Owner of New Port Lincoln Mercury, Dennis Murphy will celebrate 29 years in business with the unveiling of the 2009 Lincoln MKS. Murphy, pictured in his showroom stands next to the MKX, Lincoln's current hot-seller.
Reaching higher and into the future is where Dennis Murphy, owner and president of New Port Lincoln Mercury is heading.
A native of Miami, Murphy relocated to New Port Richey in May 1979 to open New Port Lincoln Mercury.
As a sharply dressed Murphy sat in his office last week, he explained that the car industry is the only business he has known. Murphy, and his partner at the time, Bob Nunn, sold their first car at the end of July 1979.
Over the intervening 29 years, New Port Lincoln Mercury has sold more than 22,500 new and 18,000 used vehicles.
Murphy smiled when asked about the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
A vehicle filled with technology he continued that the vehicle will attract an entire new generation of buyers.
Four years in development, Murphy looks for the MKS to launch the Lincoln nameplate forward.
Lincoln created the new sedan with comfort and convenience in mind and claims the MKS to be "technologically breathtaking."
Lincoln designers wrapped the package in sleek, stylish sheet metal with clean smooth lines, which at first glance, could pass for a high-end import, according to the company's Web site.
The MKS is geared toward technology geeks, 50 years of age and under that lives to have the latest technology fads at their disposal.
Equipped with a 10-gigabyte hard drive based navigation system, owners will be able to display photos on the Global Positioning Satellite, or GPS, screen, burn CD's, watch DVD's and upload music.
Individuals will be able to connect their Bluetooth mobile phone, MP3 player and flash drive via the SYNC's USB port, giving one seamless integration and control of the voice activated communications entertainment system.
An added feature is the MKS radar system with Adaptive Cruise Control.
The system's radar unit comes with preset "safety" gaps. If the MKS and another vehicle come too close to each other the sensors automatically take over and reduce the speed to maintain a safe distance, only to return to the preset speed once a safe gap is achieved.
The MKS comes standard with a 3.7 liter V-6 engine including a fuel-efficient six-speed transmission and has a starting price of roughly $38,000.
Murphy went on to explain that unlike other dealers he has strived to build a dealership that invests in employees for the long term.
Murphy has a son and daughter, which will be involved with the dealership in one capacity or another
A family-oriented business that started out with 19 employees, New Port Lincoln Mercury now employs around 50.
The company slogan, "The Dealership of Choice," was developed by his employees he commented with pride. Murphy, along with his employees strives in creating a dealership that reflects those words.
He believes, as do his employees, that they have built a dealership in that customers choose to purchase their vehicles, and that his employees make the choice to work, on a long-term basis.
A testament to creating this environment exists with the Employee of the Year Award that was given to him by his employees.
MKS Unveiling
New Port Lincoln Mercury is celebrating their 29th year in business with an unveiling of the 2009 Lincoln MKS from noon until 6 p.m. Friday, June 27, at 4727 U.S. 19, New Port Richey, just north of S.R. 54. Lincoln representatives will present a demonstration on the feature-rich MKS at 2 p.m.
