History Is Made- The SLS AMG GT3 Takes To The Race Track

Another chapter in the motorsports history of AMG opens this weekend when the SLS AMG GT3 makes its racing debut on the famous Nurburgring in Germany as part of the German VLN Series.

AMG drivers Bernd Schneider and Tomas Jager will handle the driving duties.

Gullwing takes to the racetrack for the first time


Racing debut for the SLS AMG GT3 on the legendary Nürburgring "Nordschleife"

Affalterbach – On Saturday, 25th September 2010 the new SLS AMG GT3 will join the starting lineup on the racetrack for the first time. Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger will be taking part in the four-hour race for the VLN Nürburgring endurance championship. Training for the 42nd ADAC Barbarossa Cup begins at 8.30 a.m. and the race starts at 12.00 noon.

This first racetrack appearance of the SLS AMG GT3 at the VLN event (VLN = Association of Nürburgring Endurance Cup Organisers, with 10 motorsport clubs) is a fixed part of the development and testing programme which commenced in June 2010. The four-hour race on the legendary "Nordschleife" ("North Loop") of the Nürburgring will test the gullwing model under realistic racing conditions. The focus will not only be on fast lap times, but also on the durability of all components, service-friendliness and smooth procedures during pitstops and driver changes. During this race on the 20.8-kilometre long Nürburgring "Nordschleife" – which is acknowledged to be the world's most demanding racetrack – the chosen suspension setup will be assessed under racing conditions for the first time.

Developed according to the GT3 rules of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the SLS AMG GT3 will take to the starting line for the VLN race in prototype class E1-XP.

Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug: "The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 will start a new era in Mercedes-Benz customer motorsports. This car is an exciting and spectacular sporting tool for committed private teams and talented private drivers. Together with our well-proven sports and touring car partner HWA, AMG will establish a customer motorsports department, and ensure the usual high level of Mercedes service for its motorsports customers."

The drivers for this racetrack debut of the SLS AMG GT3 are Bernd Schneider (46) – who has been a Mercedes-Benz works driver for many years and is also an AMG brand ambassador – and Thomas Jäger (33). With five DTM titles, one ITC championship and one FIA GT championship to his name, Bernd Schneider is one of the most successful German racing drivers. Thomas Jäger is the reigning Porsche Carrera Cup (Germany) champion, and drove in the DTM for Mercedes-Benz between 2000 and 2003. This season he is lining up in the ADAC GT-Masters (Germany). Like Bernd Schneider, he is a member of the instructor team at the AMG Driving Academy.

Cooperation between AMG and HWA AG

The racing version of the SLS AMG is being developed and produced by AMG in close cooperation with HWA AG. The HWA team is one of the most successful in international motorsport, as shown by nine driver championships in the DTM and ITC, as well as two championship titles in the FIA GT Championships. No other brand has won as many DTM races and DTM titles as AMG-Mercedes.

Interested racing teams can enter the new SLS AMG GT3 in all race series under the FIA GT3 regulations, for example the FIA GT3 European Championship, the ADAC GT-Masters and the endurance championship organised by the VLN (Association of Nürburgring Endurance Cup Organisers, with 10 motorsport clubs) as well as the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring or Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).

Orders for the SLS AMG GT3 placed directly with Mercedes-AMG

Orders can be placed directly with Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The sales price is
€ 334,000 (net)/€ 397,460 (incl. 19% VAT). The vehicle is only available with
left-hand drive. Deliveries commence in February 2011, following homologation by the FIA in accordance with the GT3 regulations.

Interested in the street legal version of the AMG SLS or any other new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz vehicle visit us at http://www.hendrickmotorsofcharlotte.com/.

All New Mercedes Benz "Faithful" Commercial

There is nothing that makes someone more faithful to a car brand than a car that is faithful to them.


To find a faithful Mercedes-Benz for yourself, visit us at http://www.hendrickmotorsofcharlotte.com/

New Video Testimonials on Mercedes-Benz Safety

MERCEDES-BENZ USA SHARES OWNER STORIES OF SURVIVAL AND PERSPECTIVE


MONTVALE, NJ – Seven stories, literally life-changing, appear today as short films on MBUSA.com, the web site for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). The unscripted accounts told by real customers are the byproduct of a collaboration between MBUSA’s fullservice marketing agency Merkley + Partners and its digital marketing agency Razorfish to creatively express one of the key features that sets Mercedes-Benz apart in the minds of many of its customers: the ability of a Mercedes-Benz to protect its occupants when they are most vulnerable.The common threads running through all the stories are phrases like:

• “I can’t believe we walked away”

• “The fireman told me ‘if you can live through that then I want my wife driving that car’”

• “I truly believe I owe that car my life and (my daughter’s) life.”

• “I decided I would never drive another car unless it was a Mercedes. The police told me I would have been dead in any other car.”

• “The car absorbed all the force. It saved our lives.”

• “I feel so strongly about it – it’s not just a pretty car – it will save your life.”

• “Everyone told me that it was our car that saved us - both insurance companies, the police, the people in the ambulance. That specific car is the reason we walked away.”

• “We’ve always been very loyal Mercedes customers, and after this accident we will never ever buy another brand of car.”

Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for MBUSA says, “We literally have hundreds and hundreds of these experiences sent to us by our customers and we all agreed that we had to find a way to bring these experiences to life and share the stories of survival and perspective. We wanted the stories to be powerful but also authentic and, most of all, we wanted them to share the perspective that these people walked away with.” The campaign, known as “Impact,” which was shot by documentary filmmaker Henry Corra, is accessible via the MBUSA.com home page or directly at (www.MBUSA.com/Impact) beginning today. Once on the site, viewers can roll over the images to bring up the owners and then click to view their stories. Each feature story includes additional content that brings the owners, their families and their extraordinary circumstances to life. Three of the films were previewed on the Mercedes-Benz brand Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mercedesbenzusa) where they sparked a stream ofsimilar experiences from other owners.

If you'd like to join these loyal "survivors" and obtain your own Mercedes-Benz vehicle, contact us at http://www.hendrickmotorsofcharlotte.com/ today.

Mercedes-Benz USA Driving the USTA's Green Misson at the 2010 US Open

Alec Baldwin, celebrity spokesperson for the USTA green initiatives arrives at the US Open on Opening Night in the Mercedes-Benz F-CELL, a hydrogen electric vehicle powered by a fuel cell.

As the Official Vehicle of the US Open, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announces today that it is a driving force behind the USTA’s commitment to green initiatives by providing Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID sedans and Mercedes-Benz F-CELL (Hydrogen Electric Vehicle powered by a fuel cell) vehicles representing 60 percent of the fleet used for player and VIP transportation during the 2010 US Open tournament.

As an innovator in luxury eco-transportation, Mercedes-Benz is dispatching its F-CELL hydrogen fuel vehicles with zero emissions in addition to 75 S400 HYBRID vehicles in an effort to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the US Open tournament. The US Open launched its comprehensive environmental program three years ago and continues to expand green initiatives each year. In 2010, key initiatives include recycling, energy management, composting and utilizing paper products comprised of at least 30% post-consumer waste. In addition, a new green PSA campaign is planned featuring Alec Baldwin.
“We are very excited to participate in the USTA’s environmental strategy and positively impact the US Open green initiatives through the Mercedes-Benz transportation fleet. By tapping our portfolio of eco vehicles, we can provide athletes, staff and officials with green transportation without having to sacrifice luxury or safety,” said Stephen Cannon, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. “Over the next four years, Mercedes-Benz is committed to exploring new ways through innovative eco mobility to help the USTA expand their environmental initiatives.”

MERCEDES-BENZ S400 HYBRID
The S400 HYBRID features the world’s first lithium-ion battery designed specifically for automotive use. The light-weight, high-capacity lithium-ion battery works with a 20-horsepower electric motor and a 275-hp V6 gasoline engine to provide hybrid power with impressive fuel economy estimated at 30 miles per gallon on the highway making it the clear GREEN choice for the US Open transportation fleet.

An added bonus of driving green cars like the Mercedes-Benz Hybrid, beyond not sacrificing space, safety or luxury, is the IRS alternative-powertrain tax credit. The Mercedes-Benz hybrid credit for the S400H is $1150. The current tax credit for the S400 HYBRID is $1150. To view Hendrick Motors of Charlotte's inventory of S400 Hybrid vehicles click HERE.

MERCEDES-BENZ F-CELL
Essentially an electric car that makes its own power on board, the new Mercedes-Benz F-CELL has a range of about 240 miles refueling with refueling taking only a few minutes. Running on compressed hydrogen, the F-CELL boasts an equivalent fuel mileage of 71.3 city-highway combined miles per gallon and water is the F-CELL’s only emission.

ABOUT THE USTA
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game.It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games.The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics, build character and strive for excellence. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

5th AMG 1-2 of the year as DiResta wins DTM Brands Hatch

AMG Mercedes C-Class drivers scored their 5th 1-2 finish of the year in the DTM (German Touring Car Masters) Championship as Paul DiResta drove his AMG Driving Academy C-Class from pole position to a 7.4 second victory over HWA Team mate and series points leader Bruno Spengler at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent in the UK. Abt Audi Sport A4 driver and reigning Champion Timo Scheider finished 3rd while up and coming Spanish youngster Miguel Molina brought his Abt Rookie Sport A4 home 4th. Salzgitter HWA AMG C-Class driver Gary Paffett came across the line in fifth. This win is the 158th for AMG Mercedes since joining the DTM in 1986.

Brands Hatch DTM Sept. 5th
1. Paul DiResta- AMG Driving Academy HWA AMG C-Class
2. Bruno Spengler Daimler Bank HWA AMG C-Class
3. Timo Scheider Audi Top Service Abt Sport Audi A4
4. Miguel Molina Abt Rookie Sportline Audi A4
5.Gary Paffett Salzgitter HWA AMG C-Class
6.Oliver Jarvis Abt Sportline Audi A4
7.Martin Tomczyk Abt Sportline Audi A4
8.Alex Primat Audi Sport Team Phoenix A4
9. Mike Rockenfeller Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi A4
10.Jamie Green Junge Stern Persson Motorsport AMG C-Class

Next race is back at Hockenheim on October 17th.

Hendrick Motors of Charlotte is your exclusive AMG Performance Center for this area. Click here to visit our website.