Remember that time a younger, buffer version of Mario the Plumber was featured in a Mercedes-Benz commercial for the GLA-Class in Japan? Turns out it wasn't a one-time deal and now it's time for a game to get something from real life.
Three Mercedes-Benz models have been selected to feature in the August 27th update to the Mario Kart 8 racing game. Looking like children's pedal pushers, the GLA-Class, 300 SL Roadster and the Silver Arrow racing car can be driven by Luigi, Princes Peach or even Bruiser.
The updates will also include an on-screen map of the race course you're on and the option of saving the last kart customization for the next time you feel like playing.
Mercedes is actually using the popular Mario franchise to sell the GLA-Class crossover SUV to customers in Japan. Mario Kart 8 is one of the best selling games on the Wii U console, though we struggle to thing of how it will help sales. The other two cars, well they're there just because they're cool.
Prices for one of these cars start at 3,440,000 yen (about $34,000), and for that you only get a 1.6-liter turbo with 122 horsepower and front-wheel drive. They can even go as high as 8,100,000 ($79,000) for the fully equipped GLA 45 AMG Edition 1 model with 360 horsepower and a performance-oriented setup.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News