Mercedes-Benz goes to the Upper Deck

Auto Nation Group (ANG), official distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the Philippines invited and treated some members of the motoring and lifestyle media to a fun and relaxing event featuring the new GLC 200 and new V-Class 220d luxury van. Media ride and drives are not so uncommon, but what was unusual about this event was the participants were able to get introductory scuba diving lessons right at the heart of the Metro, at the premiere Upper Deck sports complex located at the Ortigas Technopoint Building, located beside CW Home Depot, along Julia Vargas Avenue.

The unique day-long activity offered the participants the choice to drive the new GLC and V-Class, or enjoy the comfortable ride and amenities offered inside both vehicles. “We wanted our motoring media friends to experience and enjoy the new GLC and new V-Class as passengers, since most of the time they are behind the wheel to do technical reviews. This allowed them to get a feel of the comfortable seats, the impressive amenities, and the quiet cabin of the new GLC and new V-Class, which you will appreciate nowadays given the heavy city traffic,” said Joseph Ayllon, head of PR Communications, Auto Nation Group.

The three-hour introductory course to scuba diving was led by accredited PADI diver Igor Subora. Held at the indoor scuba facilities of The Upper Deck Sports and Lifestyle Center in Ortigas, the activity aimed to give a glimpse into the lifestyle of someone with a spirit of adventure– a persona that perfectly matches the personality and performance of the new GLC. The Upper Deck’s 15-foot salt water diving pool allows divers to experience the same buoyancy of sea water on open sea. Aside from the salt water pool, there were dressing and shower rooms as well.

“The new GLC is the perfect match for confident go-getters in life who are determined to achieve goals. It’s the right vehicle to take out of town, or to a quick getaway within the city – like taking the morning off to go scuba diving,” said Ayllon. “It does not compromise on power and performance so you can confidently go on any adventure,” he adds.

The GLC is the brand’s bestselling Mercedes-Benz for a decade now, with over 1,600,000 units sold. It first debuted as the GLK model in 2008, the new GLC’s safety systems are upgraded and its infotainment has been enhanced and updated with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) for added convenience to both driver and passengers. Thanks to artificial intelligence, a unique feature of this system is its ability to learn, and the MBUX is customizable and adapts to the user. By saying “Hey Mercedes,” MBUX activates and caters to voice commands to perform infotainment functions such as destination input, phone call, music selection, climate control, and 64-colors ambient lighting.

The new GLC carries the iconic Mercedes-Benz SUV design which showcases a muscular and athletic profile with its striking radiator grille, elegant chrome elements, and the redesigned and functional multibeam LED headlamps. Locally, the new GLC comes in the 200 Exclusive variant and is now available at all Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationwide at a price point of P4.290 Million.

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class celebrated its debut in 2014 and has since sold some 200,000 units, with 64,000 units sold in 2018. The style and value appeal of the new V-Class lead the way in the segment, and is a popular choice for the local luxury van market. The V-Class 220d featured in the drive starts at a retail price of P4.690 Million.

After the day’s tiring activities, participants got to relieve their tired bodies with a relaxing massage treatment at the Recovery Spa also located at The Upper Deck. Aside from a spa, dive pool, the Upper Deck is one of the country’s only sports facilities that has several badminton courts, a fully equipped gym, a licensed Elorde’s boxing gym, spinner’s class, watering hole and lounge, and two professional basketball courts being used by popular PBA teams. It also has the highest outdoor wall climbing facility in the country.