The year 2012 is when Mercedes-Benz celebrated its two decades of partnership with CATS Motors Inc., the Philippines’ premier luxury vehicle importer and Benz brand exclusive distributor in the country.
And in keeping with its promise of bringing the experience of luxury, class and performance to its Filipino customers, CATS Motors marked the occasion with the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz flagship showroom and the arrival of the new and legendary Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster.
“CATS Motors’ 20th anniversary with Mercedes-Benz is not just a success story—it is a love story, our love story with the brand. Looking back, it started with our passion to bring the same experience closer to the Filipino audience,” said Felix Ang, CATS Motors president, during the anniversary celebration in July.
He added: “Since then, our journey has taken us on quite an exciting ride and we look forward to countless more years of partnership with one of the world’s most-desired brands, Mercedes-Benz.”
Perfect symbolism
The Mercedes-Benz flagship showroom at the CATS Complex in Greenhills boasts of state-of-the-art facilities, and is a perfect symbolism and proof of the company’s growth and evolution in the past two decades.
The venue actually served as the very foundation where CATS Motors began as a Mercedes-Benz workshop cum-showroom. It now stands as the latest representation of a fully compliant and world-class facility.
The Mercedes-Benz showroom is equipped with the latest equipment, furniture and other showroom materials based on the Global Mercedes-Benz Presentation System.
The showroom also serves as a direct representation of the quality that Mercedes-Benz stands for. It showcases an enhanced design, atmosphere and functionality, giving consumers an opportunity to experience a display of outstanding quality befitting the brand.
SL Roadster
During the celebration, CATS Motors also unveiled the new generation Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster, symbolizing the brand’s shared passion for innovation.
The “SL,” which actually stands for “super light,” has since been synonymous with a symbiosis of sportiness, style and comfort, and with ground-breaking innovations. From generation to generation, the SL has always been an icon of its time—beginning from a race car with international victories in 1952, evolving into a unique sports-car legend for 60 years.
With the completely redeveloped SL, Mercedes-Benz continues this tradition that began 60 years ago.
Full range SUVs
Proving they are more than the makers of premium automobiles, CATS Motors this year also unveiled its full range of Mercedes-Benz sports utility vehicles during the Philippine International Motor Show. This included the mid-size SUV, the new M-Class AMG Sport, and other popular lineup of Mercedes-Benz SUVs.
Built with a BlueEFFICIENCY diesel engine, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class AMG Sport can save up to 25 percent of fuel consumption. It also comes with the ECO Start/Stop function and 7G-TRONIC Plus automatic transmission for maximum energy efficiency.
It is the first SUV to have an 11-way protection that includes knee and side curtain airbags as well as other features including the Attention Assist system that alerts the driver when it detects signs of drowsiness, AIRMATIC air suspension that makes each ride safe and comfortable.
Rough terrains to highways
Aside from the M-Class AMG Sport, other SUV models from Mercedes-Benz were also featured in the motor show such as the G-Class, GL-Class, GLK-Class, and R-Class.
The G-Class, the legendary SUV, is capable of climbing an 80-degree gradient, making it easy for the SUV to cope with varying terrains. The 4ETS Electronic Traction System automatically stops spinning wheels and provides additional traction.
The GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz’s full-size SUV, also performs best in off-road situations with its Off-Road Pro engineering package and AIRMATIC air suspension.
The fuel-efficient compact SUV GLK-Class with Agility Control suspension controls the shock suspension to fit any driving situation.
The seven-seater R-Class, Mercedes-Benz’s very own grand sports tourer, boasts its spacious yet classy design. It also comes with 4ETS Electronic Traction System and 7G-TRONIC transmission system.
From versatile cross-country SUVs to royal grand tourers, Mercedes-Benz’s complete and comprehensive SUV range combines superior class and performance.