plano has also received the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and the Elite of Lexus Award 20 times in its 21-year history.

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Park Place Lexus Grapevine Supports Carroll Teacher Of The Year – With Members, Family and Community

For several years now, Park Place Lexus Grapevine has supported the Southlake/Carroll ISD. Every year, Park Place donates the summer use of a Lexus vehicle to the recipients of the school disctrict’s Teacher of the Year award, and generously supports  the Carroll Education Foundation.

This year, there were two Teacher of the Year honorees, one for middle school and one for high school. When presenting the two cars and the award to Mr. Mangham and Ms. Gilley, Park Place Lexus Sales Director Matt Woolsey thanked them for all their hard work and dedication to students of our community.

A former Dragon himself, and someone who grew up in Southlake, Matt chatted with the students, teachers and faculty of the Southlake/Carroll ISD.  He thought about community, his community, and just how close a connection he has to the neighborhood, the school district and this event . He commented, “I looked around the room and saw a few of my son’s teachers, several current teachers that are Park Place clients, my former principal Mr. Willingham, Mr. Lowery (former superintendent), and my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Anders.  I let them know how proud I was to be a Dragon, how proud I was to be the parent of a couple of Dragons, and how proud I am of Lance and Nichole’s service and dedication to our students.”

Nichole Gilley, teacher of the year for the 7-12 grade range, Carroll High School, is a Dragon too! And, Lance Mangham, award recipient for grades K-6, is a Duke grad, and is currently the accelerated math teacher at Durham Intermediate School (and he was actually Matt Woolsey’s son Austin’s Math teacher last year!)

Lance will be driving a 2013 GS 350 for the summer.  Nichole, a 2013 RX350.  Nichole is also a driver’s ed teacher and she said she usually drives her current teaching vehicle in June—not this June!  Lance mentioned he’s had two cars in the past 22 years, so he’s excited about this summer’s driving opportunity.

Pictured above (L-R): Nichole Gilley, Matt Woolsey, Austin Woolsey and Lance Mangham

 

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The Evolution of Park Place Lexus

In 1991, Park Place Lexus opened in Plano, Texas on Preston Road. In May 2012, Park Place announced it will build a new state-of-the-art Lexus dealership in Plano at Spring Creek Parkway and the North Dallas Tollway. This year, Park Place celebrates its 25 year anniversary.  What better way to celebrate this milestone than by breaking ground on beautiful new facility.

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Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 Brings Popular Apps and Technology To The Cabin Of Your Car

Mercedes-Benz is known for innovation and technology, and now, with mbrace2, it’s truly at your fingertips. With mbrace2, an array of apps and usable tools are built right in the interior design, utilizing the latest internet access capabilities.  You’ll now be able to access navigation tools from Google Local Search app, connect with your social networks, and even find and review entertainment with Yelp.

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Bahrain Grand Prix Winning Weekend For Lotus Fans

Double podiums for both the Lotus F1 and GP2 teams, plus a class win for an Evora at Donnington. It was a super Sunday for Lotus fans.

“#Wheresmypodium” tweeted the Lotus F1 Team throughout the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. Having come close in each of the opening rounds, the obvious pace of the Lotus E20 and the unquestionable skills of Kimi Raikkonen and young hotshoe Romain Grosjean, it was only a matter of time. Finally, in the Middle East, it came together. It was the first time two Lotus drivers have been on the F1 podium together since Carlos Reutemann and Mario Andretti followed Patrick Depailler’s Liger home at Jarama, Spain, in April 1979.

Kimi qualified 11th, and in missing out on the Q3 cut-off he saved a set of Pirellis which would come in handy. Romain qualified seventh. The start was scintillating from both Lotus drivers. Grosjean shot up to third, Raikkonen up to sixth. Then they set about picking off more rivals, and emerged from the pitstops second and third respectively. On soft tyres, Kimi was the faster of the pair and was allowed to overtake on Lap 24. Let of the leash, he began hunting down race leader Sebastian Vettel. Having reigned him in with DRS, and had a stab at the end of the straight, Seb and Kimi pitted together on Lap 39, the German maintaining his lead and slowly pulling away.

The Lotus is kinder to its tyres than the Red Bull but on this occasion Vettel’s RB8 was able to  keep a gap to the fired-up Finn. They crossed the finish line a few seconds apart, with Romain taking his first F1 podium further down the road. Lotus now leaps from sixth to third in the Constructors’ Championship, sandwiched between McLaren and Ferrari.

Kimi Raikkonen: “It’s a bit disappointing that I didn’t manage to win, but at least we got a podium with both cars. We’ve not been 100 percent happy with how the weekends have been so far, but finally we’ve got some proper results, so it’s an important step. I got one chance on Sebastian but I chose the wrong side under braking. In the end, there were no other chances to try. I don’t like to finish second, but I’m pretty happy to be up here.”

Romain Grosjean: “I’m delighted and very proud of the team. We knew we had a quick car but at the beginning I think we were surprised by how quick we were. Our car is very competitive in what is a tight season so far. I think we can be very happy with what we did. Last week I earned my first points, this week I get my first podium. I’m looking forward to what comes next.”

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Ryan Emrie – Park Place Motorcars – Among Top 40 Mercedes-Benz Stars of Service Champions Nationwide

Ryan Emrie, technician with Park Place Motorcars Dallas, was named among the top 40 Mercedes-Benz Stars of Service Champions nationwide last week. These technicians represent the top one-half percent of eligible participants.

The Mercedes-Benz Stars of Service Championships are a multi-level national competition sponsored by Mercedes-Benz USA to identify the technicians and service advisors best suited to demonstrate world-class knowledge, skills, and teamwork.  The finalists will compete in Jacksonville to determine the 2012 team.

Join us in cheering on Ryan – as he continues his competition. What an exciting accomplishment!