Buoyed by strong sales projections from watch retailers worldwide, the International Watch Company (IWC) in a unique alliance with Mercedes-AMG today (September 6th) conducted the Middle East launch of a limited edition IWC Ingenieur AMG watch and Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG car. Senior company officials unveiled the watch and car during a press conference in a Dubai, UAE, showroom of Mercedes-Benz general distributor Gargash Enterprises.
IWC, CEO Georges Kern said, “The Ingenieur Automatic AMG is the result of a new long-term partnership, a statement of the mutual values that connect IWC and Mercedes-AMG as ‘engineer’s brands’ with a drive for perfection.”
He noted that the timing of the ME launch comes against the backdrop of strong sales projections for the IWC brand from the Fifth Proprietary Watch Retailer Survey conducted by Goldman Sachs.
“More than 500 watch retailers from around the world including the UK, the US, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Russia and Asia have voted the IWC brand as one of the best-performing brands in the coming six months,” said Mr. Kern.
“What counts is substance,” added Mr. Kern. “That’s how we describe our partnership with Mercedes-AMG. Both companies share a vision of precision and perfection.”
Mr. Kern added: “In 2005 the Ingenieur line celebrates its 50th birthday and our re-launch of this product line is in keeping with our traditional motto ‘Probus Scafusia’ i.e. good, solid craftsmanship from Schaffhausen and is a vivid combination of engineering excellence and dynamic design.”
Mr. Kern also took the opportunity to thank IWC’s UAE partners, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons for their fruitful support and cooperation. “We are planning to strengthen our distribution network further by creating additional POS corners and boutiques in the new retail environments invariably underway in the region,” he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of Mercedes-AMG, Member of the Management Board Sales & Marketing, Global Relations, Mr. Domingos Piedade, said the company has an aura that goes way beyond the price tag. An aura that its engines are handcrafted jewels and that production is limited to make each and every one of its vehicles totally unrivalled in their segments. He added that Mercedes-AMG has big plans for the Middle East.
“We currently sell between 5oo and 600 cars a year in the region but the brand will grow as AMG versions of the newly launched M-Class, which premieres in Frankfurt next week, arrives in the Middle East early next year,” he said. “The ML63 will be powered by our new 6.3 litre 510 horsepower engine, the world’s most powerful normally aspirated V8.”
“Mercedes-Benz general distributors are beginning to install AMG corners in their showrooms and I would like to congratulate Gargash Enterprises for opening the first in the UAE,” he added.
Mercedes-AMG developed the exclusive CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur” in co-operation with IWC. Only 10 units of the unique four-door coupe will be available in the Middle East.
The car has a powerful AMG 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine and boasts exclusive equipment details.
The CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur” features an exclusive dark titanium greymetallic paint job. All of the exterior decorative elements, including the radiator grille louvres, fog light rings, side window bezels, handle inserts and rear trim, come in the same matt titanium colour, which matches the top-quality titanium case of the new “Ingenieur AMG”.
The exclusive nature of the new CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur” is also apparent in its interior.
One striking feature is the completely redesigned AMG instrument cluster. With rhodanised and silver needles, white lighting and black dials with a new typographical style, the cluster’s analogue clock, speedometer and tachometer are designed in line with IWC’s new “Ingenieur AMG” watch. The titanium shade of the watchcase is repeated in the edge trim and the decorative rings of the AMG instrument cluster. The IWC logo integrated into the analogue clock refers to the partnership with Mercedes-AMG.
In contrast to the series-produced version of the CLS 55 AMG, the limited-edition vehicle boasts decorative elements in high-quality piano lacquer. The intricate paint job, which involves applying several layers of black and varnish, results in a particular deep, luscious sheen.
Furthermore, the “IWC Ingenieur” lettering is inlaid on the cover of the storage compartment in the centre console, adding an extra touch of exclusivity.
A further difference from the series-produced CLS 55 AMG is the vehicle’s chrome elements, all of which are galvanized in matt titanium. Piping galvanized with matt titanium can be found on the interior door panels, and the door tread panels with AMG lettering illuminated in white also feature a titanium look. The AMG emblems on the selector lever are also in matt titanium. Each of the 55 automobiles is equipped with the KEYLESS-GO system, and a new AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel with a strikingly moulded rim in black nappa leather comes as standard.
Both companies are known for their passion for the highest precision combined with a sense of understatement. Mercedes-AMG and IWC Schaffhausen each place great emphasis on precision engineering, high technology and craftsmanship, as guaranteed by products that meet the highest expectations in terms of quality.
“The new IWC “Ingenieur AMG” watch perfectly complements the CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur,” said Mr. Kern.
The robust, sporty timepiece is available as an “Ingenieur Automatic AMG” in titanium with a titanium strap or a soft black strap; an “Ingenieur Chronograph AMG” in titanium with a titanium strap or a soft black strap and a limited-edition “IWC Ingenieur Automatik Automatic CLS 55 AMG”.
This limited edition model is available exclusively to customers of the CLS 55 AMG “IWC Ingenieur”. Each timepiece has a red minute graduation and a titanium casing with the AMG logo engraved on the back.
The “Ingenieur Automatik Automatic AMG” additionally has a red second hand, while the “Ingenieur Chronograph AMG” features a red stop hand. Like every “IWC Ingenieur”, these models are equipped with a robust high-precision movement, and their sophisticated waterproofing system means that they are waterproof to depths of up to 120 metres.
The very first IWC “Ingenieur” was produced in 1955, and only 1,000 were ever made. Today they are sought-after collectors’ items.
