With Record September, Mercedes-Benz Keeps Pace for Its Best Sales Year Ever

HAVERHILL, MASS. (10/16/2012)(readMedia)-- Record September sales have helped Mercedes-Benz stay on pace for its best year yet in the United States, moving 23,156 units last month for a 7-percent increase year-over-year. Meanwhile, the luxury automaker has now sold a record 191,618 units year-to-date, a 13-percent jump compared to the same period last year.

Once again, the gateway Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the lineup's sales leader last month, selling 15 percent more models than in September 2011. Buyers have responded to the C-Class following its refresh for the 2012 model year, which brought more power and better fuel economy, as well as a new coupe version. For the 2013 model year, a new 3.5-liter V6 engine is now featured in the Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC, producing 248 horsepower and returning up to 28 mpg on the highway. Those numbers represent increases of 20 horsepower and four miles per gallon compared to the outgoing model.

"For the 2012 model year, Mercedes-Benz updated the C350's V6 and introduced a four-cylinder in the new C250 trim, but for 2013, the C300 finally gets a new powerplant for better performance and efficiency," said James Buckley, general manager of Smith Motor Sales, a Haverhill, MA Mercedes-Benz dealer. "While the C250 is perfect for cruising around on less gas, the all-wheel-drive C300 brings added confidence during New England's snowy winters, and the C350 has the power to make blasting down back roads an unforgettable experience."

Mercedes-Benz has geared the C-Class toward younger buyers, equipping the car with the technology they expect from a luxury vehicle. Standard Bluetooth compatibility lets drivers stay connected with hands-free calling or streaming audio from a smartphone, while options like a Harman Kardon surround-sound system and 10 GB of music storage can enhance listening enjoyment. Mercedes-Benz's mbrace infotainment system also comes standard, allowing owners to lock the C-Class remotely with a smartphone or find Yelp restaurant recommendations on the go.

Car buyers looking for innovative technology in the form of an alternative drivetrain will have a zero-emission Mercedes-Benz to consider in the not-too-distant future. According to Car and Driver, the B-Class Electric Drive concept car that recently debuted at the Paris Motor Show will eventually make its way to the United States as a production model, and it will be the only B-Class vehicle to come stateside.

Powered by a 134-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive concept has a manufacturer-estimated range of up to 125 miles, and the numbers of the production model are not expected to change much. The five-passenger hatchback concept features soft Nappa leather surfaces throughout the cabin, while perforated seat panels lend a sportier feel. Future drivers of the B-Class Electric Drive will also be able to check the vehicle's charge remotely on their PC or smartphone, and planned routes will be displayed as well to identify charging stations along the way.

"The luxury car buyers that have always found the idea of an electric vehicle appealing will finally have an option that sacrifices nothing in terms of style and comfort when the B-Class arrives," added Buckley. "It means a lot for the EV market that Mercedes-Benz is introducing its own electric car, because the automaker seems to always raise the bar when it introduces a new vehicle to a segment."

About Smith Motor Sales:

For more than 75 years, Smith Motor Sales has brought Mercedes-Benz ownership to customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Smith Motor Sales has remained an elite Mercedes-Benz dealer throughout the years through their commitment to customer service and their wide selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as their expert service and parts staff. Browse their inventory online at www.smithmercedesdealer.com, stop by their showroom at 420 River Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmithMercedes, or reach them by phone at 978-372-2552.