Mercedes becomes global Masters sponsor

Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its corporate involvement at the Masters by becoming one of three global sponsors, allowing the German-based automaker to air television ads during the limited commercial space in domestic telecasts.

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said Tuesday that Mercedes-Benz will join AT&T and IBM as the tournament's three main sponsors.

Mercedes replaces ExxonMobil, which had been a global sponsor since 2005.

The Masters kept its total sponsorship to five companies - three global sponsors and two international partners. Mercedes had been a partner since 2008 until elevating its sponsorship status. Payne said UPS has signed on as the other partner, joining Rolex.

''The Masters is the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. It is a great honor for Mercedes-Benz to now be associated with the Masters Tournament as one of the three global sponsors,'' said Joachim Schmidt, the company's executive vice president of sales and marketing.
Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Unlike other tournaments, sponsors of the Masters do not use logos anywhere on the golf course. Some of the client entertainment takes place in permanent chalets tucked well behind the trees left of the 10th fairway.

The Masters went two years without corporate sponsors during the initial dispute in 2003 over all-male membership. The tournament was commercial-free for two years, with the club picking up the tab for the broadcast fees.

Sponsorship returned in 2005 with AT&T, IBM and ExxonMobil as the main three. The Masters only has four minutes of commercials for every hour.

Last fall, Augusta National accepted its first two female members, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. Both were at the Masters this month in their green jackets.

''The relationships we form are important to our commitment of continuous improvement, and we sincerely appreciate the longtime assistance and enthusiasm of ExxonMobil for their support,'' Payne said. ''We now look forward to growing our associations with Mercedes-Benz and UPS, two globally recognized brands that also share a passion for the Masters and the tournament's sustained success.''
ExxonMobil did not say why its sponsorship of the Masters ended.

''ExxonMobil has concluded its advertising sponsorship of the Masters tournament after nine successful years,'' spokesman Alan Jeffers said in an email. ''ExxonMobil continually evaluates and modifies our sponsorship and advertising requirements based on business needs.''

Mercedes-Benz has been active in sports sponsorship since the 1980s. It shifted its marketing strategy in recent years, ending its title sponsorship of the season opener in Kapalua and signing deals to become the official car of the PGA Championship and to become an international partner with the Masters.

Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters this year. He already had a sponsorship deal with Mercedes.

Courtesy of: Yahoo! News 

The Green Jacket for Adam Scott! Way to go!

Mercedes-Benz congratulates the brand ambassador and remains true to its motto: the best or nothing!

Pre-owned car of the day - 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E350 Coupe

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Wins Vincentric 2013 "Best Fleet Value in America" Award

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter won the "2013 Best Fleet Value in America" award from Vincentric for the second year in a row for three of its most successful models.  To determine the 2013 Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America awards, Vincentric analyzed over 3,400 vehicle configurations in 20 different lifecycle cost scenarios, using 8 cost factors including depreciation, fees, and taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs.  The lifecycle costs were measured in all 50 states plus DC, with over 25,000,000 lifecycle cost measurements being used to determine the winning vehicles.

"Winning the Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America award for the second time in a row for our 3/4 Ton Passenger Van, 3/4 Ton Full Size Cargo Van, and 1 Ton Full Size Cargo Van is confirmation that owning a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will provide the most compelling real-world cost of ownership to our valued customers," said Claus Tritt, General Manager of Commercial Vans for Mercedes-Benz USA.  "Our growing dealer network, known for providing world-class levels of customer service, also play a significant role in treating our commercial customers fairly and respecting their busy professional schedules during all hours of the day or night."
"Our awards look to provide guidance to all types of fleet buyers, and the fact that we have winners from a variety of manufacturers illustrates the growing competition in the fleet market," stated David Wurster, President of Vincentric.  "By segmenting the awards and analyzing different mileage/lifecycle timeframe scenarios, vehicle buyers have guidance for determining the fleet vehicle that best meets the needs of their organization."

Courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz Newsroom

Mercedes-Benz TV: first impressions of the Concept GLA

 

The Concept GLA is a compact SUV that combines its sporting spirit with the all-round qualities of a tough, leisure-time companion. LIKE if you think this is a great looking SUV.

smart Goes on Tour with New electric drive

smart, the iconic microcar, hits the road on an eleven-city tour bringing the all-new smart electric drive to eco-minded urbanites across the country. Each stop on the tour offers an opportunity to drive the most affordable electric vehicle on the market, with an MSRP of $25,000 (additional federal, state and local subsidies may further reduce the cost of the car). The smart electric drive achieves 122 city MPGe, or miles per gallon gasoline equivalent.

The eleven-city tour kicks off in a concept pop-up experience at Santa Monica Place in Los Angeles. This 10-day event takes place from April 19 to April 28 and will include surprise music performances by world-renowned recording artists, complimentary brunches prepared by celebrity chefs Chris Jacobsen and Lee Anne Wong from Bravo's Top Chef, trunk shows by local designers Winnie & Kat and Vokare, and more.  

The smart funtestdrive then rolls on to the following cities then rolls on to the following cities: Portland (May 2-3), San Francisco (May 11-12), San Diego (May 18-19), Dallas (May 25-26), Atlanta (June 1-2), Miami (June 8-9), Washington D.C. (June 15-16), Hoboken (June 22-23), Brooklyn (June 29-30) and Chicago (July 6-7).

Courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz

Monday Maintenance Tip: Change your air filter

Basic car maintenance suggests changing your air filter each year or every 12,000-15,000 miles. A clean air filter can help your engine “breathe” better and improve gas mileage and reduce harmful emissions.

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                                           "One of my best car service visits ever!" - Molly H.

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Take a look at the beautiful CLA 45 AMG Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz Marks 20 Years In Golf

Mercedes-Benz has a long game that's on point and it undeniably applies to supporting the game of golf. This week marks a 20-year milestone for the Mercedes-Benz brand's involvement in the sport. 

To mark the occasion, Mercedes-Benz will honor its global golf Ambassador, Bernhard Langer , who also reaches a 20-year anniversary for his win at the 57th Masters in 1993, which put him in an elite group of professional golfers who have worn the coveted green jacket more than once.

Mercedes-Benz is recognizing Langer during a ceremony at River Island to celebrate the occasion and his successful list of accomplishments both on and off the course. 

"Mercedes-Benz and our dealers have proudly supported the game of golf for the past two decades.  Golf embodies skill, precision and drive which are themes shared by Mercedes-Benz and our owners," said Stephen Cannon , CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. "Our global brand ambassador, Bernhard Langer embodies these characteristics and it's fitting that we are celebrating both milestones together."

Mercedes-Benz continues to be a leading supporter of golf around the world.  The Mercedes-Benz brand is Official Patron and Vehicle of The PGA of America.  As the official Patron, Mercedes-Benz is a supporter of the PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and the 2012 Ryder Cup. From 1994-2009, Mercedes-Benz was the title sponsor of the Mercedes Championship in Kapalua, Hawaii. 

Within the U.S., the three-pointed star is currently involved in several high-profile golf tournaments, including the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Wells Fargo Championship, AT&T National, Northern Trust Open, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual.

"The PGA of America is extremely proud of our partnership with Mercedes-Benz and we salute them for their commitment to the game over the last 20 years," said Pete Bevacqua , CEO, PGA of America. "The Mercedes-Benz brand and its dealers have supported and promoted golf on a variety of levels, all the while raising money for charities and giving back to communities." 

Since 1993, Mercedes-Benz dealers have hosted tournaments in their local communities for golf enthusiasts and customers as part of the Mercedes-Benz Dealer Golf Championship.  The entry fees are donated to charities as part of the tournament activities.  In 2012, the Mercedes-Benz Dealer Championship program consisted of 84 tournaments played by over 5,850 participants that raised $2.15 million for charity.  The regional sectionals were played at Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Hawaii in November.  

The Mercedes-Benz Dealer Championship program in the U.S is part of a globally supported group of International tournaments with more than 65,000 people participating per year from 60 countries. 

Courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz Newsroom

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If everyone was like Corey, no one could beat them." - Barry E. 

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Mercedes-Benz TV: Torie shows two world premieres in New York

Mercedes-Benz presents the all new CLA 45 AMG at this year's New York Auto Show. MB-Reporter Torie was on location and shows you another trend-setting highlight: the B-Class Electric Drive.

LIKE if you LOVE the new models!

Dramatic Increase In Teen Driver Deaths Sparks Outreach Efforts During National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, a DMV-certified driving school, kicks off National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April with distracted driving demonstrations and programs focused on parent involvement in teen driver education and training.

Last month, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) issued a report that showed nationwide the number of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths increased by 19 percent for the first six months of 2012. As part of the report, the GHSA recommended parent involvement in teen driver education programs as a way to curb car crashes and fatalities among teens. 

"Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy involves parents throughout our Integrated Driving Program because they play an instrumental role in the development of their teens' safe driving habits," said Carolyn Duchene , director of Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy. "Parents must remember that their driving behaviors are being witnessed and replicated by their teen drivers. So, it's important that parents not only remind their teens about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving, but they must also be good role models behind-the-wheel."

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is offering distracted driving demonstrations to teens as part of California Teen Safe Driving Week, which kicks off National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The demonstration will take place on April 2nd at 8:00 a.m. at John Burroughs High School in Burbank, CA.

The demonstration allows students to drive on a closed course, first without distractions, and then again with the introduction of distractions – ranging from noisy passengers to cell phone usage to performing simple tasks within the vehicle.  The demonstration provides a firsthand experience with the physical and emotional effects of driving distracted.

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is also encouraging teens and parents to pledge not to drive distracted and to share the pledge on social media channels, including its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MBDrivingAcademyUSA. 

Throughout April, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is offering free Parent Teen Workshops at their facility located at 8231 West 3rd Street in Los Angeles.  During the workshops, certified Driving Coaches provide valuable information on Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, teen driving statistics, and strategies for safe driving.  Plus, during the month of April the Academy is offering additional distracted driving workshops and additional activities in the Los Angeles area.

Courtesy of: Mercedes-Benz Newsroom