Mercedes-Benz 2008 C-Class Stars in Exhilarating Chase Scene in Disney's NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS

Racing through the Streets of London, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sport Stars in one of the Most Massive Pursuit Sequences in the City's History

MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 5 -- The Mercedes-Benz C-Class shows its adventurous side as it races, screeches and smashes through the streets of London in NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS from Walt Disney Pictures, in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Films, in theatres nationwide December 21. This daredevil chase scene is one of the largest of its kind in London's history, with landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Southwark Bridge serving as backdrops, and takes place at a pivotal moment in the plot of this highly anticipated motion picture.

"The tremendous scale and excitement of this scene in NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS was the perfect opportunity for the new 2008 C-Class Sport to demonstrate its exceptional athleticism and agility," said Stephen Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. "The C-Class was tested and punished mercilessly during the shoot, and came through with flying colors. It will be a real spectacle to witness its abilities on the big screen."

Controlled Chaos and Motion-Picture Mayhem on the Streets of London
Creating London's most ambitious car chase scene ever was no small feat. Behind the scenes, many of London's streets and alleyways were closed while up to 40 stunt people, 70 logistical support vehicles, 50 extras and nine cameras brought the chase to life. Six C-Classes were used, many of which were heavily modified to accommodate rigging for cameras and apparatus for stunt driving. Four months of work went into the scene's creation - from conception and writing to storyboarding and animation with "animatic storyboarding," a video- game type program that simulates the scene before it's shot.

"We did take after take after take - thankfully the Mercedes held up wonderfully," said producer Jerry Bruckheimer. "London has so many one-way streets, and there are so many things that can go wrong, but the C-Class handled it. The great ability and agility of the car really helped."

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS stuntmen practiced driving the C-Class for weeks, testing it on various surfaces, so that once cameras were rolling, the maneuvers were perfectly choreographed. Working closely with on location with Mercedes-Benz engineers, extensive safety systems of the C-Class, such as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), were disabled in order to perform the slides, drifts and skids necessary for this high-speed, action-packed pursuit.

About NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS
In this follow-up to the box-office hit NATIONAL TREASURE, treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) once again sets out on an exhilarating, action-packed new global quest to unearth hidden history and treasures. When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces, Ben's great-great grandfather is suddenly implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln's death. Determined to prove his ancestor's innocence, Ben follows an international chain of clues that takes him on a chase from Paris to London and ultimately back to America. This journey leads Ben and his crew not only to surprising revelations - but to the trail of the world's most treasured secrets.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Turteltaub and directed by Turteltaub, the story reunites the original cast, including Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Academy Award (R)-winner Jon Voight and Academy Award(R)- nominee Harvey Keitel, joined this time by four-time Academy Award(R)-nominee Ed Harris and 2006 Academy Award(R)-winner Helen Mirren. NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS opens in theaters on December 21, 2007.

About the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Luxury and Sport sedans made their debut for the 2008 model year, and feature three V6-powered models - the C350 Sport, the C300 Luxury and the C300 Sport. With a nod to the recently introduced S-Class sedan, the look of the new mid-size C-Class reveals the latest Mercedes design idiom that's characterized by an edgy interplay of taut lines and wide, rounded surfaces. The new C-Class Luxury and Sport sedans are slightly larger than their highly successful predecessor, with a greater emphasis on agility, comfort and safety.