Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet

Chevrolet has purchased seven spots.

It’s the two-minute warning in terms of Super Bowl advertising and Chevrolet still has some ground to cover. General Motors‘ largest brand is still mulling its advertising lineup with less than two weeks remaining until the New York Giants and New England Patriots meet in the big game.

Chevrolet has purchased seven spots. Exactly which vehicles will be featured and at what times is still stirring healthy debate at GM headquarters.

“Every day, we’re changing the spots of what’s running where,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet’s vice president of global marketing and strategy. “We’re probably going to push it to the end.”

That comes Tuesday, Jan. 31 when NBC wants final decisions. Click past the jump to continue reading.

Continue reading A sneak peek at Chevrolet’s plan for the Super Bowl

A sneak peek at Chevrolet’s plan for the Super Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising

Remember when the dot-com ads started to flood the airwaves during the Super Bowl? The ads were almost always wacky, and half the time, we didn’t even know what was being sold. Well, it’s been a long time since the 1990s, and very few Internet-based companies are still hocking services during The Big Game.

Cars.com is one of the WiFi warriors that is still swinging for the fences, and some of their past work has been reasonably funny. Their 2012 ad is all about using Cars.com to gain confidence at the dealership, but we’re not sure what to think about it. There is something about a man with a freaky second head that doesn’t sit well with us, and we like it even less when noggin part deux is intentionally obnoxious. Seriously, we could do without the gyrating, it’s creeping us out. Hit the jump to preview the 30-second ad for yourself.

Continue reading This year’s Cars.com Super Bowl commercial weirds us out

This year’s Cars.com Super Bowl commercial weirds us out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Honda, Rumormill

To the millions of Gen Xers sitting in cubicles listening to New Wave bands on Spotify, wondering how they ever got to be so out of shape, so gray, so middle-aged and so much like their parents, this little 10-second clip that showed up on YouTube yesterday promised something great - the return of a hero, a new chapter in the generational totem that is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Alas, amidst all the speculation that Matthew Broderick would be reprising his role in a belated sequel, comes this revelation: It’s just a teaser for a Super Bowl ad.

According to Jalopnik, the ad is for Honda, and it will rehash all the best scenes in the original film. It’s a big enough deal that Honda has drafted Todd Phillips, he of The Hangover fame, to direct (John Hughes, director of FBDO, passed away in 2009). Of course, this means the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider will not be appearing, replaced, according to the report, by a 2012 Honda CR-V.

Not to sound too Cameron-like, but if that’s true, it is depressing. Click past the jump to see the quick teaser video.

Continue reading Matthew Broderick to reprise Ferris Bueller role in Honda Super Bowl ad?

Matthew Broderick to reprise Ferris Bueller role in Honda Super Bowl ad? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Safety, Hatchback, Electric

General Motors has launched an advertising campaign touting the safety of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in electric vehicle, just as its CEO testified to Congress that a recent Volt fire that took place after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash test would never occur under real-world circumstances, Bloomberg has reported.

GM CEO Dan Akerson (pictured) said in the campaign that he “couldn’t be prouder” of the technology the company uses to produce the Volt, the wire service noted. The campaign includes full-page ads in 19 U.S. daily newspapers, including the The New York Times, as well as a television ad that will debut on News Corp’s Fox News channel. GM has also released a new “normal” ad that calls the Volt “the car America had to build.” You can watch the 30-second clip, which may appear in or around the Super Bowl, after the jump.

Akerson spoke Wednesday in a hearing with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending. Both he and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said the car was safe and defended NHTSA’s handling of the situation against accusations from some Republican members of Congress who’ve been critical of the Obama Administration and its relationship with GM.

NHTSA said late last week that it finished its two-month investigation into the crash test that resulted in a fire three weeks after the fact last summer, and concluded that neither the Volt nor other electric vehicles pose more of a fire risk than conventional vehicles.

Continue reading GM launches ad campaign touting Chevy Volt safety [w/video]

GM launches ad campaign touting Chevy Volt safety [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising

Reputation is everything, according to a new survey by J.D. Power and Associates. The 2012 Avoider Study found that 43 percent of buyers who steer clear of a particular model due to quality concerns do so merely because of common knowledge. Ratings and reviews - our stock in trade - were cited by 38 percent, while previous ownership of a model caused scorn in only 14 percent of respondents.

“The fact that so many new-vehicle buyers may be basing their opinions about quality and reliability on pre-conceived [sic] notions, rather than concrete information or data, demonstrates how important it is for automakers to promote the quality and reliability of their models,” said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates, in what reads like a nakedly self-serving press release.

Other interesting data from the survey included an all-time high for xenophobia, with respondents who avoided import models because of their origin rising to 14 percent, the highest in the nine years of the study. Buyers avoiding domestics for the same reason dropped to six percent, the lowest in the study’s history.

The most influential reason for purchasing a specific model in 2012 was fuel economy, trumping reliability, “the deal,” and exterior styling, which were tops in 2010.

To read the entire press release, click past the jump.

Continue reading J.D. Power: More car buyers base purchases on brand reputation than ratings and reviews

J.D. Power: More car buyers base purchases on brand reputation than ratings and reviews originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi apparently couldn’t wait until the Super Bowl to show off the ad it will run during the Big Game. The German automaker has released its spot, and sure enough, the quick clip has cashed in on the current vampire craze. The commercial features a clutch of gen x/y/millennial 20-something vamps out for an impromptu fireside party. When their hero arrives in an Audi S7 with an extra cooler of O Negative, disaster ensues. At least the company chose an excellent soundtrack. The whole drama plays out under the silky tones of Echo & The Bunnymen’s “Killing Moon.”

Audi unveiled the spot mere days after teasing its Super Bowl ad after Facebook fans beat the company’s Race The Light game on the social network.

We have to say, we’re a little underwhelmed by the spot. Audi is on an undeniable roll right now with products like the TT-RS and A7 littering showrooms across the country, so it’s a bit sad that this was the best feature they could muster to highlight in a Super Bowl commercial. Hit the jump to see the spot for yourself.

Continue reading Audi lights up vampire-laden S7 commercial ahead of Super Bowl

Audi lights up vampire-laden S7 commercial ahead of Super Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Suzuki

You won’t have to wait until February 5 to see the new Suzuki Super Bowl commercial, as it’s hit the automaker’s YouTube channel in advance. Featuring an Eskimo who trades in his sled on an all-wheel-drive Kizashi, it’s fun and decidedly more upbeat than last year’s marauding snowmen.

Still, we kind of prefer the snowmen, which were more unconventional than the Eskimo ad’s predictable plot. This year’s ad also embraces two of the major Super Bowl ad tropes of recent years: adorable dogs and bickering couples. Neither of which is likely to win Suzuki any points for creativity.

Regardless, we have to admit that sliding a Kizashi at opposite lock across the frozen tundra looks like fun, and we think the underappreciated Suzuki is worthy of some extra attention. Click past the jump to watch the commercial in its entirety.

Continue reading Suzuki shows slushy Super Bowl commercial in advance

Suzuki shows slushy Super Bowl commercial in advance originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mini

The Mini Roadster ad campaign is continuing the “Another Day. Another Adventure.” campaign begun with the Mini Coupe. The Roadster spots, directed by Peter Berg, started with two well-dressed gents darting through the various avenues of Istanbul. It picks up with them having, somehow, nearly driven off a bridge.

At that point, Mini-type antics take over, and you can watch them in high-def in the video after the jump.

Continue reading Peter Berg directs Mini Roadster cliffhanger

Peter Berg directs Mini Roadster cliffhanger originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi

We’ve entered a new age of advertising, friends. One where manufacturers gleefully shill for their own ads instead of actual products. We’ve seen it with the teaser as for the Volkswagen Super Bowl spot, and now Audi has jumped into the game. It’s Inception gone marketing - an ad within an ad. In order to get us all fired up for the commercial to come, Audi has unveiled a teaser that features some of the best moments from the company’s Super Bowl marketing past as well as a quick glimpse of what we can expect from this year’s high-budget number.

From the looks of things, the commercial will feature everyone’s favorite creature of the night: vampires. We’re not sure how we can possibly contain our anticipation. Or something. Hit the jump to check out the commercial for a commercial for yourself.

Continue reading Audi teases next Super Bowl spot

Audi teases next Super Bowl spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Ford has adopted a new ad slogan designed to ward off complacency after successful run of nearly six years. The company is reportedly retiring its “Drive One” tag line for “Go Further,” which will be used in marketing campaigns in both the U.S. and Europe. Ford had been using the line “Feel the Difference” in the EU. The company says its old slogans were designed to convince buyers to give Ford products a look after the automaker rebounded from near bankruptcy. Executives now say the manufacturer is in an entirely different place in its history and that it’s time for a slogan that reflects that position.

Ford is expected to announce its 11th quarterly net profit on Friday, and the automaker recently announced it will begin paying a dividend for the first time in six years, according to Automotive News. The company is even within reach of an investment-grade credit rating.

When it came time to craft the company’s new tag line, Ford apparently specifically looked at Nike’s “Just Do It” and McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” as inspiration. While “Drive One” is on its way out the door, the internal “One Ford” will continue to soldier on as an indicator of the company’s global strategy.

Ford scraps “Drive One” ad slogan in favor of “Go Further” originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Infiniti, Porsche, Luxury

We don’t imagine that many new-car buyers are cross-shopping their local Infiniti and Porsche dealerships, but there’s at least one segment of the automotive industry where the two automakers both play ball: high-performance hybrid luxury sedans, which may be the single most conflicted niche of the automotive sphere in the known universe.

In any case, here we are with the Infiniti M35h and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. Each one is marketed as both a somewhat greener luxury vehicle and a performance sedan. We’d guess it’s the performance side of the equation that would be most interesting to the majority of buyers, leaving fuel efficiency a welcome bonus.

So, which one is faster? That’s an interesting question. Usually, we equate that term with top speed, as “fast” connotes velocity. When acceleration is being contested, we generally ask which machine is quickest. And, if it’s quickness you’re after, Infiniti wants you to know that its M35h will out-accelerate its competitor from Germany. How quick is it? According to Motor Trend, the hybrid M goes from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but that’s not the stat Infiniti is claiming. According to the post-jump press release, the M35h is “faster” than the hybrid Panamera from 0-100 (11.54 seconds) and in the quarter mile (13.41 seconds).

As for the rest of the relevant statistics, the EPA estimates that the M35h will manage 27 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway, for a combined rating of 29. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined. Seems the M hybrid takes both the acceleration and economy awards. Check out a video released by Infiniti after the break, where you’ll also find the press release, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Continue reading Followup: Infiniti M35h is world’s “fastest” hybrid

Followup: Infiniti M35h is world’s “fastest” hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has once again proven itself capable of crafting some seriously clever advertising, and with the Super Bowl quickly approaching, all eyes have turned to the automaker to see what the company has in store this year. In order to stoke even more interest, Volkswagen has released what it calls an ad for an ad in its “The Bark Side” spot. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen wanted to get fans excited about its spot for the Super Bowl and set about casting 12 dogs. The production team specifically chose the pups based on their resemblance to certain Star Wars characters instead of their vocal ability.

The clip was then shot just like a music video, both with all the dogs together and with each of them individually. The final track was crafted using a mix of archived dog barks which were then layered with new sounds from the dogs on stage. Certain barks were then pitched to catch the tune required. Hit the jump to check out the video once again, and then click on the Automotive News link to learn more about how VW’s ad came to be.

Continue reading How Volkswagen came up with its “Bark Side” Star Wars dog ad

How Volkswagen came up with its “Bark Side” Star Wars dog ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Budget, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Fiat

Recognize that tag line? It was used in the first ad for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 90-second spot devoted to resetting our image of Jeep and, subtly, America itself. Chrysler parent Fiat evidently thinks so much of the tagline that they’ve taken it to Italy for use in the ad campaign for the 2012 Fiat Panda.

Italy’s had a tough time of late: just as it was trying to get Berlusconi and his “bunga bunga” in the rearview, its debt crisis went from ‘critical’ to ‘euro-zone threatening,’ austerity measures led to social and labor unrest, and now comes the capsized Costa Concordia and an Italian captain with the unique ability to trip and fall into a lifeboat before his passengers.

The Panda doesn’t softly beat the drum of national spirit, it instead presents the Panda as just one symbol of what Italy can be if it is dedicated to working its way out of its funk. The Panda is so symbolic that, unlike in the Jeep commercial, the narrator never mentions the car. It’s airing on Italian television now, and you can see it after the jump.

Continue reading Fiat co-opts Jeep tagline for new Panda campaign

Fiat co-opts Jeep tagline for new Panda campaign originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Sonic marketing shenanigans continue under the rubric of “Let’s Do This,” this time with a five-story 3D projection of a claw game on the side of The Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. In fact, a couple of Sunset Boulevard’s lanes had to be shut down to accommodate the controls, which were a waist-high gearshift and an acclerator pedal.

So big was the PR stunt that it earned Chevrolet a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the mightiest claw game on Earth. Follow the jump to see it in action and to watch someone win a non-projected, very real, Chevy Sonic.

Continue reading Chevrolet takes the Guinness record for the world’s largest claw game

Chevrolet takes the Guinness record for the world’s largest claw game originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Infiniti, Porsche, Luxury

Infiniti has started throwing stones at the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. The Japanese luxury brand aims to pit its M Hybrid against the electrified German five-door in a fight for the title of the world’s fastest-accelerating production full hybrid. How’s that for a mouthful? The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid dishes out 380 horsepower and is good for a 0-60 mph time of around 5.7 seconds, all while returning up to 30 mpg highway. Of course, you’ll be asked to pay for the privilege of ownership. The Panamera S Hybrid commands an MSRP of $95,000.

The Infiniti M Hybrid, meanwhile, is good for 360 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a potent electric motor. Infiniti hasn’t outright said how quickly the M Hybrid can do the 0-60 mph dash, but we can say from experience that the vehicle is no pushover. All told, the M Hybrid can deliver up to 32 mpg highway, but is it quicker than the Porsche?

We’ll find out tomorrow. Hit the jump to see the teaser for yourself.

Continue reading Infiniti teases M hybrid drag race against Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

Infiniti teases M hybrid drag race against Porsche Panamera S Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has been working on airbag technology for more than 40 years, but now it has other innovations, like Colliision Prevention, that work to keep airbags where everyone wants them: hidden. So Mercedes has made a TV spot for the 2012 B-Class that’s also a letter to the airbag, saying somethiing to the effect of “I still love you, but…”

We aren’t expected to see the B-Class in the U.S. for another two years, but at least you have the commercial to tide you over after the jump.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz says, “Thanks, Airbag”

Mercedes-Benz says, “Thanks, Airbag” originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet

Because the Super Bowl isn’t enough of a spectacle already, there will be 20 Chevrolet vehicles and a heap of other prizes up for grabs during the big game. General Motors has revealed the Chevy Game Time app, which, once downloaded, presents trivia questions and polls about what’s happening during the broadcast. Get the right answer or the most common answer, and you’re put in a drawing for one of those numerous gifts.

There are also instant-win opportunities so you don’t have to wait until next month to be a winner. As to those 20 cars, each user that downloads the app gets a unique “license plate” and if your plate matches a plate on one of the Chevys shown during the game, you’ll win a car.

Follow the jump for the video and press release, and get to downloading on Sunday, January 22 if you like swag with your Super Bowl.

Continue reading Chevy launches app to give away tons of stuff during Super Bowl

Chevy launches app to give away tons of stuff during Super Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Porsche, Luxury

We all know what happens when Porsche and social media collide; the world gets another art car. As you may recall, the German sportscar manufacturer created a special version of its 911 GT3 R Hybrid when it crested one million fans on Facebook last February. Now, one year later, Porsche has garnered a staggering two million fans, and the company has taken it upon itself to slather a Cayman S in the faces of ts adoring supporters. With its red-tinted images on a white field, the design gives the Cayman S more than a passing resemblance to the famous Porsche 917 that garnered the company its first Le Mans win.

Porsche plans to display its Facebook Cayman S at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until January 27. For those of us who can’t make the jump to Germany, Porsche has created a special site that provides 360-degree views of the car as well as search function to help you find your face on the Cayman. Head over to the site to check it out.

UPDATE: Porsche has clarified that every fan’s face is not, in fact, on the 2-Mill Cayman due to Facebook requiring the automaker to ask permission before they could use people’s pics. So unless you opted in for the stunt, don’t look for your mug.

Porsche plasters 2M faces on Cayman to celebrate Facebook milestone [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Design/Style

To help tell the story of the 256-horsepower 2012 Golf R, Volkswagen has enlisted aid from an unexpected quarter: hot rodder and kandy-kolored-tangerine-flake-inclined Chip Foose.

Turns out that Mr. Overhaulin’ owned a 1985 Golf GTI and thought the world of it, and he engages in a couple minutes of reminiscing about his Mk II to prove it.

The video is after the jump, and there’s a new Golf R Apple iPad app which should also help those of you looking for more interactive elements when digging into the history of one of the original hot hatches (we’ve included a video of the app after the jump, too).

Continue reading Nothing says “Chip Foose” like… Volkswagen?

Nothing says “Chip Foose” like… Volkswagen? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials

We hope General Motors hasn’t started planning that ticker-tape parade down Jefferson Avenue yet, as Volkswagen has apparently taken issue with the notion that GM might again be the world’s largest automaker.

According to The Wall Street Journal, VW has said it will be adding some 200,000 units to its previously released sales total, contributions from some commercial truck manufacturers that are subsidiaries. Moreover, the WSJ has called into question GM’s practice of counting the vehicles sold by two Chinese partners in which GM does not have a controlling interest. Liuzhou Wuling Motors sold 1.2 million vehicles in China last year, according to the report, which the Journal says some analysts don’t count in tabulating their numbers. If those vehicles were excluded from GM’s nine million vehicle sales total, it would drop behind VW.

Further controversy may cloud third place on the list, as the Nissan-Renault partnership may have passed Toyota in the rankings, according to the report. That is, if you accept the notion that Nissan and Renault are one company and that Renault’s AvtoVAZ subsidiary should have its sales numbers count. Renault has a 25-percent state in the Russian company, notes the report.

Since there’s little agreement about what rules should govern the accounting, until one of the top four really separates itself from the rest and pushes its total sales over 10 million vehicles, we will likely continue to see the annual global sales championship end in argument. VW, for what it’s worth, seems hell-bent on becoming the undisputed largest car company, having repeatedly stated its intention to top 10 million sales.

VW takes issue with claim that GM is world’s largest automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, Toys/Games

Super Bowl commercials are big business, with multimillion-dollar 30-second spots and productions that seem to get more costly and elaborate every year. General Motors bucked that trend by giving independent film makers the opportunity to make their own 60-second spot, with the winner having their ad played in front of an estimated 110 million viewers during The Big Game.

Long Island, New York resident Zach Borst is that winner, and his first place entry is available after the jump. Borst decided to show what would happen if a new graduate was given a brand-new Camaro convertible as a graduation present - except the grad is really getting a mini fridge. Sounds like a bit of a letdown to us, but Chevrolet marketing boss Joel Ewanick says the ad “clearly shows the passion that Chevrolet elicits.”

Hit the jump to read the GM press release and stay to watch the minute-long video.

Continue reading GM chooses “Chevy Happy Grad” for Super Bowl ad

GM chooses “Chevy Happy Grad” for Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Lexus, Toyota, Luxury

A new Lexus LX 570 is going to set you back nearly $82k after you add $875 delivery to its $80,930 base price. The luxury version of the Toyota Land Cruiser wears a new Lexus spindle grille, one that’s big enough to make Rumplestiltskin proud, and it has revised front and rear fascias among the other upgrades that Lexus says justify its 1.9-percent price increase.

Among the other new-for-2013 features are an updated Crawl Control mode and terrain-select for the all-wheel-drive system, because what Lexus owner doesn’t enjoy serious rock-crawling? A new multimedia system with the next-generation Lexus Enform system is also part of the deal, which seems much more in line with real-world customer behavior, as Enform allows drivers to use Facebook and Yelp, among other services.

For those LX 570 buyers who just must have it all, there’s also a $1,510 luxury package that adds some higher grade trim and features, and a backseat entertainment system for $2,005.

Toyota only sold 3,167 units of the Lexus LX last year, down by about 20 percent.

To read the full release, click past the jump.

Continue reading 2013 Lexus LX 570 price increased to $81,805*

2013 Lexus LX 570 price increased to $81,805* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising

TrueCar has attracted much unwanted attention recently, drawing the ire of Honda and torquing off regulators in several states. In response, the company has announced a series of changes to its business model, designed to address the legality of its service, according to a report in Automotive News.

The biggest change is that dealers in some states will now have to subscribe to the lead service rather than paying a per-vehicle fee for sales closed from a TrueCar referral. Consumers will now have to sign up with TrueCar, providing contact information in the process. Additionally, TrueCar will drop the term “invoice” when describing the deals it offers.

While these changes are expected to mitigate TrueCar’s biggest problems, the company also says it will be making its service more dealer-friendly, according to AN. One of the contentious aspects of the TrueCar business model for some dealers has been the requirement that TrueCar have access to the dealer’s computers, such that the company can mine sales data. TrueCar says it will be limiting this in the future, along with establishing a national dealer council to procure feedback from its partners.

TrueCar polishing edges off business model to comply with state regulations originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Aston Martin, Luxury

If Aston Martin wants to make a sexy commercial, there probably doesn’t need to be that much thought involved. All the ultra luxury brand needs to arouse the typical auto enthusiast is a collage of shots of the company’s Vantage, Rapide or DB9.

That didn’t stop Aston Martin from stocking its latest video creation with women, however, but it’s not what you think. Hit the jump to watch Aston’s 87-second-long featurette, which is titled “Aston Martin Loves Women. Women love Aston Martin.”

The spot illustrates that women don’t need a mini skirt to be featured in an exotic luxury car commercial, and that you don’t have to be a guy to appreciate automotive beauty. And while the DBS rolling through the majestic twisties is a real looker, it’s the sound bites that really get us going. Aston Martin may love women, and women may love Aston right back, but men are rather fond of ‘em, too.

Continue reading Aston Martin loves women, women love Aston Martin

Aston Martin loves women, women love Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Earnings/Financials

Look who’s back on top again? Just 30 months since General Motors emerged from bankruptcy, the Detroit-based automaker can once again call itself the world’s largest. GM sold just over 9 million vehicles globally in 2011, its highest sales total ever, while chief rival Toyota may slip as far as third place, according to TheDetroitBureau.com, which reports that Volkswagen will pass Toyota to claim the runner-up spot.

Led by a record-setting 4.76 million sales year from Chevrolet, GM saw sales rise in all four of its reporting regions. The company says it now claims 11.9 percent of the global market. Sales in the U.S. were up 13 percent with 1.7 million vehicles sold.

It wasn’t a good year for Toyota, the largest carmaker by sales volume for the past three years, since unseating GM in 2008. The Japanese manufacturer experienced production interruptions from the earthquake and resultant tsunami in Japan in early 2011, and then again when Thailand experienced widespread flooding later in the year.

While GM’s legion of critics will no doubt point to the natural disasters in an attempt to diminish the significance of GM reclaiming the top spot, the company has to be feeling pretty good about its accomplishments last year. Not that being number one matters that much. As analyst Aaron Bragman of IHS Automotive tells The Bureau, “Being biggest in the world is not necessarily an advantage to anyone.”

But it’s certainly good for bragging rights and positive morale. As they say in sports, “scoreboard, baby.” To read GM’s full press release, click past the jump.

Continue reading GM retakes global sales crown with over 9M units shifted in 2011

GM retakes global sales crown with over 9M units shifted in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Fiat

Fiat USA put a video showcasing the 500 Abarth on the Internet last November that tested the bounds of what is doable on network TV. That’s one of the big reasons it hasn’t been put on TV yet.

You’ll see what we mean when you view the ad, titled “Seduction,” after the jump. It was the foam that made it iffy for the networks.

But we chatted with Chrysler marketing chief Olivier Francois at the Detroit Auto Show about Super Bowl commercials where advertisers are known to push the envelope. In the Chrysler-Fiat world of double titles, Francois is also CEO of Fiat.

Francois, who is considering a few options for the big game, is wondering if the Abarth video is Super Bowl worthy, and wants to know what Autoblog readers think about the spot. Good enough for the big game, also known as the Super Bowl of advertising?

Chrysler, of course, was the toast of the Super Bowl in 2011, showing an unprecedented two-minute ad featuring Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” an appearance by Eminem himself and the new ad theme, “Imported From Detroit.”

It’s a high bar to reach again.

What do you think? Does this Abarth ad have the right stuff?

View Poll

Continue reading Is this Fiat Abarth ad good enough for the Super Bowl?

Is this Fiat Abarth ad good enough for the Super Bowl? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volkswagen

Volkswagen knows how to get attention through advertising, as its latest teaser spot shows. Start with the Star Wars Imperial March to make the tighty-whities of every 40-year-old geek just a little bit tighter, and add dogs for the rest of the nation. That’s how you get the undivided attention of the United States of America.

Building on the success of last year’s “Tiny Vader” commercial, Volkswagen has begun the buildup to a full minute-long commercial featuring the Beetle that will debut during next month’s Super Bowl. Which Beetle is the question, and Volkswagen says that on February 5th, 2012, something will be “back and better than ever.”

The car that’s coming back is likely to be the diesel-powered Beetle TDI, especially since the timing lines up with the Chicago Auto Show that runs from February 8th. What, you’re still here? Who cares about conjecture, go watch the teaser. There are dogs dressed up like Ewoks, and there’s even a little Wookie singing in there. See it after the jump.

Continue reading The Bark Side: Volkswagen hounds bring back Star Wars in Super Bowl teaser

The Bark Side: Volkswagen hounds bring back Star Wars in Super Bowl teaser originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Design/Style

The L.L.Bean Bootmobile is perhaps the diametric opposite of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, promoting outdoor activity instead of consumption of sodium and saturated-fat-laden sausages. The well-known maker of high quality outdoor goods is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the Bootmobile has been created as a way to celebrate the product that helped start it all.

After being unveiled to L.L. Bean employees at the Brunswick, Maine facility where the boots are made, the wheeled boot tribute is headed to Times Square to kick off a nationwide anniversary tour. The tour is intended to inspire people to frolic outdoors and L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery School guides will be traveling with the Bootmobile to help people learn how to do so.

Most important to auto enthusiasts might be what’s underneath it all. The underlying truck is a Ford F-250 Super Duty Diesel, and piled atop that base is a fiberglass body that stands 13 feet tall. Das Boot equates to a Size 747 bit of footwear - that’s the perfect size for a 143-foot tall person, but they are too big for the Statue of Liberty. Echo Artz of Florida handled the design and build process, first sculpting the body in foam and then laying the fiberglass and paying obsessive attention to the details along the way. L.L. Bean officials declined to tell us how much the unique build cost them, calling the Bootmobile “priceless.”

It’s a big way to celebrate a company that started as the result of cold, wet feet after a hunting trip. Check out a neat video and the official press release after the jump.

Continue reading L.L. Bean celebrates century of mucking about with Bootmobile [w/video]

L.L. Bean celebrates century of mucking about with Bootmobile [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Lexus, Luxury

Given a moment’s thought, it’s a little surprising that Lexus, a luxury brand that changed the game, has never run an ad during the Super Bowl. But the home of L-Finesse not only has nine new or updated cars coming out this year, led by the 2013 GS, it has a new attitude, which will be “uncontained” in a 30-second spot while the Niners play the Patriots the NFL champion is decided.

The ad will be supported by a campaign called “TweetDrive Engineered by Lexus,” and those with a Twitter account and a bunch of correct answers will have a chance to win a trip to that Bowl of Superness. The spot arrives on February 5. For now, you can watch the teaser trailer and check out the press release and contest details after the jump.

Continue reading First Lexus Super Bowl ad to star 2013 GS

First Lexus Super Bowl ad to star 2013 GS originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Among other things, Audi is known for the brash and bold styling elements of its front fascias. From the giant chiseled trapezoid grille to its highly stylized LED headlamps, there’s no mistaking the face of an Audi for anything else on the road.

Audi’s LED lighting will be on full display during the upcoming Super Bowl as the German automaker has purchased a 60-second plot of airtime during the first quarter, marking the fifth year in a row that Audi has advertised during the big game.

If those eyes truly are the windows to the soul, the 420-horsepower 4.0-liter TFSI V8 nestled behind the peepers of the 2013 Audi S7 is one soul we’re eagerly looking forward to seeing stirred during SB XLVI on February 5th. In the meantime, we’ll just have to live with the press release after the break and the image above, which you can enlarge with a click of the mouse.

Continue reading Audi Super Bowl ad will star S7 and LED lighting

Audi Super Bowl ad will star S7 and LED lighting originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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