MN Cars & Coffee June 2013
Jun 3rd
Summer has finally arrived and the weather actually cooperated for Cars & Coffee this past Saturday. Though we were forecasting a rainy week the sun decided to make an appearance just long enough for us to have a great event. The turnout was the best we have seen yet this year, since we had been battling a long winter and non-existent spring.
This month we brought out a 2010 Ferrari California, a 2013 Bentley Continental GTC V8 and a 2006 Flying Spur. As always our luxury cars drew a lot of attention, but this month was extra special with the appearance of Matthew’s fully restored 1968 Dodge Charger. Early in January Morrie’s Auto Group partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota to help grant Matthew’s wish of having his 1968 Dodge Charger restored. We were thrilled to be able to get involved with the foundation to help with the restoration. After 5 long months Matthew’s car is finally complete and we surprised him with it on Friday. He brought the vehicle out to Cars and Coffee on Saturday and it was quite the hit. Spectators flocked to the vehicle to take a peek under the hood and get the chance to meet Matthew.
Check out our photos from this month’s event below and make sure to head out to the Automotorplex for MN C&C next month. Historically July has the largest turnout of the season! For more information visit the MN C&C website.
Miracles of Mitch Race Car Day at the Children’s Hospital
May 15th
If you’ve been actively reading our blog, you already know that Morrie’s Minnetonka Mazda and Twin Cities Luxury Auto have been working together to help build a Mazda2 B-Spec Racecar for one of our loyal clients, John McCarthy.
The Mazda2 racecar build is complete and TCLA Service Manager, Michael Ashby has been working closely with McCarthy and the Miracles of Mitch Foundation to raise money for children in need. Ashby and McCarthy became aware of the Miracles of Mitch Foundation when they participated in an event sponsored by our Mazda and TCLA stores. The event allowed us, as well as our customers to donate a bike to the Miracles of Mitch Foundation for each car that was sold in April. McCarthy and Ashby felt inspired to continue a partnership with the Miracles of Mitch Foundation. To them, the foundation carries a message that everyone needs to hear and they decided to embrace the idea of helping the foundation to raise funds.
McCarthy, Ashby and other members of the Morrie’s Automotive Group and Twin Cities Luxury Auto recently brought the Mazda2 Racecar to the people who would likely appreciate it the most, the children of the Miracles of Mitch Foundation. During a recent event, children were able to trace their handprints and sign a decal in the color of their choosing before if was transferred onto the racecar. The kids loved the idea that their handprints would be with the drivers on the car during the race competitions it will be competing in.
We all had a great time meeting the children, we gave out coloring sheets and a model car for them to play with and they selected the spot on the Mazda2 where they wanted their handprints to go. The next event will be held at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Hospital where we hope to get more handprints to fill the other half of the car.
The idea for the signing came from Michael Ashby, who is a father of two. He believes that parents will appreciate the Miracles of Mitch Foundation’s message for many reasons. We here at Morrie’s and TCLA believe that helping children with illness is a benefit for many, but it also gives parents an opportunity to teach their children about Mitch’s message and his desire to help others and give back.
At the end of the year the Mazda2 is prepared to compete in the 25 hours of Thunderhill Endurance Race and we hope to get sponsorships for each hour we compete, with all the proceeds going to the Miracles of Mitch Foundation. The car is also prepared to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge, which has venues across the United States and the Regional and National Sports Car Club of America. You will be seeing the Mazda2 much closer to home in Brainerd Minnesota over Memorial Day as well. We are very excited to see the Mazda2 compete at some of America’s most celebrated and historic racetracks all while helping give back to the foundation.
Racing is important to the people that compete, however, the Miracles of Mitch Foundation has helped everybody involved with a focus on the things that are really important. As Ashby and McCarthy say, “that is Mitch’s gift to us all”. Mitch is an inspiration, his desire to give back and help others has set all the wheels in motion for this partnership and we are so proud to be able to give back to such a wonderful community organization.
2013 Tom James Spring Trunk Show
May 3rd
This week the folks from the Tom James Company made a visit to Twin Cities Luxury Auto and customers stopped by to check out some of the latest fashions for spring.
Tom James provided refreshments and appetizers for this event, which was held all day Thursday and Friday. The turnout was great and the quality garments were a great match for our clientele.
The Tom James Company was originally founded in 1966 by a gentleman named Spencer Hays. The company was based out of Nashville, TN and is the largest custom clothing manufacturer in the world. Tom James Company prepares custom tailored suits, sport jackets, pants, as well as other bespoke clothing. Minneapolis is a large market for Tom James clothing and this is one of 2 trunk shows held each year.
We are proud to be able to work with Tom James Company to put on this exclusive event. For more information on the company visit their website here.
Maserati Quattroporte Launch Party at Twin Cities Luxury Auto
Apr 25th
Last week marked the arrival of the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte here at Twin Cities luxury Auto. “It was a welcome break from the dreary spring we had been having and there’s nothing like a lot of action on the show floor to really wake everybody up out of our wintery hibernation and remind us that we still work with some of the most fantastic vehicles available today” said Service Manager Michael Ashby.
The beautifully redesigned luxury vehicle features both v6 and v8 engine options and pricing falls just north of $100,000. Sales Associate Q Ballard agrees that “The All-New Quattroporte has incredible lines and the sculpted body is nothing short of astonishing.” The new vehicle is packed with technological improvements including a rearview camera for parking and reverse assist, keyless entry and a push button start, a first for Maserati. The new model has more power than the outgoing model but with the addition of AWD it will be a great year-round option. “Because we live and work in Minnesota, a beautiful state regardless of the season, an AWD Maserati makes sense.” Says Digital Marketing Specialist Kevin Finley.
You could feel the excitement amongst the guests as they arrived and saw the car displayed under full covers. When the time came to finally reveal the car, a collective round of applause greeted the newest addition to the Maserati line-up. “The reaction was very positive and more people than I anticipated were drawn to the V6 engine variant,” said Ashby.
Ashby explains, “As the engine was started on the V8 car it was clear that Maserati engineers had been able to keep the seductive yet throaty rumble from the old car alive in this all-new twin turbo V8. This car boasts a massive increase of almost 80hp over the old model, which really moves this car into a league of its own in terms of sports capability and luxury trappings.”
We were very pleased with the turnout of the event and we would like to thank those of you in attendance for helping us to welcome this beautiful addition to the Maserati line-up. The Quattroporte will return once again here at Twin Cities Luxury Auto in June 2013. If you have any questions or are interested in placing an order, give us a call at (952) 797-1777.
First Look at The All-New Maserati Ghibli
Apr 9th
The official debut of Maserati’s four-door sports sedan, the 2014 Ghibli will take place at the Shanghai Motor Show later on this month, but Maserati has just released a few official images to the press. This vehicle will be available with two turbocharged 3.0 liter v6 engines, an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear wheel drive along with the new Q4 all-wheel drive system. For more information check out the official Press Release below:
Twin Cities Luxury Auto at the 2013 New York International Auto Show
Apr 3rd
This year Twin Cities Luxury Auto made a trip to New York City for the 113th Annual New York International Auto Show. We saw all the hottest new models and got to experience all the excitement that comes along with one of the nation’s largest auto shows. We are thrilled to be able to share our exclusive footage with you of some of the brands offered here at Twin Cities Luxury Auto.
The new Bentley Flying Spur, the world’s most refined performance sedan, made its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show. “We’re excited to show the new Flying Spur in one of Bentley’s most important markets in the world — New York,” said Christophe Georges, President and COO, Bentley Motors, Inc. Check out our footage from the press conference below.
The completely refreshed Bentley was clearly designed with comfort and luxury in mind and embraces styling cues from the Mulsanne as well as the Continental GT. Exterior updates include a lower roof profile, sharper lines, and rounded surfaces, which make this vehicle appear lower and wider than its predecessor. Under the hood, the Flying Spur features a twin-turbocharged 6.0 W12 liter engine that helps the vehicle to achieve 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds. The new Flying Spur will reach top speeds of 200-mph making this the fasted four-door sedan Bentley has ever produced. The interior is updated with over 600-new components including the latest in entertainment features. Check out our video below to learn more.
Since we often see a number of Porsche models on our Show Floor here at TCLA, we thought you would enjoy exclusive coverage of the all-new 2014 911 GT3. The 911 celebrated 50 years in the U.S. by debuting at the New York Auto Show. The GT3 is equipped with a 3.8-litre flat-six cylinder engine that generates 475 horsepower. The new 911 is quicker than its predecessor with an estimated 0-60 sprint of just 3.3 seconds. A new front splitter and fully functional rear wing elements provide significant aerodynamic down force. Keep your eye out for the GT3 in the US this fall with an expected base price around $130,000.
Check out our photo album below that features a number of different luxury and exotic vehicles that we saw at the New York International Auto Show.
Twin Cities Luxury Auto at the 2013 Twin Cities Auto Show
Mar 15th
Twin Cities Luxury Auto is proud to present two of our finest vehicles in inventory at the 2013 Twin Cities Auto Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Gracing Luxury Lane is a 2013 Maserati GranTurismo Sport finished in Rosso Trio and a 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 in Dragon Red – an absolute stunner.
The exhilaration of driving a Bentley to the Convention Center, and further driving the new Continental GT V8, a vehicle that can cost over 200k, is just something not many people get to experience. While the drive was nice, and the process of getting into Luxury Lane a little stressful, overall I think that for possible future clients the only thing they’ll experience is pure joy. The GT V8 is a great option for those potential buyers who want the best new thing to come from the Crewe factory, and want to see how a V8 performs in Coupe as opposed to the much larger Mulsanne. With the addition of the V8 engine comes better fuel and engine management systems as well as the new release color in Dragon Red.
As for the Maserati, this GranTurismo will turn heads and keep people talking long after you’ve passed them by. With a Ferrari-assembled engine, the GranTurismo Sport just doesn’t sound like anything else on the road, save for a Ferrari. The engineers and designers in Italy have prided themselves on creating one of the most exhilarating and best looking and sounding cars in history. While its looks may suggest otherwise, this elegant refined Maserati has a mean side and when switched over to Manual Sport mode break neck acceleration is right at your fingertips.
The 2013 Twin Cities Auto Show is open from March 9th to March 17th and features over $15 million in new vehicles. Cadillac, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln, Ford and Nissan all have a presence plus many more brands across the spectrum. Come to Twin Cities Luxury Auto or any of Morrie’s dealerships and ask for a discounted ticket for the 2013 Twin Cities Auto Show. Also be sure to check out Luxury Lane and see the 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 and the 2013 Maserati GranTurismo Sport. We’ll be looking for you!
Mazda2 B-Spec Racecar Build
Mar 11th
Phase 3: The Roll Cage and Wrap
With spring closing in, the Mazda 2 is making speedy progress to its completion. With all the performance modifications done and the interior completely removed we are ready to move onto phase three, the wrap and cage.
Designing and installing a roll cage is not a very simple task. To save us time and one massive headache we left it to the experts at S-Box Engineering to design the Mazda 2′s roll cage.
Mazda2 B-Spec Racecar Build
Mar 1st
Phase 2: The Diet
If you’ve been following our blog, you know that we have teamed up with Morrie’s Minnetonka Mazda to build a Mazda2 B-Spec racecar for one of our loyal clients. To read about the racecar build from the beginning, check out our phase 1 blog post.
Since its mechanical makeover, our project B-Spec Mazda 2 has since been on a weight loss regimen. With the last encounter, the Mazda 2 had a full mechanical makeover to fulfill SCCA requirements in the performance aspect of things. The next part of this adventure takes us to the diet.
Weight plays a key factor with any vehicles performance. When designing new vehicles, many manufactures and engineers struggle with finding new ways to make cars lighter. It plagues engine performance, efficiency, and handling. In racing, it also has the same negative effects. Since we are working on a production vehicle and need to comply with SCCA guidelines for showroom stock, the only way to lose weight is to pitch things we don’t need (which is pretty much everything inside the 2).
Twin Cities Luxury Auto Visits the 2013 Detroit Auto Show
Jan 18th
Attending a major US auto show is something that every auto enthusiast needs to do before he dies. The shows in LA, Detroit and New York completely blow away shows like we have here in Minneapolis. These shows are the only places where you can see the latest and greatest offerings from the brands we sell — Bentley and Maserati. We were fortunate enough to attend the 2013 Detroit Auto show earlier this week and can say with confidence that Maserati and Bentley did not disappoint. Continue reading for full details plus images of other exciting new cars at the show.
