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Archive for the ‘Advertising’ Category

World Cup Meets Muscle Cars: Dodge Challenger vs. Britain

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Dodge will debut a new commercial during the World Cup soccer match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and England. It’s a bit odd, and we’re not even sure what to think of it, really.

It’s historical, sort of, and features George Washington running down redcoats behind the wheel of a black Dodge Challenger. OK. …

The commercial’s tag line is, “Here’s a couple of things America got right: cars and freedom.”

Since we’re so speechless, please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Posted in Advertising, Dodge, Dodge Challenger | Comments Off

Toyota Latest to Clutter Wrigley Field

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Here in downtown Chicago, we’re celebrating a Stanley Cup championship by the Blackhawks. In Wrgileyville, Cubs fans are lamenting yet another change to the historic Wrigley Field.

On Thursday, after getting city approval, the Cubs erected a Toyota sign as part of a sponsorship with the automaker. It’s the first of its kind at the field and measures 360 square feet.

As you may imagine, Cubs fans for the most part aren’t thrilled. And since the team can’t generate much to talk about on the field, plopping a giant sign in the outfield gives fans a lot not to like about Toyota.

Toyota Sign Goes Up at Wrigley Field (Chicago Breaking Sports)

Posted in Advertising, Toyota | Comments Off

Ford to Debut New Explorer on Facebook

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Next month, Ford will roll out its overhauled Explorer SUV on Facebook, the social media megasite, instead of on the traditional auto-show circuit. Some call it a risky move, but considering Facebook’s expansive reach and buzz-generating ability, we’re guessing this might become the norm in the future.

USA Today talked to a number of Ford representatives about the untraditional unveiling, and one said that they weren’t going to show photos of the Explorer on a cliff. Meaning, Ford knows most users are taking the SUV/crossover to soccer practice and not rock climbing.

After all, the mass acceptance of the Explorer in suburbia is how it became such an icon in the 1990s and why the vehicle is now based on a crossover platform instead of an SUV one. However, the teaser images on the Explorer’s Facebook page all show the vehicle in outdoor settings that most buyers will likely never traverse.

Ford calls these “realistic yet aspirational.” All four of the teaser images are above and below. Tell us in the comment section if you think they fit Ford’s goals.

Posted in Advertising, Ford, Ford Explorer | Comments Off

New Ford Fiesta Ad Slams Other Fords

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

One tagline for the official onslaught of Ford Fiesta marketing and advertising reads, “The Fiesta gets 40 miles per gallon. 21 hybrids do not." It’s a powerful statement that will definitely grab the attention of consumers who don’t regularly follow our site.

Because if they did they’d know that the 21 hybrids Ford is talking about includes — or should — five Ford models that don’t achieve 40 mpg highway. They include the Ford Fusion Hybrid and its Mercury Milan Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ siblings, and the Ford Escape Hybrid compact SUV and its Mercury sibling, the Mariner Hybrid.

To learn which other cars get 40 mpg on the highway, you can check out our guide to high-mileage cars here. If you’re wondering which other hybrids don’t get 40 mpg highway, they include some pricey ones such as the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid, Lexus LS 600h L, Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

To give Ford its due credit, none of the Fiesta’s direct competitors come close to 40 mpg highway, with the Toyota Yaris coming closest at 36 mpg highway. The car is just reaching lots now, with Cars.com's national inventory showing just 39 Fiestas. Check out the image gallery of an SE hatchback in Medford, Mass. here.

Why Ford's Fiesta 2011 Launch Is a 'Pretty Big Deal' (BrandWeek)

Cars.com 2011 Ford Fiesta Review

Posted in Advertising, Ford, Ford Fiesta | Comments Off

Cadillac Is for Hipsters?

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

That was my conclusion after watching the first three TV commercials from Cadillac’s new ad agency, Bartle Bogle Hegarty. Most of that impression comes from the music because anyone could edit the footage of the cars — CTS, CTS-V and SRX — like these three, but the standout feature seems to be the soundtrack. The exploding emblem is kind of cool, but otherwise I’m not sure how these commercials speak to the product they’re pushing.

Check out all three commercials on Cadillac's YouTube page — because they don't allow embedding — and let us know if you’re impressed.

Posted in Advertising, Cadillac, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac CTS-V, Cadillac SRX | Comments Off

Toyota Sienna’s ‘Swagger Wagon’ Music Video

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

We’re still on the fence about Toyota’s new ad campaign around the Sienna minivan, but the company keeps stepping it up a notch. The latest effort is a two-and-a-half-minute music video featuring the parents from the TV commercials rapping to a pretty realistic mix of beats and background vocals. It’s being heavily promoted on YouTube.

Everything about the video speaks to high production values, which may make it not as fun to watch as the classic “Stay At Home Dad.” What do you think? Is it too much or just plain funny?

Posted in Advertising, Toyota, Toyota Sienna | Comments Off

Subaru Lets Dogs Drive in New Ads

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Kia has animated hamsters, but Subaru is letting real live dogs drive their vehicles in a series of humorous ads aimed at dog lovers. The concept is built around the fact that 50% of Subaru owners also own dogs. We’re not sure the industry even tracks that stat.

The ads look strange because the car is moving as if a dog were actually driving it, with stilted movements and all. And while the dogs can do some things like pay cash for dog food, they can’t parallel park. There are seven different ads on this Subaru site, but our favorite is the third one, where the two dogs get their parking spot nabbed by a rude kitty.

Subaru: Dog tested. Dog approved.

Posted in Advertising, Subaru | Comments Off

Toyota’s Smart Sienna Viral Ads

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

The concept of Toyota’s new viral videos promoting the redesigned Sienna is a pretty radical departure for the staid company. It features an incredibly dorky mom and dad who are oblivious to just how lame they are, which is the continuing joke of all seven videos — and their shorter TV commercial versions — that also happen to point out the van’s features.

It gets a little old after one or two, but it’s surprising that the Sienna is the one Toyota vehicle with a unique ad campaign. A few years ago, the minivan was featured in a humorous TV spot that mimicked a sultry perfume commercial.

While these videos all use the tag lines “Daddy Like” or “Mommy Like,” those phrases are actually used on billboards for the Sienna as well, and they have a bit more impact.

The 2011 Sienna recently went on sale and is the first new Toyota to feature a brake override system, which is a fail-safe measure for unintended acceleration.

Check out the other videos on Toyota's YouTube page for the Sienna and let us know what you think.