New Mercedes Benz posts record sales

One of Mercedes Benz’s latest sports cars is experiencing record sales

at Fletcher Jones Motorcars of Newport Beach.

Nearly 600 car shoppers have placed deposits for the newest edition of

the SL sports car at the car dealership. The high-performance car, slated

to arrive in March, has experienced its first redesign in 12 years.

Fletcher Jones has taken 463 orders for the SL500, 27 for the

V12-powered SL600 and 103 for the special edition SL55 AMG version.

The 2003 models feature an electronic braking system, a hydraulic

body-control system that adjusts the car’s suspension for maximum comfort

and a retractable metal roof that goes from hard top to a convertible and

vice versa in 16 seconds.

Other features include dashboard displays that can be controlled from

the steering wheel, and computer systems that can detect and compensate

for road conditions.

Fletcher Jones Motorcars had annual sales that surpassed $420 million

in 2001, the most in the nation for Mercedes Benz dealerships.

The dealership features a 180,000-square-foot showroom with a staff of

400. It is at 3300 Jamboree Road.