Dodge Brand, Sony Pictures Consumer Products and 2006 ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’ Come Together Again for the ‘Life Lessons’ Commercial

The scene is set in Talladega in 1982 featuring Gary Cole as Reese Bobby with his son Ricky Bobby and his pal Cal Naughton Jr. in a Dodge Durango R/T Blacktop Tow N Go (Granite with Dual Carbon Stripes) while going to school. You also see the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Widebody (Sinamon Stick) and the 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody (White Knuckle with Satin Black hood).

Reese tosses words of wisdom and semi-legal fireworks towards the boys, including “Life takes 50% bravery and 60% stupidity;” “Take it from your daddy. Just because you grow up, doesn’t mean you need to give up” and “The most powerful force in the universe is love. Ha, ha, ha, no, it’s not! It’s hot, nasty, badass speed!”

“Given the incredible response to the ‘Family Motto’ campaign from the Dodge brand last year, we wanted to follow it up with the all-new ‘Life Lessons’ campaign,” said Olivier Francois, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Stellantis. “As with our first spot, we wanted ‘Life Lessons’ to stay authentic to both the Dodge brand and to the original film. We were able to accomplish this endeavour with Sony Pictures as it marks the 15th anniversary of the original film, in addition to an amazing roster of creative allies, including Sony Music and AC/DC, Applebee’s, Wonder Bread, Old Spice and Mountain Dew.”

“One of the ‘Life Lessons’ for those of us at Dodge is always striving to give enthusiasts what they ask for, so in addition to giving them more from ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,’ last year we launched three 700-plus-horsepower muscle cars with the new Challenger SRT Super Stock, Durango SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer, Stellantis. “Together, these vehicles comprise Dodge, the automotive industry’s most powerful brand. Lesson learned.”

The Dodge brand’s “Life Lessons” and “Family Motto” released in October 2020 were created in partnership with GSD&M.

 

Dodge//SRT

The Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of the 2 brothers namely, John and Horace Dodge for more than 100 years. Up to the present, their influence keeps on as Dodge transforms into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unparalleled performance in every segment they compete.

2021 is the year where Dodge is refined into a pure performance brand, offering Hellcat-powered, 700-plus-horsepower SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2021 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the new 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the new 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever. Combined these three muscle cars, Dodge makes the industry’s most powerful brand that offers more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). The Dodge brand also ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market). These results are historic because it marks the first time a domestic brand has earned top spots in both J.D. Power studies in the same year.

Check out our Dodge webpage to know more.

Sources:

Stellantis

YouTube / Dodge

Setting a bicycling world record behind a Mercedes Gullwing

José Meiffret was a high-speed junkie. The fearless racing cyclist set 13 world speed records. In 1962 he became the first person to break the 200 km/h mark on a bicycle, in the slipstream of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.

 

The determination to set a new record as the world’s fastest man on a bicycle is very evident to José Meiffret. His fanatical belief that “a human can grow beyond himself through his will” made him achieved his goal – and with a Mercedes-Benz.

July 10, 1962 – Meiffret crossed the border of the A5 autobahn between Lahr and Freiburg after being banned by his home country because of his risky record attempts. He also aimed to cross another boundary behind a car at the maximum speed a human can achieve on a bicycle.
 

A self-built bicycle

Meiffret constructed his bicycle with a reinforced frame and rims made from wood propelled by a giant front chainring that has 175 teeth and a rear sprocket that has 17 teeth enough to cover a 16-meter distance with a single revolution of pedals.

In autumn of 1961, he surpassed his best record from 10 years earlier, raising the speed from 175.609 to 186.625 kph. Over winter he fine-tuned every detail to prepare for the next breakthrough, the 200 km/h limit.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing with chassis code W 198 served as a pacesetter when he performed his stunt. With a 215 hp engine, it was a supercar of its time that was so fast together with the voluminous slipstream. During his ride on the razor’s edge, it was critical for the survival of the record-breaking cyclist that the lead vehicle follow its course with absolute reliability and precision. It would have been extremely dangerous at that speed to leave the protection of the slipstream and face the full brutal force of the air resistance. Meiffret’s attempts had ended multiple times in the hospital after serious falls – among other reasons, due to a motor defect in one of the slipstream cars. Doctors once fought for weeks to save the life of the severely injured man, who had suffered multiple skull fractures.
 

His testament: “Bury me by the side of the road”

Ten years later, Meiffret knew the risk and this experience no longer discouraged him. He kept a note in his pocket with his last wishes during his record attempt on July 10, 1962: “In case of a fatal accident, I beg of the spectators not to feel sorry for me. I am a poor man, an orphan since the age of eleven, and I have suffered much. Death holds no terror for me. This record attempt is my way of expressing myself. If the doctors can do no more for me, please bury me by the side of the road where I have fallen.”

Luckily, his well-preparation paid off. The skinny Frenchman used the power of his legs to make a huge gear and kept his racing bike going. He made commands to the driver through a megaphone and finally broke the record on his second attempt after his nine-kilometre warm-up and ended the last kilometre in 17.58 seconds. He set his 13th and last bicycle speed record at 204.788 km/h.
 

Blitzen Benz the first car to exceed 200 km/h

Even for vehicles, the 200 km/h was the magic limit and this had been broken by a Mercedes-Benz. The racing car named Blitzen Benz achieved an average speed of 202.7 km/h over one kilometre on November 8, 1909, in Brooklands, England – faster among the land vehicles and aeroplanes of the time.

Today, humanity starts to break the next record on a bicycle. In 2018, American cyclist Denise Mueller-Korenek reached a top speed of 296.01 km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats in the slipstream of a drag-racing car. The world is now looking forward to break the record by reaching the 300 km/h speed.

 
Sources:

Daimler Magazine

YouTube/British Pathe

Ending the season on a high: Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team clinches drivers’ and teams’ World Championship titles

The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team achieved the Double World Champions in the second season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Stoffel Vandoorne placed third in the end season in Berlin, while Nyck de Vries in P8 led him to win the driver’s title.

 

• Stoffel reserved his fifth Formula E pole position in the qualifying round and third in the current season. He led the race in the early stages but lost several positions. In a thrilling final charge, he overtook several drivers with his second attack mode and finish the race in P3.
• Nyck started in the first qualifying group and booked 13th position on the grid. In 36 action-packed laps of E-Prix racing, he fought his way up before crossing the finish line in P8. He wins the drivers’ championship with 99 points.
• The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team (183 points) has completed its second season with World Champions ahead of runners-up: Jaguar Racing (172 points) and DS Techeetah (170 points).
• The next season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will kick off on January 28 to 29, 2022 with a double-header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

 

Mercedes-Benz and Camila Cabello teamed up to rewrite the Cinderella story

Star and singer, Camila Cabello will become part of the Cinderella movie which is scheduled to release on Amazon Prime Video on September 3rd. In her interview, she shared her experience while portraying the role: “It was one of the most fun experiences of my life.

Mercedes-Benz, partners with Amazon to showcase a multi-layered campaign that promotes personal strength and women empowerment.

Cabello features in the TV commercial with the title “Rewrite the Story” – the gang that tries to criticize women: “Just play your role.” At one point, a camerawoman says, “Honey, you’re prettier when you smile.”

Source: YouTube / Mercedes-Benz USA

Towards the end, the singer-actress walks heading to Mercedes-Benz G Wagon saying: “It’s time for a new story, the one we write,” followed by a caption: “A new kind of Cinderella has arrived” She told the Hollywood Reporter.

Moreover, Rachel McDonald, Director of Biscuit Filmworks joined Mercedes-Benz on this TV commercial which will air on network and cable channels on August 23.

Billy Porter plays Fab G, a genderless fairy godparent echoes the progressive message of Mercedes-Benz. “I’m excited to work with Mercedes-Benz on this campaign where the message of individuality is at the forefront as we empower aspiring girl bosses everywhere to embark on their own journey to the top.” Porter said.

Partnering with Mercedes-Benz is not just a TV commercial yet additionally a live-streamed fashion show, “Dress for a Dream” with hosts Billy Porter and actress, Jamie Chung on August 28.

You will witness Ellen Mirojnick, the film’s costume designer featuring behind-the-scenes exclusive costumes, and the Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador giving a tour.

“That’s the value that we get from partnerships like this is, it gives us an opportunity to expand our audience.” Ukonwa Ojo, Amazon Prime’s CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) said.

Mopar and Dodge//SRT Double-Up with HEMI-powered Victories by Pruett and Capps at Rescheduled NHRA Winternationals

  • Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) pilot Leah Pruett drove her Dodge//SRT Mopar Top Fuel Dragster from the No. 2 qualifier position to a win at the rescheduled National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Winternationals in Pomona, California
  • After earning his third No. 1 qualifier position of the year, Ron Capps powered his DSR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to his first win of the 2021 season to close out the NHRA’s “Western Swing” at Pomona.
  • No. 4 seed Cruz Pedregon drove his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to a quarterfinal appearance at Auto Club Raceway
  • After a win at Denver and a runner-up finish at Sonoma, Matt Hagan drove his No. 5 qualified DSR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Funny Car to a close finish in the opening round

August 1, 2021, Pomona, California – After all four Mopar and Dodge//SRT-supported NHRA nitro entries qualified in the top-five heading into race day, the performance brands and Don Schumacher Racing doubled-up on Wally trophies this weekend with wins by HEMI®-powered pilots Leah Pruett (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car) at the rescheduled 61st annual Lucas Oil National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Winternationals Presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.

Pruett followed up a stout No. 2 qualifier performance aboard her DSR Sparkling Ice Spiked Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster with her second trip to a final-round showdown in consecutive weeks. She earned the second place position on the eliminations ladder, along with five important bonus points, by speeding to the provisional pole position on Friday and then posting the second quickest run of Q2 to put her on the starting line for the opening round against No. 13 seed Steve Chrisman. A 3.906-second elapsed time run by her HEMI®-powered machine at 268.01 mph gave her the round win and a quarterfinal bye run.

Following another solid 3.931sec./272.12 mph pass on her single run, Pruett staged next to her semifinal opponent, No. 3 seed Mike Salinas, and ran him down at half-track to turn on win lights with a 3.927 sec./273.16 mph pass to advance to her second final round appearance of the season after her runner-up performance last weekend at Sonoma Raceway.

Pruett has lined up and is ready for battle against No. 7 qualifier Justin Ashley in the final Top Fuel showdown in the sweltering heat at the Pomona dragstrip when her opponent opted to err on the side of caution after experiencing symptoms of extreme heat exhaustion and not take the run. That provided Pruett with her second solo run opportunity of the day, a 4.021 sec./271.52 mph pass, and an uncontested win to officially earn a Wally trophy for the ninth time in her Top Fuel career, the second time at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (2017), and her first victory of the 2021 NHRA season.

In Funny Car action, after earning his fourth No.1 qualifier position of the first 10 NHRA Camping World Series season events this season, Capps powered his DSR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat through the elimination rounds with consistent 4.1-second runs and wins over Bob Bode, Bob Tasca and longtime rival John Force to advance to his second final round appearance of the season after his runner-up finishes at the Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil in Houston.

A three-time winner at Pomona (1998, 2009, 2016), Capps earned his 66th career Funny Car win against No. 7 seed J.R. Todd by running him with a 4.151 sec./253.09 mph effort to beat his opponent’s 4.289/249.16 pass. The victory, the 2019 NHRA Funny Car world champion’s first of the 2021 season, puts him into the points lead.

The third and final event of the NHRA’s “Western Swing” didn’t quite end the way No. 5 qualifier Matt Hagan had hoped after earning a coveted win at the Dodge//SRT Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, and his runner-up performance at the Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, California.

The reigning Funny Car world champion began the day by staging his DSR Performance Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye next to Force in the opening round. After Force double-bulbed, Hagan hit the throttle first to take the early lead but soon saw his opponent close the gap and edge past him right before the finish to shorten his day and close out three consecutive weeks of racing.

The Cruz Pedregon Racing team had another promising weekend as a team owner and Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon qualified his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat fourth on the Funny Car eliminations ladder. He faced off against Tim Wilkerson in the opening round and took the win with a 4.103-second E.T. at 263.46 mph to advance. The three-time Pomona winner saw Force next in the quarterfinals and had a good run going until tire haze at mid-track saw Pedregon hesitate just enough to make it a close finish, posting a 4.361-second losing effort to his opponent’s 4.353-second-round win.

Competition resumes in two weeks with the Menards NHRA Nationals Presented By PetArmor at Heartland Motorsports Park near Topeka, Kansas, for the first of three remaining national events before the NHRA’s seven-race “Countdown to the Championship” playoff series begins Sept. 9 at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil in Reading, Pennsylvania, and concludes with the NHRA finals in November in Pomona, California.

Sources:

Stellantis

YouTube / CompetitionPlusTV

Hagan and His Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car Conquer the Mountain at the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil

After striving for a decade, Matt Hagan has finally conquered the mountain with his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car. With an impressive speed of 305.70 mph in 4.105 seconds, he won at the Dodge//SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil. Dodge//SRT and Mopar brands have sponsored the Mile-High NHRA Nationals for 32 years at Bandimere Speedway, near Denver, Colorado; the longest succeeding active sponsorship in all of the motorsports.

“Man, I tell you, this mountain has chewed me up and spit me out several years in a row and I’m just so glad to pull that win down for Dodge and SRT, and to do it behind the wheel of the Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car in front of so many passionate Dodge and Mopar fans is just something you definitely put extra pressure on yourself to do so when it happens it’s just that much more satisfying,” said Hagan, whose last win also came at another of his sponsor’s title events, the 2020 Dodge NHRA Finals Presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he secured his third Funny Car NHRA world championship.

Hagan’s First Win of the Season

The 2021’s National Hot Rod Association season is Hagan’s first win. Last year, he won his third Funny Car NHRA world championship at the 2020 Dodge NHRA Finals Presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This year is his 37th Funny Car career win wherein he drove his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye for Don Schumacher Racing.

“Congratulations to Matt Hagan for his first event title win at the Dodge//SRT Mile High Nationals presented by Pennzoil,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “We’re proud of the defending Funny Car world champion and his Don Schumacher Racing team for bringing home the Wally trophy at an event that has meant so much to us for more than three decades.”

 

Hagan Credits Racing Team

“We finally got it done and I finally get to put this trophy up on the shelf,” added Hagan. “I’ve got to call out my guys and give them so much love. To watch them up here in the altitude wrenching and sweating. Those guys love doing what they do and they bust their ass for me. My heart was beating out of my chest up there during the finals and it felt like I was running for a championship. I had to remind myself to calm down, take a deep breath and just do what I do. It’s so cool when you do a burnout and see all of these fans in the stands; it genuinely gives me chill bumps. It feels amazing being back in the winner’s circle like we’re used to.”

Hagan will have the opportunity to sweep the “western swing” because of this win and now, the team focuses on the upcoming two events in consecutive weeks at Sonoma and Pomona dragstrips in California.

 

Source: YouTube / NHRA

A must-try! Nama Dark Chocolate from Purple Ants Chocolatier

Indulge in our unique pillow-soft, bittersweet and creamy Nama chocolates, crafted out of purple ants decadent 60% dark chocolate, crème de cacao, and butter, dusted with raw cacao powder, a runaway winner in its class.

Unbox one, it will amaze your senses, and feel that happy mood rush.

 


By Gastroplate Foods and Beverage

Mercedes-Benz Greenhills
1008 EDSA Greenhills,
San Juan, Metro Manila
Contact person: Ms. Katrina Agustin
Email: katre.agustin@gmail.com
Mobile: 0917 807 5499

Purple Ants: The Best Chocolatier at CATS Motors Mercedes-Benz

Their journey started with a single pod of Philippine Cacao, amazed by its characteristics and health benefits, that’s when they ventured into chocolate making. They believe chocolates must be freshly made, handcrafted, and unwrap, produced in small batches, to bring out its distinctive different flavours and exceptional quality, unique aroma, texture and taste that are mouthwatering, ready to serve and relish.

Each unique recipe is concocted by the master chocolatier, crafted with passion and care. They aim to introduce new recipes every month for customers to take pleasure with a delicious surprise of freshly made craft chocolates, which they would love to enjoy again and again.

In every box, customers help local cacao farmers and create employment opportunities for out-of-school youth that undergo training in craft chocolate-making hired in the production line, and the Purple Ants Chocolatier stores.

 

PURPLE ANTS CHOCOLATIER

 

By Gastroplate Foods and Beverage

Mercedes-Benz Greenhills
1008 EDSA Greenhills,
San Juan, Metro Manila
Contact person: Ms. Katrina Agustin
Email: katre.agustin@gmail.com
Mobile: 0917 807 5499