THE new Mercedes-Benz Retail Showcase will open in Bluewater's Rose Gallery on May 1. It will offer a full range of merchandise and accessories.

Shoppers will also be able to buy a new or used Mercedes-Benz or smart passenger car, examples of which will be on display inside and available to test drive outside. Virtual showrooms will contain new model details for both brands and more than 1,000 used cars which are available through the Mercedes-Benz Direct network, some of which can be bought online.

Customers can arrange to have their car taken away to nearby Mercedes-Benz of Dartford, serviced and returned to the same parking space while they spend time at Bluewater.

Customers wanting to arrange finance for a car can speak with an expert from DaimlerChrysler services, via a private in-store video link. There will be displays showing Mercedes-Benz's heritage and range of product information.

Geoff Brady, managing director DaimlerChrysler UK Retail, said: "Our retail showcase is an important milestone in the new Mercedes-Benz retail network. This is the first time we have done anything like this, so there's bound to be a lot for us to learn as we go along. We have changed the way we do business to suit a retail environment, so our customers won't be aware that they're in anything other than a well-designed, extremely pleasant store."

He added: "A huge selection of accessories, from a £3 pull-back toy car to a £495 watch will be available, as will a full range of Mercedes-Benz and smart passengers cars. We even offer on-site test drives - the storeÕs close to a car park where we'll have a permanent facility, so a range of vehicles will always be on offer."