In case there was any doubt that demand for big-displacement, high-output machines continues unabated in the face of calls for environmentally-conscious hybrids and a faltering global economy, Mercedes has announced an ambitious expansion of its AMG performance division. Over the course of the next year, AMG will open a whopping 175 new “performance centers” catering to power-mad consumers around the world.

The new outlets will allow an increased level of involvement for AMG customers as Mercedes moves to distinguish the tuning house’s offerings as their own brand. Each outlet will be outfitted with matching décor and whatnot, but more importantly, will offer customers a direct line to AMG’s performance Mecca in Affalterbach, Germany, and act as a local home base for the AMG Performance Roadshow. The expansion will focus on 15 key markets, including the United States, Japan, China, and of course, its home market of Germany. As if customers needed any more coercion to fall for a fire-breathing Teutonic masterpiece of engineering.

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Bang & Olufsen, the worldwide provider of exclusive, high quality audio and video products, has signed an agreement with Germany’s Mercedes-AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz Cars, for a unique sound system.”Our new partnership with Mercedes-AMG is hugely important to us,” says Karl Kristian Hvidt Nielsen, Bang & Olufsen President & CEO.

”The agreement enables Bang & Olufsen to further utilize the expertise and processes we have built up in order to meet the requirements of the automotive industry,” says Karl Kristian Hvidt Nielsen. ”And, of course, Mercedes-AMG is also an interesting partner for Bang & Olufsen because the cars are sold across the world.”

”Mercedes-AMG represents high performance and exclusivity. The same is true of Bang & Olufsen’s in-car sound systems. Jointly, we are therefore able to meet Mercedes-AMG customers’ expectations to sound systems,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of the Management Board at Mercedes-AMG.

The agreement with Mercedes-AMG does not affect Bang & Olufsen’s expectations for the current financial year.

Bang & Olufsen’s sound systems have gained a considerable reputation within a short time. Earlier this year, the respected German magazine ”auto motor und sport” named Bang & Olufsen the number one brand in the Car-HiFi category in its readership survey ”Best Brand 2008.”

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