Corporate News

Christmas Comes Early in Germany

Words Garrick Hatfield | September 13, 2013
Mercedes-Benz is hitting the floor with an all-new GLA crossover, the wildly-racy-for-a-sedan S63 AMG, and a new generation S-Class coupe
Words Garrick Hatfield September 13, 2013

Frohe Weihnachten, everyone! OK, so it’s not the officially sanctioned holiday season just yet, neither here nor in Germany, but this time of year is as good as it gets for car junkies. The annual International Motor Show in Frankfurt – the largest auto show in the world – is among us, and boy, am I pumped! The rumble of tailpipes, the flash of headlights, the invigoration of taking a seat behind the wheels of the finest automobiles in the world – to me, there’s nothing better. I can’t wait to see what surprises the auto industry has in store for us!

Allow me to digress; most auto shows don’t have me frothing at the mouth. In fact, working a show as a sales person is usually torture, to put it mildly. Fielding an onslaught of questions, navigating throngs of people – by the end of the day, you’re a walking zombie. Even the most fervent car enthusiast like myself finds their excitement waning. But the Frankfurt show is different, peeps. This is the crème de la crème, the Super Bowl, the Olympics of auto shows and it never disappoints. Mark my words, the world will be watching to get a glimpse of all the new benchmarks in automotive advancements.

For me, this year is more special than normal because Mercedes-Benz has a lineup ready to unveil that will knock it out of the park! But that’s no surprise, really. And as we say in Texas, if you’re not the lead dog of the pack, the scenery never changes. Let me tell you, Mercedes-Benz has earned its rightful place as the head of the pack, and you can bet they’re there to stay.

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLA Crossover

Alright, alright. Enough foreplay (we’re talking cars here, folks). Mercedes-Benz is hitting the floor with the all-new GLA crossover, the wildly-racy-for-a-sedan S63 AMG, and the new generation S-Class coupe that has everyone swooning. Plus advances in Electric Drive, forward-thinking Intelligent Drive technology, astounding 0 to 62mph capability in 3.9 seconds, and a multi-camera system that continually evaluates surroundings for safety hazards. Ahhhhh, this lineup it not just awe-inspiring, it’s a whole lot awe-some!

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes S 63 AMG

With the amount of buzz already generated by the soon-to-be-released ’14 CLA-Class later this month, I’m beyond excited about the GLA crossover and the new markets Mercedes-Benz is bridging. You know the old saying, “This ain’t your daddy’s Benz” – well, with nearly 20 years experience with the brand, I say, they’re absolutely right. Mercedes-Benz is poised to set the market on fire with their new releases catered to satisfying the thirst of a new demographic – the so-called “millennials.” But worry not, Gen Y and Baby Boomers, the greatest brand and car company in the world has something for everyone.

From now through September 22, I’ll be waiting by my computer, giddy as a kid on Christmas morning, regularly checking updates from the show. What’s that? I have a dealership to run? All in a day’s work, my friends. All in a day’s work.

~ Garrick Hatfield, GM at Alex Rodriguez, League City, TX