Events
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.
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!
Maserati Factory Tour in Turin, Italy
Nov 6th
All-Wheel Drive Maserati’s in Minneapolis used to be a dream. In 2013, the dream becomes a reality. The new generation Quattroporte will have an all-wheel drive option.
The New Quattroporte was secretly displayed for Maserati dealers to see in Turin, Italy on October 16, 2012. So, of course, I had to make the trip!
The town of Turin is absolutely beautiful and full of history. The food isn’t bad either! When I wasn’t sampling the fine Italian food and wine, I was sight-seeing.
Maserati Trademarks “Levante” for Mid-Size Sedan; 2014 Maserati Quattroporte Spy Photos
Mar 9th
Maserati Quattroporte
The mid-size luxury sedan market is a big one, and it’s a segment that Maserati is chomping at the bit to enter. BMW, Mercedes and Audi sell hundreds of thousands of E-segment cars every year, and there is huge opportunity for Maserati to compete in this market segment. The folks in Modena confirmed some time ago that there would soon be a Maserati to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series, but they didn’t tell us what it would be called. Quattroporte Bambino, perhaps? Maybe Maseratina as it’s called inside Maserati?
Well, you can wonder no more, as Maserati has trademarked the name “Levante” for the upcoming E-segment car. ”Levante” means ”rising,” just as you do every morning (especially if you’re excited to drive your new Maserati). Details about the car are still scarce, but you can bet on the availability of all-wheel drive, a powerful V6 engine, and possibly a high-output V8 or a diesel option. Stay tuned to the Twin Cities Luxury Auto Blog for more details as we get them.
Motor Authority also released some spy photos of the next generation 2014 Maserati Quattroporte taken during prototype road testing. There are several photos of the test mule available, but it’s heavily camouflaged. Head on over to Motor Authority to view the photos.
News Source: Motor Authority
Via: Autoblog
Revealed: Bentley EXP 9 F
Mar 6th
Bentley EXP 9 F
Have you outgrown your Continental GT? Do you find the Range Rover too common? The Cayenne Turbo too slow? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, Bentley has your answer. Welcome, everyone, to the Bentley EXP 9 F concept.
Destined to be the most powerful and most luxurious SUV ever built, the EXP 9 F will be the third model in Bentley’s lineup, alongside the Mulsanne and Continental ranges. Revealed the night before the start of the Geneva Auto Show, the EXP 9 F is very elegantly styled, featuring a prominent hood, flat beltline, a generous grennhouse and Bentley’s hallmark matrix grille. You’ll also recognize the well-defined power line that runs over the front fenders and through the door handles towards the prominent rear “haunch,” just as you’ll find on the Continental GT.
The interior is as opulent as one would expect from the folks in Crewe, with leather, wood and chrome everywhere. The “T” shaped dashboard echoes the design found in the Mulsanne, and Bentley expects the EXP 9 F’s interior to set new benchmarks for luxury in the SUV segment.
They also expect the performance to set new benchmarks for the SUV sector. Motiviation will likely come from the venerable 6.0L W12 found in the Continental Range with the power being sent through an advanced all-wheel drive system. Power and torque figures haven’t yet been released, but expect to see north of 600 horsepower and more than 590 pound-feet of torque.
Pricing hasn’t yet been released, but stay tuned to the Twin Cities Luxury Auto blog for updates as we get them. For those of you anxious to get line for the EXP 9 F, we expect it to be in our showroom by sometime in 2015-16. We’re now taking pre-orders.
Head on over to Bentley Motors’ website for more information about the EXP 9 F, or over to Autoweek for their write-up on the EXP 9 F.
Source: Bentley Motors
Via: Autoweek
Via Autoblog: Maserati Quattroporte Replacement Coming to Frankfurt
Mar 24th
2011 Maserati Quattroporte
It’s been around for some time now, but the Maserati Quattroporte is still one of the best looking, sounding, and driving sedans on the planet. The competition is only getting more and more fierce, though, with the likes of the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide fighting for the same buyers as the Quattroporte.
Autoblog is reporting that we should see the replacement for the long-in-the-tooth Quattroporte later this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Expect to see styling that echoes the design language used on the current GranTurismo and GranTurismo Convertible, as well as a more powerful and more fuel efficient version of the 4.7L V8 currently used in the Quattroporte S (the 4.2L is being phased out later this year), as well as an all-wheel drive option. There is also a possibility that the base powerplant could be an all-new turbocharged V6, though nothing has yet been confirmed.
Head on over to Autoblog to read what they had to say.
Stay tuned to our blog for more information as we get it.
source [Inside Line]
via [Autoblog]
Wheels of Italy 2009
Jul 22nd
We are pleased to announce our 6th consecutive year of participation and sponsorship of the annual Wheels of Italy car show. This is the premier Italian car show in the upper Midwest, drawing well over 250 Italian cars, motorcycles, and scooters to the shores of Lake Calhoun, in Minneapolis.
This show is 100% free to show or attend – if you like cars even a little bit – you owe it to yourself to come down and check out this show.
August 23rd 2009, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No pre-registration required – but spots are strictly first-come first-served. Map to the Lake Calhoun Executive Center, 3033 Excelsior Blvd, Minneapolis, MN.
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Cars and Cafe July Video
Jul 22nd
Well, after some time off, Matt Desmond has returned to shoot the videos for Cars & Cafe. If you’ve seen any of his videos, you know they are top-notch, and really set our C&C event apart from anything else being done.
Remember you can pickup a copy of the 2008 Cars & Cafe videos in full HD quality, hifi sound quality, and some special bonus materials over at Matt Desmond’s site: www.middlepathproductions.com.
