Two happy singles were all smiles embarking on the first-ever speed datching event on wheels presented by Mercedes-Benz and Match.com. Sixty-six percent of singles report that their car is important in their dating life according to a new survey of singles by Match.com. This was evident Friday night in Miami as hundreds of singles took to the tracks for five minute dates behind the wheel of a new Mercedes at the first ever Wheels of Attraction event.

In an unusual pairing, Mercedes-Benz and Match.com have teamed up to take advantage of the unique relationship between people and their cars, using cars as the vehicle for potential relationships at a unique event that took place Friday, August 27 in Miami. The Wheels of Attraction event added a new dimension to a popular dating trend by offering the first-ever Speed Matching event on wheels. Over one hundred Match.com members accelerated the dating dynamic as they went from zero to sixty on five-minute dates in new Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

In a new Match.com member survey of more than 1,400 singles, Match.com found that the car environment often provides a sneak peek into the potential for, and dynamics of, a relationship. Each participant at the event took several potential mates for a spin to help determine if they could find love behind the wheel. The event took place at the Love Mercedes Tour stop at Gulfstream Park, Hallendale Beach, Forida.

Michelle Cervantez, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA, said, "We've had over a century's experience with the unique and enduring relationships people have with their vehicles so it's an interesting extension to see a car work its magic for relationships between people."

The Match.com survey found that 66 percent of surveyed singles said their car is somewhat or very important in their dating life. The majority felt that the invention of the automobile has had a tremendous influence on the dating process. The survey also provided some interesting insights into the role that those first drives play in shaping perceptions. Forty-seven percent of single women surveyed said if a potential romantic partner does not open the car door for her, it could be a relationship deal breaker.

"Just as the new technology of the Internet has revolutionized dating as we know it, the invention of the automobile has to be one of the top romantic influences of the twentieth century," said Kathleen Roldan, director of dating for Match.com. "Four out of five of the singles we surveyed include experiences in cars among their romantic memories. Cars have given us intimate moments whether at drive-in movies or running out of gas with someone special."

The Wheels of Attraction event took the Speed Matching concept of pairing eligible singles for several "get to know you" dates a step further in the dating trend by having the dates take place behind the wheel. Taking turns in the driver's seat of a Mercedes-Benz while on a first date, the matched couples got a glimpse into each other's car dating behavior while driving one of three courses.

"Two of my dates opened the car door for me which made a great first impression. I'm hopeful I'll get second dates. One guy was a little aggressive behind the wheel which made me nervous and was a side of him that I probably wouldn't have seen if we hadn't been in the car," noted Sheila Shteyrenberg, age 38 of Miami Beach, Florida, a participating single after her dates at the Wheels of Attraction event.

Driving brand new Mercedes models provided everyone with an advantage right off the bat: according to Match's survey, singles find car cleanliness the biggest turn-on and car odors the biggest turn-off. Driving behavior can also have an impact on potential relationships, according to the survey: forty-five percent of Match.com members surveyed say that cursing other drivers would leave the worst impression, significantly ahead of talking on a cell phone or driving too slowly.

The Wheels of Attraction event took place at Gulfstream Park near Miami as an extension of the Love Mercedes Tour, a national event where Mercedes-Benz is taking all nine of its model lines to 12 cities across the U.S. allowing current and potential owners to experience new Mercedes models.

Speed Matching puts together a room full of single professionals.