Since high-performance customers can never find enough opportunities to go fast—we can relate—Mercedes-Benz has announced that all buyers or lessees of AMG vehicles will be given a free day of go-fast training at the AMG Driving Academies at Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, or Lime Rock Park. (We attended one such program at Lime Rock last year, and came away very impressed.) The freebie can be redeemed up to one year after the owner takes possession of their AMG hotness, and applies to the Basic level program only. The announcement was made at the L.A. auto show, perhaps not-so-coincidentally adjacent to certain neighborhoods where a lot of AMG customers reside. Note to Mayor Villaraigosa: You might want to hire some more L.A.P.D officers for ticket-writing duties. Actually, forget we said that.
AMG, Meet Ducati. Ducati, Meet AMG
Mercedes also used the opportunity to announce a new partnership with Ducati, maker of some of the two-wheeled world's hottest bikes. Arranged in just the last few weeks, the deal is little more—at this point, anyway—than a smattering of marketing opportunities. For example, AMG vehicles will serve as shuttles at MotoGP races for Ducati riders and executives, who also will have access to AMGs when visiting various locations around the globe. Ducati bikes will be made available for test rides at select AMG customer events, too, while the cars will show up at some of the bikemaker's gatherings. Also said to be part of the deal is the loaning of Ducatis to AMG execs, many of whom love the two-wheeled thrill machines. In addition, Ducatis will also be made available to qualified motorcycle riders attending AMG Driving Academy programs, for what could be the thrill ride of their lives around some of the country's best tracks. So if you're an motorcycle lover who happens to be a prospective AMG owner, we suggest you bring your leathers.
As for an AMG-flavored Ducati motorcycle or a Ducati-seasoned AMG Benz? There's nothing in the cards for that sort of partnership. Yet.
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