Archive for the ‘Mercedes-Benz’ Category

Saving money while going green just got a little easier with the recent release of Forbes’ Best Green Cars for the Buck list. We make your going green efforts even easier by offering four of these great value green vehicles at your favorite Performance Auto dealerships.

The Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Volkswagen Golf TDI all made the Best Green Cars for the Buck list based on their total cost of ownership over five years. The total cost of ownership was determined based on the following factors:

• Manufacturer suggested retail price
• Depreciation
• Taxes and fees
• Fuel costs
• Insurance
• Interest
• Maintenance and repairs

Toyota Prius:

The Toyota Prius hybrid sedan, which starts at $26,850, offers drivers:

• 51 city/48 highway miles per gallon
• $36,564 total cost of ownership over five years*

Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

The hybrid model of the popular Toyota Highlander starts at $37,490 and features:

• 28 city/28 highway miles per gallon
• Low fuel costs compared to other SUVs on the market
• $46,541 total cost of ownership over five years*

Mercedes-Benz M-Class:

Starting at $55,790 this premium hybrid SUV offers:

• 21 city/24 highway miles per gallon
• $65,499 total cost of ownership over five years*

Volkswagen Golf TDI:

With a starting price of $24,535, the VW Golf TDI features:

• 30 city/41 highway miles per gallon
• Clean diesel technology
• 36,224 total cost of ownership over five years*

If you’re ready to save money and go green at the same time, check out our lineup of green vehicles in person at your local Performance Auto dealership or online at www.PerformanceAuto.com!

*Data from www.Forbes.com

If you’ve ever wished you could take your Internet radio apps like Pandora and iheartradio with you on the road, you’re in luck. Ford, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz are all teaming up with cell phone companies and these internet based radio apps to bring your favorite tunes to your favorite vehicles by the end of this year.

The biggest block for most automakers with bringing smart phones and entertainment systems together is making it easy for drivers to use. Until recently, most drivers had to use a complicated series of wires and extra attachments to hook their systems together. Ford AppLink, Toyota Entune and Mercedes-Benz Interface Plus are making using your cell phone’s internet radio capabilities a breeze.

Ford AppLink

Ford AppLink works together with the Ford SYNC system to make using Pandora and iheartradio easy to use in your vehicle. Most applications with AppLink are operated with voice control so drivers never have to take their eyes off the road to switch between songs.

Toyota Entune

Toyota Entune requires you to download the Toyota mobile app to your phone, where you can then access in-car applications, such as Pandora and iheartradio. Entune gives you the option of using an in-vehicle touch screen or voice commands to control your applications.

Mercedes-Benz Interface Plus

Mercedes-Benz Interface Plus allows you to connect your iPhone to your stereo using a simple connector. You can then access and control Pandora and iheartradio from your vehicle’s in-dash stereo controls.

If that all sounds great, but you still have no idea what Pandora and iheart radio are, here’s what you need to know:

• Pandora is an internet-based radio app you can use on your personal computer or on your smart phone. Song lists are created for you based off of songs and artists you choose.
• Iheartradio is an internet-based radio app from Clear Channel Communications. It gives you the ability to listen to over 750 of America’s favorite radio stations from 150 cities across the US.
• Both applications are available for iPhones and most Android and Blackberry phones.

All of this new technology is making it easier than ever for you to use your smart phone with your vehicle. Discover how your phone can take your vehicle’s entertainment system to the next level today!

Electric cars are making their way to Nebraska… are you ready? By 2013, you’ll be able to purchase electric cars from your favorite Performance Auto dealerships. Before you purchase an electric vehicle, though, you need to make sure your home is ready to support one.

Some of the vehicles that will be available from Performance Auto in the coming months include:

• Ford Focus Electric
• Smart Electric
• Mercedes-Benz Electric SLS AMG
• Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
• Toyota RAV4-EV
• Volkswagen E-Up
• Volkswagen Golf Electric
• Honda small plug-in electric commuter car (not yet named)
• Honda mid-sized plug-in vehicle (not yet named)

When you decide to begin your search for an electric vehicle in Omaha, you should contact Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) and engage them in the process. They will be able to provide you with information on getting your home plug-in ready and make you aware of your charging options.

When looking for an electric vehicle, consider the following:

• How often will you use your electric vehicle? This will affect how often it needs charged, which will affect the wiring your will need in your home.
• Are you buying a plug-in hybrid or a battery electric car? Both types of vehicles have different charging times and different driving ranges.
• What type of charging is right for you: Level One or Level Two?

Level One Charging:  Level One charging is done on a standard 120-volt outlet and typically will not require a system upgrade. A full charge for a battery electric vehicle takes 12-24 hours.

Level Two Charging: Level Two charging is done on a 240-volt outlet and requires changes to your electric panel and adding a new circuit.

Once you’ve decided what electric vehicle options are best for you, make sure your home is prepared to charge your new vehicle. To prepare your home, follow these tips:

• Research and obtain any city permits needed for electrical work.
• Hire an electrical contractor to ensure any electrical work is done safely and properly.
• Contact OPPD and to estimate how much an electric car will impact your electric bill.
• Complete the electric vehicle readiness checklist at www.oppd.com/ev.

Follow these steps on you’ll be ready to take home your own electric vehicle when they hit our showroom floors!

With style and sophistication, the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class will be rolling into Mercedes-Benz of Omaha this summer. Updated to give you be the best in luxury and performance, the 2012 C-Class is expected to have a starting price around $34,000.

The performance-driven car boasts a direct-injected 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which delivers 201 horsepower and 229 lb.-ft. of torque. Even more impressive is its 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency over the previous C-class model. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class car achieves a combined 24 miles per gallon.

The improvements don’t stop with the engine. The 2012 C-Class features a new aluminum hood, which reduces the weight of the vehicle to improve gas mileage. It also has modified headlamps and LED running lamps to give drivers better visibility. 

Interior improvements to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class include:

• Premium fine-grain finish dashboard
• New stylish trim elements
• High-resolution color display in the instrument cluster
• New navigation system
• Wireless Bluetooth connection
• USB interface in front armrest

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class drivers can feel safe and confident with new safety features designed to reduce common causes of car accidents. These features include:

• Attention Assist Drowsiness Detection System
• Park Assist
• Blind Spot Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist

“In terms of driveline and safety systems, the new-generation C-Class offers the comfort and safety of our luxury vehicles—and with many high-end details in the interior evocative of the new CLS, the new C-Class sets completely new benchmarks in its segment when it comes to premium look and feel,” said Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars.

If you demand performance and luxury in your vehicles, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class could be the perfect fit for you.

If you’ve visited the gas station recently, you may have noticed a new fuel label—E85. What is E85? Can your vehicle run on it? We’re here to answer these questions and more.

E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. The 85 percent ethanol is made from fermented corn or other grain products. Because of this, E85 is fairly easy to find in the Midwest, where the majority of the nation’s corn is grown.

Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Honda all make vehicles capable of running on E85.  Vehicles such as the Ford F-150, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango, also known as flexible-fuel vehicles, are able to run on a variety of fuels. They work with 100 percent E85, 100 percent pump gasoline or any combination of ethanol and gasoline. A special computer in each vehicle monitors these fuels and helps the vehicle run efficiently on whichever fuel you choose to fill up with.

E85 has many advantages over gasoline:
• E85 is up to 30 cents cheaper to fill-up with per gallon.
• E85 keeps fuel systems cleaner than gasoline, which results in potentially lower long-term maintenance costs.
• E85 vehicles have lower carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions than gas or diesel vehicles.
• E85 is a renewable resource.
• E85 can help lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

Ready to switch to E85? Check out our lineup of flexible fuel vehicles at www.PerformanceAuto.com.