Mercedes-Benz of Carlisle has opened a state-of-the-art retail outlet.

The showroom is the first car dealership on Kingmoor Park, Cumbria’s only Enterprise Zone.

At more than double the size of Mercedes-Benz of Carlisle’s previous home at Rosehill, the 4.5-acre site significantly increases the retailer’s sales and after sales capability and 15 new staff are being recruited as a result of the expansion.

The 12-car showroom is the first of its kind in the country to feature the brand’s interactive experience technology.

This includes vehicle configurators, which allow customers to choose the features for their vehicle, and video walls.

It also includes a dedicated sales area within the showroom with a café bar and a drive-in, drive-out servicing facility.

The after sales operation also includes a five-bay cosmetic repair centre with a drive-in paint oven and diamond-cut alloy wheel machine for refurbishment work.

“The new site is a world apart from our previous home which we had completely outgrown and is bigger and better in absolutely every respect,” said Barry Crooks, Mercedes-Benz of Carlisle’s head of business.

“Our showroom is now much more befitting of the brand we represent, while the 18-bay workshop will be better able to meet the demands of our customers when it comes to servicing and MOTs.

“Outside our approved used car display has risen from 40 to 90 cars to offer more choice than ever before and on-site parking has increased almost four-fold to 32 spaces which I know will delight our customers.”

The dealership has also been equipped with a host of electric vehicle charging points in preparation for the wave of new electric models being launched by Mercedes-Benz.