s The 2016 GLE450 Coupe s Destination: Singita Boulders Lodge

Fletcher Jones Motorcars • Mercedes-Benz • Newport Beach
Volume 33• Special Holiday Issue • 2015
s The 2016 GLE450 Coupe
s Destination: Singita Boulders Lodge, South Africa
s Cape Town Vineyards
sThe GLC, Revisited
s Nobu Restaurant Coming
To Orange Countuy
sThe European Delivery
Experience
GLE450 Coupe
A Message
From Fletcher
Jones Jr.
DELIVERY,
EVEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE!
Everyone knows this is my
favorite time of year. Our clients
and staff are all in such good humor
and the dealership sparkles with
the decorations of the season. You
can’t help to feel a tinge of nostalgia standing next to our beautiful
Christmas tree in the showroom
surrounded by the latest MercedesBenz models; all shiny and ready to
be driven by their new owners. It’s
no coincidence that we sell about
twice as many vehicles in December
as any other month of the year. Especially this year, with the incredible new GLE and the soon to arrive
GLC featured in this issue. Please
visit us during this special time and
see what all the fuss is about. Have
a happy and safe holiday season!
Fletcher “Ted” Jones Jr.
Cover Story:
The 2016 GLE
450 Coupe Is
Here
Cape Town
Wineries
Destination:
Singita
Boudlers
Lodge, South
Africa
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The 2016
CLC, Test
Drivers
Wanted
>
Featured
Restaurant:
Nobu
Coming To
The O.C.
The
European
Delivery
Experience
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 Coupe
The balancing act between
extremely sporty yet still
comfortable has been mastered
especially well in the GLE450
AMG® 4MATIC® Coupe. As the
first AMG® sport model, the
V6 top-of-the-range GLE Coupe
enables an attractive entry to
the world of the sports car and
performance brand.
The new AMG® sport models
display impressive product
substance and honor the promise of sports performance with
a higher output class, stan-
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dard all- wheel drive and also
sophisticated chassis solutions.
The variable dynamic control
system assigns fundamentally
different characteristics to the
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five transmission modes of
INDIVIDUAL, COMFORT, SLIPPERY, SPORT and SPORT+,
which the driver is able to
select using a rotary control
on the center console. The
system networks all the control
systems, generating different
sets of parameters. The names
speak for themselves: SPORT
and SPORT+ turn the GLE450
AMG® 4MATIC® Coupe into a
sporty, dynamic vehicle with
pronounced longitudinal and
lateral dynamics. COMFORT is
the opposite end of the spectrum. Here the emphasis is on
the refined parameters so typical of classic Mercedes-Benz
sedans, for relaxed, effortless
cruising with the greatest possible energy efficiency. SLIPPERY optimizes the handling
on surfaces with low friction
coefficients such as snow or
ice. In addition, INDIVIDUAL
mode enables the driver to
program and store personal
preferences in the individual
control strategies, regardless of
the engine variant.
In the GLE450 AMG® 4MATIC®
Coupe, DYNAMIC SELECT
not only modulates the “hard
skills” such as the chassis and
suspension, steering or powertrain. It is also possible to
experience the selected mode
more intensively on an emotional level because various
“soft skills” such as the engine
sound, instruments or dynamic
control of the driving lights
also vary. To this end, the nature of the various displays on
the COMAND® screen and in
the cockpit changes according
to the selected transmission
2016 GLE450 Coupe
mode. At the same time, the
active light function of the allLED headlamps respond more
spontaneously and the engine
produces the whole range of
sounds from sporty and dominant to poised and restrained:
If the driver selects COMFORT mode, the displays take
on lesser importance and, like
the engine, the dial instruments such as the rev counter
show a relaxed response to the
driver’s commands. In combination with the comfort-oriented control of the powertrain
and suspension, the result is a
feel-good ambience at the level
of a sedan. The engine sound
is reduced to a pleasant timbre, and the feedback from the
road surface and surroundings
is considerably quieter in the
interior.
Things are very different
when SPORT+ mode is selected. The character changes
immediately, the gear changes
performed by the 9G-TRONIC
are acoustically accentuated,
especially when downshifting
with the double- declutch function, and the cockpit instruments respond faster and more
“sharply”. The large central display visualizes the longitudinal
and lateral acceleration plus
the steering angle with a photorealistic motorsports graphic.
The engine sound is powerful
and acoustically underscores
the sports mode. This setting
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removes any doubt: the GLE
Coupe is a lively sport model
of the highest order, and treats
its occupants to a compelling
world of experience.
A perfect combination:
4MATIC® permanent all-wheel
drive and 9G- TRONIC ninespeed automatic transmission.
In the new GLE Coupe, the
developers were able to show
the possibilities of the new 9GTRONIC nine-speed automatic
transmission in an all-wheel
drive coupe with a longitudinal
drive configuration. Depending
on the mode selected for the
DYNAMIC SELECT variable dynamic handling control system,
the 9G-TRONIC impresses with
great agility and responsive-
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ness or poised serenity. It offers an impressively high shift
speed and perfect transitions
for energetic sprinting as well
as gentle, barely perceptible
gear changes for enjoyable
cruising.
4MATIC® permanent allwheel drive always goes hand
in hand with safe, harmonious and sporty handling. The
sporty GLE 450 AMG® 4MATIC® Coupe offers enhanced
agility and more pronounced
dynamics around the car’s vertical axis with a torque split of
40:60. The DYNAMIC SELECT
transmission modes SPORT
and SPORT+ deliver superior
longitudinal agility and lateral
dynamics – specifically as a
result of the perfect interplay
between the modified driving
dynamics control systems ASR,
ESP® with Curve Dynamic
Assist, the electronic traction
system 4ETS® and the brake
control system ADAPTIVE
BRAKE.
Stability pact: AIRMATIC®
with ADS Plus, Sports DirectSteer and ACTIVE CURVE
SYSTEM
In addition to the groundbreaking powertrain configuration, the newly designed
AIRMATIC® air suspension
– available for the first time
with the continuously variable
damping system ADS Plus –
guarantees extremely stable
driving. The damping system
changes its area of emphasis
depending on the preselected
DYNAMIC SELECT mode.
SPORT+ focuses on the greatest
possible lateral dynamics with
the best possible ride comfort.
Conversely, COMFORT mode
enables maximum ride comfort
with the best possible dynamics.
The current operating
conditions are detected via
a steering angle sensor, four
turning angle sensors and the
driving speed from the ESP®
signal and the brake pedal
switch. The control unit uses
these signals for infinitely variable adjustment of the current
damping force required for
each individual wheel.
The ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM with active roll stabilization is also part of the special
sports systems that are activated when the driver selects
SPORT or SPORT+. At the same
time, the active anti-roll bars
on the front and rear axles
raise the comfort to sedan
level and compensate for even
heavy, one-sided excitation –
for example when driving over
potholes. In combination with
the newly configured, degressive Sports Direct-Steer system,
whose steering ratio is very
direct at 17.4:1, and the compact sports steering wheel, the
handling is outstanding in all
operating conditions – whether
manoeuvring in the city, at
high speeds on the freeway, or
with a swift style of driving on
winding mountain passes.
Alongside the appealing
design, the exceptional suspension, drive technology and
assistance systems familiar
from the C, E and S-Class, the
GLE Coupe is also equipped
with numerous standard or
optional equipment details and
packages to further enrich the
experience.
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BOULDERS
LODGE
Singita. It Means Miracle. And It Is.
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Flying to South Africa from
Southern California is a challenge all to itself. But once you
get there, the best hotel in the
world (according to this writer
and many others) will be waiting. Located on the banks of
the Sand River in the game-rich
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Sabi Sands Game Reserve is
the luxurious, five star, Singita
Boulders Lodge. This has been
on the top of the list of savvy
travel experts for several years,
but it is still considered to be
unrivaled by many. Built around
an enormous boulder, hence its
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name, Singita Boulders offers
magnificent wrap around views
of the rich bushveld and Sand
River wildlife activity.
Singita Boulders boasts
twelve magnificent, glass
fronted suites with two double
suites available for families.
Sophisticated interiors in this
contemporary lodge include
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earthy colours, textured fabrics, wooden furniture and
natural stone. The luxury suites
are air-conditioned; consist of
sumptuous bathrooms, indoor
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and outdoor showers, expansive
living area with double-sided
fireplace, mini-bar and fridge
and private wooden leisure
decks with a heated plunge
pool. Impeccable attention to
detail means nothing is absent
from these stylish suites. With
an air of authentic African tranquility, the thatched, open sided
lounge and lookout deck at the
main lodge offer a perfect river
view. There is a bar area, world
class wine cellar, traditional
open boma, gymnasium, health
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spa and library. Activities at
Singita Boulders include twice
daily game drives, morning and
afternoon; guided safari walks
(on request), mountain biking
and archery.
Your safari expeditions,
which start just before dawn, will
not disappoint. In fact, it’s common to view the Big 5 in the first
24 hours. A memorable experience you will think about for the
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rest of your life. Kids must be 16
and over but whether you travel
with your partner or take the
family, Singita will deliver one
of the most incredible vacations
ever.
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Always A Good Year! Cape Town Vineyards.
The first wines were produced in the Cape back in 1659,
and since then, the country
has been known for world-class
vintages coaxed out of grapes in
some of the most picture-perfect
settings in the region. The heart
of South Africa’s wine production lies 45 minutes from
Cape Town in the Cape Winelands, at the hubs of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and
Paarl. But other burgeoning
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wine regions are secreted
away throughout the
Western Cape, and areas
like the Swartland Valley
and Hemel en Arde are
gaining global recognition.
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You should definitely
add a few days of winetasting to your itinerary,
and you’ll find both your
tastebuds and your wallet will thank you: these
delicious wines are some of
the most affordable in the
world. From celebrated wine
farms featuring the country’s
top restaurants (locations
that Nelson Mandela used to
frequent) to tiny, family-owned
estates oozing with personality.
One of the most desirable
resorts in the wine region
is the Delaire Graff Estate
– where you can experience
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the ultimate in luxury,
combined with their own
unique blend of South
African hospitality. If the
name sounds familiar,
you might be in trouble.
That means you are well
aware of the owner’s
other business, as the
world’s most famous
diamond jeweler. Lawrence Graff has located
his famed boutiques in
every major city from
London to Dubai, Hong
Kong to New York displaying the “best of the best”
to the world’s most wellheeled and celebrated clien-
tele.
His extraordinary
artistic eye has been car-
the vineyards of Stellenbosch, the views provide
the perfect backdrop for
ried through every aspect
of this remarkable estate.
Nestled between majestic
mountains and overlooking
their outstanding restaurants, state-of-the-art
winery, exclusive lodges,
exuberant landscaping,
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destination spa and, of
course, luxury boutiques.
Delaire Graff has assembled a talented team who
brings the true beauty
of this piece of paradise
to their guests each and
every day. Lawrence is
not only a purveyor of
the world’s most expensive diamonds, he has
also curated a remarkable art collection, on
display at the resort.
Don’t even think about
visiting South Africa without spending at least a few
days at this amazing oasis
of beauty.
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A Sports Car and SUV Blend Into One. GLC450 Coupe
Sensual coupe design. Powerful SUV presence. These are
two of the guiding principles
that inspire the Concept GLC
Coupe and the future of all of
the new Mercedes‑Benz SUVs.
Sleek styling blends with
strong character lines in this
near-production study. The
striking LED headlamps shape
the expressive face of the Concept GLC Coupe. An elongated,
sporty roofline and crouching greenhouse—along with
frameless side windows and
recessed door handles—underscore its coupe-like character.
But make no mistake. The
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interplay between the high
beltline, wide shoulders and
21-inch wheels conveys its
muscular energy.
At the rear, four polished
stainless-steel tailpipes of the
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exhaust system remind you of
the power within. That power
is delivered in the form of a
367-hp direct-injection biturbo
V6 engine, paired with 9GTRONIC nine-speed automatic
transmission and 4MATIC®
permanent all-wheel drive.
Look for the spirit of the
Concept GLC Coupe in future
Mercedes‑Benz SUV models
coming soon.
‘Tis
The
Season.
Check Out Our Gift Boutique For Lots Of Gift Ideas. Or See A Sales Consultant About
Home Delivery Of A New Mercedes-Benz (Including Bow).
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Nobu--Newport Beach. Am I Dreaming?
Celebrated Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa, who has more than 30 restaurants around the globe, is bringing his
highly acclaimed sushi bar to Lido.
The international Japanese restaurant known as much for its high-end
clientele as its
fresh fish, has
taken the world by
storm and we can
now expect the
same excitement
in Newport. But
instead of building
out a standalone
space with ocean
views somewhere high up on a
cliff, they’re actually helping to revital-
B E N E F I T S
It’s Not How Much You Pay For A Mercedes-Benz,
It’s How Much You get.
in Santa Monica — full of sweeping
views, seagulls, and trendy boutiques,
and as you’d expect, real estate prices
to match. They have earmarked tens
of thousands of square feet for new
restaurants, with one of the first big
known names being Nobu. The iconic
sushi eatery is set to occupy a massive
12,500 square foot space, with some
1,500 square feet right along the water
and another matching footprint, on a
second level, overlooking the bay. This
should bring a new level of culinary
sophistication to our quaint little
beach town. Yum!
ize one of Newport Beach’s biggest
renaissance projects, on the peninsula. Developers are reformatting Lido
Marina Village, hoping to transform it
into something akin to Ocean Avenue
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s Complimentary Mercedes-Benz Loaner Vehicle
s Complimentary Car Wash
s Complimentary Tire Inspection And
Pressure Adjustment
s Complimentary Bulb Replacement
(Vehicles 2008 and newer)
s Complimentary Airport Shuttle And
Storage Of Your FJ Vehicle
s Complimentary 32-Point Inspection
s Complimentary Shoe Shine
s Complimentary Starbucks® Coffee
s Complimentary FJ Bottled Water
s Complimentary Wi-Fi In Guest Lounge
>
European Delivery is WUNDERBAR!
I don’t know how many
years I have thought about picking up a new Mercedes-Benz
at the German factory but with
my 2010 E 350 wagon finally
sold, and a desire to drive the
first coupe I’ve ever owned, this
seemed to be the perfect opportunity.
Lorna Farthing manages
the European program for
Fletcher Jones and after building
my vehicle on her computer,
with extensive recommendations for this option and that, our
2016 S Class coupe was finally
ordered.
As I am writing this, we are
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pulling away from the gate at
the Paris Charles de Gaulle air
port, taking the short flight to
Stuttgart. Stuttgart boasts the
enormous factory at Sindelfingen
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and the Mercedes-Benz Museum,
which is one of the most impressive in the world. The audio tour
starts on the 5th floor with a
single “horse” and winds down
through the history of the
company, Germany, and the
innovative cars that made
them so famous. It’s as much
a retrospective of transportation
as it is about the iconic threepointed star.
We were met by our affable
host, Peter Mueller, to handle
the reveal of my car in a section
of the building called the Center of Excellence. This studio is
reserved for custom orders
and includes a hosted
lunch after the factory tour.
Peter asked me to choose
our car out of the group
as they were all covered
with silk sheets. Once he
revealed my dream car,
he spent an hour on every
aspect of its features. We
were then escorted to meet
the factory tour (cameras
verboten), which really
took my breath away. The
precision assembly line
flanked by dozens of
nimble robots, was something I will never forget.
After the tour, Peter
met us back at the COE,
bid us a warm farewell,
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and we were off for a 10day tour of the German
countryside, the Swiss
Alps and the Loire Valley in France. When we
finally dropped off our car
in Paris, (994 miles later) I
was surprised how perfect
the entire trip went. Even
my wife, who had described this as “my dream,
not hers” had a magical
time, and asked if we could
do it again next year.
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I can’t say enough
about the trip and highly
recommend it to anyone
who is a Mercedes-Benz
aficionado like myself.
Fletcher Jones Motorcars
can handle all of the de-
tails including a free night
in a luxury hotel in Stuttgart, and no matter what
vehicle you choose, they
will make sure your excursion is Wunderbar.
e is no
Peop le are very prof essio nal and cour teou s. Ther
deal erthe
be
ld
doub t, Fletc her Jone s Moto r Cars still wou
ship of my next Merc edes Ben z.
Than k you!
Tian Tang , CEO
Chen feng Trad ing Inte rnat iona l Corp orat ion
My wife and I have traveled to
every Mercedes dealer in So. Cal. over the past
few weeks looking for a GLK with the options
we
wanted. We found a couple and put them on
our
short list and continued shopping until we
arrived at Fletcher Jones Mercedes In Newport
Beach
this past Saturday afternoon. I have to say
that
once we found the GLK we wanted here on the
Fletcher Jones lot moving forward with the purchase was an effortless experience. From the
sales
staff to the general manager, and lastly to
the
finance manager it was a pleasurable experien
ce.
No pressure, none of the usual pricing gam
es, very
little back and fourth negotiations. We end
ed up
paying cash for our GLK and it only took
approximately 1 hour at the dealer to get this transact
ion
completed. I can not say enough about the cust
omer service at this dealership. This was the best
car
buying experience that I have ever experienced.
PHENOMENAL. I am extremely happy
I visited Fletcher Jones on Saturday, I
was interested in the CLA250, so I test
drove the car. Everyone was super helpful and welcoming. I had a couple other
cars in mind, but I was back later that
night. From Nick who showed me the
car and took me out on the test a drive
to Pauly Gulo and Kamran Tabesh, they
were all awesome. I got a great price
for my car and the deal went smoothly.
I believe I am a Fletcher Jones Motorcars customer from here on out. Thanks
again everyone for your friendly and
professional help!
Eric Gastintau was great, he is knowledgeable and if he didn’t know an answer he
would say just that which we really appreciated. The entire team was perfect. We
live close to a competing Mercedes dealer
but I have always liked the service department far better at Fletcher Jones so I
decided we would get our next Mercedes
at Fletcher Jones. Thank you to everyone.
KC and Lee Redmond
Fletcher Jones AFTER you buy your car
is even better than the sales personnel!
I purchased a car a few months ago and
had a tutorial after purchase with Michae
l
Sckulick that was thorough, patient, and
very comprehensive. I have had a couple
(okk, maybe more than a couple) of questions with the audio and dash of the car,
and Michael has been there each and
every time I’ve called in for customer sup
port via cell phone. He has been precise
and executes his instruction with lightning speed. It’s always a continued pleasure to deal with FJ. Kudos to you guys for
hiring guys like Michael!
Thank you :-)
Everyone that helped us was very
polite and very helpful from the
salesperson, Fred, to finance and
delivery specialist Josh. Stress free
experience.
Thank You
REACH THE MOST DESIRABLE TARGET AUDIENCE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
ADVERTISE IN THE iJONES REPORT
The iJONES REPORT will be electronically circulated to some of the most affluent and influential households in Southern California.
For information please contact Joe Winkelmann at 949.650.5081 or [email protected].
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N E W P O R T
B E A C H
Experience The Fletcher Jones Difference.
The iJones Report Publisher
Fletcher Jones Jr.
Managing Editor
Curt Lyon
Art Direction
Kenneth Sakoda
Mailing Address
3300 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
For information regarding
advertising in The iJones Report,
contact:
Joe Winkelmann
Greenstripe Media, Inc.
424 Old Newport Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92663
[email protected]
949.650.5081
Fletcher Jones Motorcars
3300 Jamboree Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.718.3000
Direct Service Line:
949.718.3200
Web Site:
www.fjmercedes.com
© 2015, All Rights Reserved