Critical Mass Launches Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2008 Microsite

Microsite Showcases The World's Premier Fashion Event
CALGARY, Alberta & CHICAGO & LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.com), an Omnicom digital marketing
agency, has launched the latest update of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week microsite -- MBUSA.com/lifestyle -- showcasing the runway shows,
leading designers, and opulent looks of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at
Smashbox Studios, held from March 9-13, 2008 just outside Los Angeles
in Culver City, California.

The new microsite from Critical Mass blends exclusive
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week content with unique design elements --
sleek, provocative imagery; the latest in Flash functionality; and
exclusive features including behind-the-scenes videos and photo
galleries from all 2008 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week venues in New York,
Miami, and Los Angeles.

"Critical Mass was excited about the opportunity to create a
unique web environment for Mercedes-Benz -- one that not only
communicates the brand's commitment to style, high design, and
elegance, but which will help redefine notions of what the
Mercedes-Benz brand stands for. Mercedes-Benz isn't just the world's
top automotive brand, but one of the world's great fashion brands as
well," said Steve Susi, Creative Director, Critical Mass.

To craft the stunning visual motif for the web site, Critical Mass
teamed with Davis Factor, renowned fashion photographer and Chief
Creative Officer of Smashbox Cosmetics and Studio Services. Titled
"Reflections," the site's imagery uses light, reflective surfaces,
beautiful models, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles to transform static
photography into a dynamic combination of the human form, the
seductive shapes of automobiles, and glamour of the Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week runways.

The successful collaboration yielded what Factor deems his best
work yet. "Mercedes and I have had a strong relationship for years,
and when I started working with Critical Mass on the visual motif for
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last year, a lot of things just clicked.
It's some of the best work I've ever done, and Critical Mass and MBUSA
gave me the latitude to explore and take the imagery to new heights,"
said Factor.

The "Reflections" look-and-feel has been so well received by
MBUSA, they've extended the visual motif to on-site decor and fixtures
-- including inside the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge and on all vehicle
displays -- as well as in print ads, show literature, and direct
response efforts.

Highlights of this season's web content on the site include a
celebration of the new 2009 SL-Class Roadster, the latest generation
of the true automotive design icon; an exclusive look at the design
fitting of Veronika Jeanvie -- the rising star MBUSA has selected as
this week's "Mercedes-Benz Presents" Designer -- and another video
that immerses viewers into the frenetic action backstage, before and
after Ms. Jeanvie's highly anticipated runway show, her first in the
United States.

"Critical Mass has married style, quality, and craftsmanship --
all qualities valued by Mercedes-Benz," said Lisa Holliday of MBUSA.
"The Critical Mass team has helped articulate our objectives and
reinforce our branding efforts for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week across
every medium, not just the web."

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website will next be updated this
summer to accommodate more original content from Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week Miami Swim, which takes place from July 18-22 at the Raleigh
Hotel in historic South Beach.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is
responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz
and Maybach products in the United States. Beginning in 2007,
Mercedes-Benz USA became the title sponsor of IMG's New York, Los
Angeles and Miami Fashion Weeks, signifying the first time all three
properties have been united under a single sponsor. In 2007, MBUSA
achieved an all-time sales record of 253,433 new vehicles, setting the
highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving 14 consecutive
years of sales growth. More information on MBUSA and its products can
be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com and
http://www.maybachusa.com.

About Critical Mass

Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.com) is the interactive agency of
record for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), the title sponsor of
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.com), an
Omnicom digital marketing agency, helps the world's leading companies
use digital media to increase revenue, reduce costs and deepen
customer relationships. Founded in 1995, Critical Mass has offices in
Calgary, Toronto, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Austin,
Geneva, and London. For additional information, visit
www.criticalmass.com.

About Omnicom

Critical Mass is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC)
(www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising,
marketing, and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded
networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic
media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional
marketing, public relations, and other specialty communications
services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Trylon SMR
Matthew Caldecutt / Tiffany Guarnaccia
212-725-2295
matthew@trylonsmr.com / tiffany@trylonsmr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008