Just Announced: Project Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery was arguably one of the most classic off-road vehicles ever sold. Coming from a long line of all-terrain machines, the Discovery is more than capable in most situations. However, certain situations call for drastic measures. 

Twice a year, Land Rover Merriam holds a pretty unorthodox customer appreciation day. Rather than the standard fare of food, drinks, and some gift certificates, we celebrate our customers in a slightly different way. We hold a morning check-in at the store, followed by a two-hour commute to the Kansas Rocks off-road park in Ft. Scott, KS. Upon arrival (and after a thorough waiver signing), our customers have free reign of the state’s most fun and challenging off-road vehicle course.

Our 2001 Land Rover Discovery

 Because vehicle dings and flats are common, we tend not to drive some of our brand new vehicles onto the course, since the usual new vehicle buyer frowns on buying a car that has been on its roof. This poses a problem, as we like to get dirty and go rock-crawling too! Because of this, it has become immediately apparent that we needed a dedicated off-road vehicle for use on these excursions. After months of scouring the Midwest, we have located our all-terrain project vehicle: a 2001 Land Rover Discovery.

When we acquired this vehicle, it had several issues including a motor with need of some serious TLC, as well as some cosmetic needs, and a burning desire for some serious wheels, tires, and suspension upgrades.  Over the course of the next few months, we hope to turn it into the ultimate off-road machine. We will be posting updates on project Discovery, and it’s road to becoming our official Land Rover Merriam vehicle mascot, with the same go-anywhere do-anything attitude that embraces the spirit of Land Rover.

Bloom Party 2011

Aristocrat Motors is pleased to announce that we will be a sponsor of  the 2011 Bloom Party, one of “the events” in Kansas City, to be held at the Starlight Theater on Friday, April 8^th. The Bloom Party is held to benefit the KC Free Health Clinic.

This year’s event transports you to South Beach, with tastes of Cuba, the Caribbean, and the beach.  Incredible interactive performances by Kansas City’s own Quixotic Fusion and of course “the beat” will continue all night with live music and DJ’s.   

Additionally, there will be a silent auction with proceeds going towards the clinic. Our contribution to the event includes a weekend in a Mercedes-Benz. You can find out more about this event, and purchase tickets at https://www.kcfree.org/events_bloom/tickets_bloom.asp . This is shaping up to be one special evening, and we hope to see you there.

2011 Mercedes-Benz New Model Preview

2011 marks a very special year for Mercedes-Benz. 125 years ago, Karl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile. Now, one and a quarter century later, Mercedes-Benz has become the standard of excellence in the motoring world. To commemorate this landmark year, Mercedes-Benz is releasing several new models for the United States market.

2012 Mercedes SLK

Debuting in the beginning of May 2011, Mercedes-Benz will introduce the new SLK, our smallest convertible. Featuring an all-new design, as well as an array of new options, the 2012 SLK will provide the highest level of luxury, while offering the same thrill as every convertible bearing the Mercedes name. It will also feature an available panorama roof, that automatically tints itself at driver command.

2012 Mercedes CLS

Also coming out in May, the 2012 Mercedes CLS will be arriving. This second-generation vehicle is a redesign of the previous CLS, a car that set a world standard for design, and showed how a four door coupe is not only possible, but breathtaking.

2012 Mercedes C-Class Coupe

Closer to Fall 2011, Mercedes-Benz will release the 2012 C-Class coupe, a two-door version of the popular Mercedes-Benz sedan. This new available feature combines all of the luxury and performance of the C-Class with the sporting ability and styling of a coupe.

Additionally, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class will be debuting in the Fall, offering a redesign of our most popular SUV. Combining versatility, luxury, and sportiness, the new M-Class will be the perfect vehicle for any situation.




Keep an eye on us for updates on vehicle launch events as we get closer to the release of these new vehicles.

Review: 2008 Ferrari F430 F1

After spending some time with this Ferrari F430, I can definitely feel the car’s racing pedigree. This example has upgraded Daytona style seats, and carbon fiber covers the interior, giving it a real race car appearance. All of the driving aids, such as traction control and suspension settings are all easily controlled via the Manettino switch on the steering wheel, which bears a striking resemblance to an F1 racecar. Upon ignition, the 4.3 liter V8 screams to life, giving the high pitched growl that only a Ferrari can make. The steering is crisp, and gives a much more controlled feel than the previous 360 Modena. The 6-speed F1 transmission makes me forget about the option of a true manual, as shifts occur electronically in the blink of an eye. All that quickness is easily dispensed by the Ferrari’s carbon ceramic brakes.

Now I suppose everyone is saying, with all those race car features, the car must be the most unpleasant thing ever conceived to operate. However, that simply isn’t the case. The seats are surprisingly comfortable, the climate control works exceptionally well, and there is plenty of room for me (6’1”). Additionally, this prancing horse is equipped with a full Bose stereo system, which can on certain occasions be more pleasurable to listen to than the V8 mounted behind your seat.

Let’s talk about the price. In 2008 Ferrari offered this vehicle for $228,454.00. This one can be had in exactly the same condition as it was the day it was built, for $172,988.00. That’s an absolute bargain considering the vehicles mileage (4,100) and its heritage. By Kristopher Nielsen.

For inquiries, contact Brian Stacy at Brian.Stacy@SoaveAuto.com

Kansas City Auto Show Wrap-Up

Well, another Auto Show has come and gone, but we would like to thank all of our fans and customers, as well as the people of Bartle Hall for putting on such a great show. This year's theme was "The Car is the Star", which was fitting, considering our display was packed with beautiful vehicles. Favorites this year included the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Porsche Panamera, and Jaguar XJ. Also, our display featured a show-stopping 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, the original gullwing car from Mercedes-Benz.

This year we tried some new things, including giveaways at the show, a photo contest, as well as live content updated from our Facebook and Twitter pages. We even dabbled in some new technology, including QR codes, as well as providing on site assistance for customers with questions.

Please visit us on Facebook and Twitter to see all of our content from this year's show!

Auto Show 2011: QR Codes

QR Code on a 2011 Porsche 911

If you visit the Aristocrat Motors display here at the 2011 Kansas City Auto Show, you may notice some strange symbols on the driver's door of the cars. These strange shaped black and white patterns are QR Codes. A QR (Quick Reference Code) is a square bar code that uses unique patterns to store information. Any smart phone equipped with a QR Code Reader can decipher these in seconds, allowing the user to gain lots of information from a single image. In our case, the QR codes on the vehicles here at the Auto Show send the users smart phone directly to the website of the dealership the vehicle is located at, allowing you to find our more information, view other similar vehicles, and schedule an appointment to test-drive the very vehicle on the show floor. In the future we hope to use QR codes that link to information specific to the vehicle itself, as well as enriching the customer experience. This is just another way that Aristocrat Motors stays at the head of the class on customer satisfaction.

*QR code readers can be downloaded for free on the Android marketplace as well as the App Store.

Auto Show Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ

It's big, it's beautiful, it's the brand new Jaguar XJ. When you think about it, Jaguar had some pretty big shoes to fill for it's flagship sedan. Since the XJ6 was introduced nearly 40 years ago, the XJ has gone through several iterations, all of which oozed of class and convenience. This current model continues that tradition. From the moment you see the car, you can tell that it is from the same pen that designed the Jaguar XF a year ago. The grill looks more aggressive, and the car has a fresher, more modern shape, while retaining little cues to Jags of the past. Then there is the engine: a 385 horsepower V8 that rumbles to life when you press the start button. Comparatively to the old XJ, this car has a better engine response, tighter handling, and an overall sporty feel that is very similar to the much smaller XF. Performance aside, this is an XJ, and the big question is: Did all that sportiness attention take away from the comfort?

In a word: no.

This car takes the epic levels of luxury that it's predecessors had to new heights of absurdity. Each seat has six heating and cooling temperature options, with the front passengers having a massage mode that is comparable to a Swedish masseuse. The passenger cabin is dripping in leather bits, and a suede headliner gives the sedan a bespoke styling fitting for the Queen mother. Each individual has the ability to control their own section of the car from a climate standpoint, putting everyone in their own little cocoon of air. The Bowers & Wilkins stereo emulates an orchestra being physically present in the vehicle, with an iPod plug supplying the tunes.

All in all, this car truly takes the previous XJ to a wholly new level. From performance to styling, and overall comfort, this really is like having your own personal limousine.

This vehicle will be on display all weekend at the Kansas City International Auto Show, or at Jaguar Merriam.