Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, MINI, Humor

You’ve seen the license plate surrounds that read “My other car is an Enterprise Rent-a-car.” Well, in a Cash-for-Clunkers age, what if your other car is headed to the scrap heap because you wanted to buy something friendlier? Then Mini has a bumper sticker for you.

It’s part of a marketing package sent to Mini dealers and up to the dealer to use… but if you swap that Oldsmobile Aurora for a John Cooper Works, there’s no reason you shouldn’t let the world know about it.

[Source: Mini]

MINI bumper sticker makes fun of Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford

While the Taurus name still carries very strong awareness with customers, Ford needs to show the car-buying public that the 2010 model has an entirely new level of class and refinement. To accomplish its goal, the flagship sedan’s new marketing campaign is ignoring competitors like the Honda Accord and instead going after the luxury competition.

New online ads will pit the 2010 Taurus, which starts at $26,000, against competition that costs $60,000 or more. In one spot, the Taurus goes head to head with the much more expensive Lexus LS. Both vehicles will be driving behind a leaky gravel hauler to show that the Ford has a better paint job. In another spot featuring the Infiniti M45X, Ford aims to show that the Taurus has a more sophisticated radar system. Infiniti spokesman Kyle Bazemore tells the Detroit News that his company is flattered to be chosen by Ford as a benchmark, but “our entry-level Infiniti G beat the Taurus in a head-to-head test by Edmunds.com.”

Ford says the ads aren’t targeting luxury car buyers, but instead they are meant to tout the Taurus’ advanced technology. Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP likes Ford’s approach, since many vehicles in the segment don’t have the same level of tech as the Taurus. Hall isn’t so sure, however, if the online ads go far enough to distinguish the new Taurus from the old model. Ford’s print and TV spots won’t feature luxury competitors, though, instead focusing mainly on favorable reviews and technology.

Follow the jump to view two of the new Taurus ads. In the first one, Ford takes on the Acura RL to see which vehicle has the quieter cabin. The prop? A fire-breathing drag racer, parked right between the two vehicles. The second spot features the Taurus and Lexus LS taking on the fore-mentioned gravel hauler. This commercial is pretty sweet, if only because of the slow motion chunks of rocks hitting both cars set to opera. Hat tip to Racer.

[Source: Detroit News]

Continue reading REPORT: Ford to go after lux brands with new Taurus ads [w/VIDEO]

REPORT: Ford to go after lux brands with new Taurus ads [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

General Motors is probably swimming in ideas and getting another thousand offers every day on how to turn the company around - there are fifteen pages of responses on the Tell Fritz site alone, and those are just the questions the GM CEO has answered. Add the company’s recent advertising issues to that, and the internal suggestion box is most likely brimming as well.

Enter The Blake Project, a brand consultancy firm that is offering GM $100,000 worth of time for free. That won’t include economy travel expenses, but will include a day with the firm’s three-man team of Jack Trout, Brad VanAudken, and Mark Ritson, to “share insights, ideas and expertise.”

What might those insights and ideas be? Some of them were looked at in a piece called “New Brand Strategies for GM.” The first task given is to define the brands, e.g., Chevrolet should stand for something like “Good value, variety and heritage,” instead of “big, small, expensive, cheap, truck, van or sports car.” Buick should “stop making cheap Buicks,” and Cadillac “can never be a prestige car. The fancy imports dominate that category.” Is that glimpse worth setting aside a day of GM’s time? If anyone at the General thinks so, click the link below…

[Source: Branding Strategy Insider]

REPORT: The Blake Project offers $100k worth of free brand consultancy to GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM

It’s no mystery that Bob Lutz wasn’t particularly pleased with Buick’s recent “Photo Shoot” advert, and according to Ad Age, the tri-shield’s spot wasn’t the only campaign to incur Maximum Bob’s maximum wrath.

On July 14, General Motor’s new Vice Chairman sat down with the automaker’s branding teams, and according to one source, “crapped all over the advertising,” then left on a Caribbean vacation.

Specifically, he took issue with the aforementioned Buick commercial, as well as the Kate Walsh (of Grey’s Anatomy fame) Cadillac ads, saying the spots were “too dark” and that Chevrolet’s new campaign - which has yet to run - is “too lifestyle-focused.”

Speaking with various insiders at GM, its advertising agencies and the creator of the Buick spot, Ad Age reports that Lutz will be spearheading in-depth reviews of current and upcoming campaigns to best represent the General’s post-bankruptcy rebirth, and taking an old-school approach that highlights the products and features in its line-up.

Lutz said in a webcast before the meeting, “I think you will very quickly see a drastic change in the tone and content of our advertising. And if you don’t, it will mean that I have failed.”

[Source: Ad Age | Image Source: Stan Honda/Getty]

REPORT: Bob Lutz “crapped all over [GM's] advertising,” went on holiday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Maserati, Design/Style

Maserati makes beautiful cars. In a contest they held with Architectural Digest, the home of the trident went looking for the best homes for those cars — not the actual houses, but the garages that house their creations. Entries came in two categories, Existing and Concept, and were judged on “noted architectural element, uniqueness and individuality.”

The winning existing garage could barely be considered a garage — more like a living room where you park your car. The winning concept garage has three turntables that can place cars in three different positions depending on whether you’re coming, showing off, or going. You can read the press release after jump and check out the stunning high-res images of the winners’ designs below.

[Source: Maserati]

Continue reading Maserati, Architectural Digest celebrate best real and concept garages

Maserati, Architectural Digest celebrate best real and concept garages originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

Eric Callisto read the reactions from Michael Jackson fans and decided that the city-sponsored Los Angeles memorial service wasn’t enough. So, like any web entrepreneur the Logansport, Indiana native created a site to serve that outpouring.

At Ultimate MJ Tribute, fans of the King of Pop can remember him by having their names written on a Smart Fortwo. They will also get their names on the website itself, and supposedly get a personalized flower delivered to Jackson’s memorial - in that very same Smart - every year. And all for the low, low price of $10.

Of course, there are a lot of details left out: there is no information on the site about how this is all supposed to work, and site only has two real links on it, one of them to Paypal, one of them to a contact form. The other links are for Digg, Tweet, and sharing. It isn’t even clear if Mr. Callisto owns or has a Smart. And based on the worldwide reaction to MJ’s death, to pick one of the smallest cars in the world as a billboard tribute strikes us as a bit odd. But after all, an idea might be priceless, but a domain name is only a few dollars…

[Source: Ultimate MJ Tribute via Inside Line]

Smart, or Stupid? Teenager cooks up Michael Jackson microcar tribute originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

What’s a giant wheeled hot dog have to do to get some respect? It seems Hawaii’s issue isn’t so much automotive renditions of meat products, but a recent visit by Oscar Mayer’s Weinermobile has caused a flap. Honolulu’s mayor welcomed the rolling frank, even honoring it with “Oscar Mayer Wiener Day,” while a local organization known as Outdoor Circle wants to make sure it’s the last time the Weinermobile visits.

Sure, an orange and yellow vehicle in the shape of a hot dog might be tacky to some, but Outdoor Circle has taken real umbrage and wants it to be clear that the big dog shouldn’t come back. A 1927 law banning all billboards on the islands is being cited, along with a more recent, more relevant ban on vehicles solely intended for advertising also being used in the outcry. The welcoming mayor has vowed to look into the supposed violations, though there’s apparently a lack of official complaints. Aren’t there better things to do, especially in such an idyllic locale, than carp about some corporate mobile home with funny bespoke bodywork? Go surf, or something — it’s not like it crashed into anything untoward.

[Source: Gadling, Photo: Newton Downtown Car Show]

Hawaiians want Wienermobile off their rock originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet

General Motors European sales chief, Brent Dewar, will reportedly be named the head of Chevrolet in the most recent management shake-up to take place within a post-bankruptcy GM.

Dewar, who started his career with GM of Canada in 1978, became the European sales and marketing head last year after stints as the vice president of field sales, service and marketing, executive director of sales in Brazil and Chevrolet’s general marketing manager, where he was in charge of the brand’s “American Revolution” ad campaign.

Dewar’s appointment comes in the wake of the announcement that Bryan Nesbitt, former North American design head, would become the new man in charge of Cadillac on August 1. Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick/GMC’s lead executives will all report to newly-appointed vice chairman of marketing, Bob Lutz as GM continues its reinvention campaign.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Stephen Chernin/Getty]

GM European sales chief Brent Dewar named head of Chevrolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Cadillac, Luxury

What does government money smell like? While we’d imagined something like a mix of various colognes mixed with filth and an undertone of unwashed suits, Cadillac evidently thinks Uncle Sam’s cash - our cash - smells like fruit, spice, and incense. General Motors has licensed the Cadillac name to Dubai’s Beauty Contact Incorporated for the fragrance rollout, intended to hit stores in time for this fall’s Cadillac centennial.

Past olfactory experiments by automakers haven’t proven to be successful, so Cadillac’s effort doesn’t seem to have a very bright future, but Beauty Contact’s Alwyn Stephen thinks its fragrance is “a relevant extension of the Cadillac lifestyle.” The full portfolio of products will be available, spray, aftershave, deodorant, body wash - the whole nine yards. If it helps make the sweaty $5 bill we were most recently handed smell better than body odor, we’re all for it.

[Source: TheStar.com]

That Taxpayer Money Smell? Cadillac to get new fragrance to celebrate anniversary originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos

The scene opens with two highway patrol officers in combat on the side of the road. The skies are dark. An eagle screams. The men fight harder. This is for blood… or at least it looks like it. Follow the jump to see how it ends.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: Real stories of the highway patrol? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

General Motors continues to enlarge its direct dialogue with the public with a new feature called “Tell Fritz.” This is where you, Jon and Jane Q. Public, can send a question to The General’s CEO and might possibly get it answered.

We applaud GM’s commitment to dialogue, which isn’t new. However, the first Q&A video didn’t give us much to root for when it came to the dialogue itself. Asked why it took 20 years of declining market share and bankruptcy to revamp the way GM does business, Henderson talks about how competitive and difficult things have been for everyone and then jumps to the plan moving forward because “it’s important not to dwell on” the past.

In doing so, he completely avoids answering the question, which makes us wonder why that question was chosen. The site is taking questions now, so feel free to submit your query or concern and Henderson has said he’ll respond to what he can. In the future, though, we hope that whichever questions Henderson chooses to answer, he answers them completely. Follow the jump to watch the first video in the series.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM Re:invention launches Tell Fritz campaign [w/VIDEO]

GM Re:invention launches Tell Fritz campaign [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Toyota

As part of Toyota’s strange but seemingly effective marketing campaign for its new 2010 Prius hybrid, the Japanese automaker has rolled out a bunch of 18-foot tall solar flowers to various urban centers all around the United States, starting with Boston’s Prudential Plaza. Next up: New York, followed by Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

According to Toyota, these so-called solar flowers represent the Prius theme of “Harmony between Man, Nature, and Machine.” Apparently, they achieve this by providing seating for up to ten people and by featuring laptop and cell phone recharging stations and access to free wireless internet service. Understandably, there’s probably not quite enough juice from the petal-shaped solar panels to provide all the necessary energy for those ten people, so we’re guessing there are some high-powered batteries involved in there somewhere.

[Source: Toyota]

Prius promotion plants giant solar flowers with free electricity, WiFi in cities originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Chrysler

With Cash for Clunkers slated to go live on July 23, every automaker appears primed to grab a piece of the action. Chrysler is no different, and its new “Double CA$H For Your Old Car” incentive program promises up to match the government’s $4,500 “Clunkers” incentive for some vehicles.

Taking $9,000 off the MSRP of the vehicle of your choosing sounds fantastic, but of course, the program isn’t that easy. First, obviously, you’d need a vehicle that is eligible for the maximum $4,500 allowance under the government’s Cash for Clunkers initiative. Then, you’d need to find a Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicle that has the maximum $4,500 in incentives. If you can fit both of those criteria, you will receive $9,000 off MSRP. Chrysler is also offering 0% financing for up to 72 months through GMAC as an alternative to cash incentives.

Chrysler’s “Double CA$H For Your Old Car” program runs from July 23-August 31. Hit the jump to view Chrysler’s press release. Unfortunately, the release doesn’t contain any information pertaining to which vehicles are eligible for the full incentive of $4,500.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler announces “Double CA$H For Your Old Car” promotion

Chrysler announces “Double CA$H For Your Old Car” promotion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Buick, GM, Lexus

Looks like there could be too many cooks in the Buick PR kitchen, and the soup is looking worried. For the new GM to get on its feet, Buick has to find its feet. To do that, Buick has created a number of ad campaigns meant to showcase its new product and bring new, younger buyers to the brand. One of the commercials in the campaign is called “Photo Shoot,” and according to a report, the recently empowered VP of marketing, Bob Lutz, isn’t particularly pleased with the spot.

Both Lutz and GM CEO Fritz Henderson don’t believe the commercial positions Buick as a luxury brand that competes with Lexus. They have told GM’s ad agency, Leo Burnett, that it needs to do better. However — and here’s where it gets convoluted — the ad was created by an independent shop that Leo Burnett was told to hire to do the work. Mark LaNeve, GM’s head of marketing, allegedly instructed Burnett to hire Gary Topolewski, a former creative director at Burnett who worked with LaNeve on Cadillac’s Break Through ad campaign, and who now runs another ad agency.

The other character in the middle of all of this is Buick VP Susan Docherty, who defended the commercial. She said it fulfills its role of promoting a revamped Buick brand, adding that she looks “forward to working with Bob and sharing spots two through six with him.” Follow the jump to watch the commercial, and you can decide if it makes you put the word “Buick” in the same sentence with “Lexus.”

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Continue reading Bob Lutz unhappy with new Buick campaign?

Bob Lutz unhappy with new Buick campaign? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Last year, Max Motors in Butler, MO gave away free handguns with the purchase of a new vehicle. The promotion was such a success that the dealership is at it again, but this time with a more Russian flair. Buy a new truck at Max Motors, and you’ll receive a voucher for a free AK-47.

Max Motors owner Mark Muller has generated all kinds of media coverage for his bombastic deal, even appearing on CNN to defend the promotion. Muller explains the dealer isn’t simply passing out AKs to anyone who purchases a truck. Instead, truck buyers receive a voucher that can be redeemed at any reputable gun shop, where proper background checks must legally be run, etc.

God, guns, guts and American pickup trucks is Max Motors’ motto, and Muller says the firepower is needed in MO due to a persistent Meth problem that has contributed to a high crime rate. For more, follow the jump to view Muller’s recent CNN interview.

[Sources: USA Today; CNN]

Continue reading VIDEO: MO dealer offers free AK-47 with truck purchase. How about a rack?

VIDEO: MO dealer offers free AK-47 with truck purchase. How about a rack? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Diesel

Would-be automakers Local Motors have announced that they are now taking reservations for their madcap Rally Fighter, purportedly the world’s first vehicle designed by Internet committee (”crowdsourcing”). Penned by contest-winner Sangho Kim, the Rally Fighter looks unlike any other street vehicle we can recall, taking the off-road coupe aesthetic shown in offerings like the BMW X6M and putting it on a crash course through Baja, or a Bowler Nemesis on a budget.

Your spot in line for the high-powered four-seater can be secured with a refundable $99 deposit, which will get you a place in line. At some point in the future, you, a number-holder, will be contacted to lock in your build date with a $5,000 deposit against the estimated $50,000 build price. Then, if all goes well, the folks at Local Motors and you will sit down to design your own Rally Fighter, a vehicle that is promised to have 20-inches of suspension travel, be road legal, and achieve 36 miles-per-gallon on the highway (30 mpg off-road!).

In order to get the tube-framed, fiberglass-and-carbon bodied Rally Fighter to meet those goals, the off-roadster will feature the twin-turbo inline-six out of the BMW 335d, an engine that should get them the 265 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque without fiddling, though we can’t imagine this is an inexpensive proposition.

This looks like a neat bit of kit, but we’ll reserve a large dose of skepticism for the folks at Local Motors until we can learn more. In the meantime, check out the press release and a couple of videos of LM’s crew making the initial order announcement and talking about the vehicle’s construction, all of which is available after the jump. Hat tip to Mike!

[Source: Local Motors]

Continue reading Local Motors begins deposit-taking for Internet-designed diesel Rally Fighter [w/VIDEO]

Local Motors begins deposit-taking for Internet-designed diesel Rally Fighter [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, SEAT, UK

Seat wants to make sure that people in the U.K. don’t equate a family car with being boring, and what better more Latin way to do it than by using happy naked people? The print campaign for the Seat Altea features two “parents” hopping out of their Seat and frolicking on their way to a skinny dipping session. This kind of behavior is apparently called “Seattitude,” and you’ll be brimming with it if you own an Altea (Spanish models not included).

You can read the press release after the jump and have a gander at the high-res gallery below. Keep in mind that the ads are probably Not Safe For Work… unless looking at naked Spaniards is an acceptable thing to do at your workplace.

[Source: Seat]

Continue reading Ad aims to put butts in seats Ad puts naked butts in Seat Altea

Ad aims to put butts in seats Ad puts naked butts in Seat Altea originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: China, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen

We know the Chinese love their Transformers - or perhaps it’s just Bumblebee. To promote its new movie theater, a mall in China created its own Transformer out of a Volkswagen Jetta. The best part about the sculpture is that it hasn’t been painted to look like Bumblebee, and it’s been posed in a way that makes it look like it’s either speed skating, or finishing up a dance number, or doing aerobics. Oh, and it has no head. But it’s still cool, and you can check it out in the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: China Car Times]

Beijing mall builds its own Transformer out of VW Jetta originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Trends, Marketing/Advertising, BMW, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, Luxury

Porsche grabs the top spot for the fifth year in a row in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study. For this year’s study, the team at JDPA gathered information from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year cars and questioned them on more than 90 vehicle attributes. Their studies examined “how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive,” based on those evaluations.

While the APEAL nameplate ranking is significant (Porsche, Jaguar, and Cadillac round out the top-three), the segment winners offer more insight into what today’s buyers are seeking. This year, it appears to be the newly launched models including the Volkswagen CC, Nissan Maxima, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Flex… each took top honors in their respective category. This year’s biggest upset comes in the “Midsize Premium Car” segment as the all-new Hyundai Genesis (sedan) knocks the BMW 5 Series from the podium. Check out the gallery for the graphics, and read the full press release after the break.

[Source: JDPower.com]

Continue reading Hyundai trumps BMW and Jaguar in J.D. Power 2009 APEAL study

Hyundai trumps BMW and Jaguar in J.D. Power 2009 APEAL study originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Click image above to view the video after the jump

Normally, we try not to cover one story too much, especially one that is a marketing tool, but this one is just too good to pass up. We’ve previously told you about Roger Keeney, the man from Athens, GA that lost his sight twenty years ago and hasn’t been able to drive since. As part of their 10 Unleashed program, Ford fulfilled Roger’s dream to drive a new Mustang GT Convertible with Trans-Am champion Tommy Kendall, and documented the event with a series of videos.

We received a preview last month, and now Ford has released the second and third episodes showing Keeney actually getting behind the wheel. Keeney even dishes out some kindness of his own by convincing Ford to let some of his friends at the Arizona Center for the Blind drive the Mustang as well. Check out both episodes in the embedded videos after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading VIDEO: Behind The Wheel - Episode 2 and 3 of blind man’s adventure with 2010 Ford Mustang

VIDEO: Behind The Wheel - Episode 2 and 3 of blind man’s adventure with 2010 Ford Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Maintenance, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

The voiceover for Mercedes’ “Ignite” commercial for the new E-Class starts with “It is, quite simply, the most advanced automobile we have every created.” However, during the start-up sequence before that voiceover, the actual commercial begins with a warning light: when the driver turns the car on, the message “Front Right SRS Malfunction Service Required” appears in the dash - not the type of message you expect to see when your car fires up and does its system check. Still, knowing how these things work, we suspect this commercial was probably filmed early on in a pre-production prototype with an inactive airbag - a common enough occurrence with these sorts of vehicles.

In any case, to watch the commercial and check out Mercedes’ official response to the flub, hit the jump. Hat tip to Wai.

UPDATE: Mercedes-Benz USA blocked access to video of the commercial on YouTube, but they didn’t get rid of all the copies. Follow the jump for a salvaged excerpt of the commercial.

[Source: YouTube, Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz E-Class commercial features malfunctioning car

VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz E-Class commercial features malfunctioning car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Lexus

When Lexus was founded in 1989, it appealed to the staid sensibilities of its 45-year-old demographic. Now, those buyers are in their mid-sixties, and Lexus, faced with a 34.1% sales slip for the first six months of the year - more than its primary rivals from Germany - is rethinking its line-up and consumer experience to appeal to younger buyers.

Speaking with Automotive News, Lexus execs admitted they’ve grown too dependent on sales of the RX crossover, and in an attempt to right the ship - and score sales from BMW 3 series coupe and convertible buyers - they’ve begun a new push for the IS sedan, and in particular, the new IS convertible.

In addition to the droptop and recently released HS 250h hybrid sedan, Lexus wants to add an array of entry-level models into its line, including more “green” vehicles and sports-oriented models. The automaker’s Taste of Lexus events held around the country to woo buyers into showrooms with ride-and-drives and hors d’oeuvres - reportedly costing around $1 million per city - are going by the wayside, and instead, Lexus is pushing its dealer training program to ensure top-notch service, along with a focus on tech-rich features and new, edgier ad campaigns.

Although the RX is still outselling all of its nearest competitors in the luxury crossover segment, Lexus realizes that it has to offer buyers more, particularly those in the coveted 25-35-year-old demographic. Hopefully, that means more high-performance and fuel efficient models, and less confusing (if artsy) advertising campaigns.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Lexus reportedly aiming to please younger generation, compete with entry-level BMWs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Safety

It seems to us that when we’re glancing in the direction of a roadside billboard, we’re not really keeping our eyes on the road. This undeniable fact hasn’t stopped the installation of a new billboard in Fort Myers, Florida directing drivers to visit deathbycellphone.org. Good cause, poor implementation?

In a report that seems oblivious to the irony of an eye-catching billboard reminding drivers to pay attention to the road, the local NBC affiliate quotes Jay Anderson, founder of Stay Alive Just Drive, as saying, “Distractions are dangerous, period. At any given time, look left look right and you’re going to see someone on their cell phone.” Vinny Fazio of Lamar Advertising, which donated the billboard space, adds, “That’s the good thing about outdoor advertising. We’re looking to grab people’s attention.”

In related news, deathbybillboard.org has yet to be registered. Hit the jump to watch a video segment from WLBZ Channel 2 in Bangor, Maine along with a press release from the National Safety Council.

[Source: WLBZ2.com]

Continue reading Ironic: New Florida billboard campaign aims to curb distracted driving (w/VIDEO)

Ironic: New Florida billboard campaign aims to curb distracted driving (w/VIDEO) originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Nissan

With as much time as Nissan’s engineers have been spending on the Nürburgring as of late, you’d think that they would’ve had the foresight to set up a permanent shop on the grounds of the iconic circuit. As it turns out, they have. Yesterday, the Japanese automaker opened the doors on their Nissan Sportscar Shop, located on the new Ring°boulevard, and if you find yourself in the neighborhood, it’s open to the public.

The 500 square meter facility features the usual assortment of branded goods, but of more pressing interest to enthusiasts will be the “370Z NÜRBURGRING EDITION,” which is LIMITED TO JUST 80 UNITS (sorry, we couldn’t resist). Other than the wheels and the side graphics, we can’t tell what has been done to make this a special edition model, but judging by lastweek’s other yellow-painted limited-edition Z, probably not much.

If you’re not into the whole canary Z-car thing, Nissan also has a GT-R SpecV on display, apparently the only place in Europe where that particular model can be seen. Check out the images below and the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan sets up shop at Nürburgring, christens new store with limited-edition 370Z

Nissan sets up shop at Nürburgring, christens new store with limited-edition 370Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Marketing/Advertising, GM

As part of its post-bankruptcy rebirth, General Motors plans to “experiment” selling its cars on eBay. At its press conference this morning, CEO Fritz Henderson let slip to members of the media that the automaker is engaged in talks with online auction site eBay “to revolutionize how people buy cars online.” According to Henderson, GM has plans to try selling its vehicles online:

“Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined ‘Buy It Now’ price… we’ll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months… in all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned.”

Many individual GM dealers already use the auction powerhouse to sell vehicles, so the move isn’t completely uncharted territory, but it isn’t immediately clear how (or if) the automaker plans to integrate its dealer body within this process. Henderson was quick to reinforce that the company’s plans with eBay are just an experiment, so as the CEO says… stay tuned.

Henderson: GM to experiment selling cars through eBay Motors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Vauxhall, Lifestyle, UK, Event Alert

Vauxhall is rolling out the retro cool by holding an invitation-only roller skating event in North London on July 29. As part of the festivities, the General Motors division has reportedly commissioned bespoke sets of Vauxhall Corsa roller boots (seriously), and the event will even feature a “pit-stop themed hair salone with free styling from a ‘huge name’ in celebrity hairdressing.” The secret party doesn’t look to have a name, but it’s got the kind of vibe that doesn’t need one: “’70s disco meets Knight Rider on roller skates.” If only the Knight Rider show had thought of that, perhaps it would still be on the air.

You can check out the details at www.tiny.cc/vauxhallskate, and you can get into the groove with video of a young lady doing her thing wearing Vauxhall Corsa skates after the jump. Hat tip to Clarence.

[Source: Event magazine]

Continue reading VIDEO: Vauxhall trying to bring back roller skating? Groovy.

VIDEO: Vauxhall trying to bring back roller skating? Groovy. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Lifestyle

Yesterday, not long after we posted a story about a gay-centered General Motors marketing video for Chevrolet’s new Camaro, the video was mysteriously pulled from YouTube. As it turns out, GM itself has copped to the disappearing act, as it reportedly ordered the popular video hosting site to yank the footage.

According to a USA Today article, GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss felt that the video - which featured a pair of so-called ‘go go boys in Camaro-branded underwear washing a new 2010 model - was “not appropriate and not in good taste.” The footage was filmed as part of a Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen gay day promotion at a Hollywood movie theater.

Despite pulling the video, GM has reportedly launched a more concerted campaign to broaden the scope of its marketing efforts as it applies to the Camaro, with more overt efforts to target gays, bisexuals and the transgendered. It is not immediately clear what (if any) effect pulling the footage will have on the rest of the automaker’s p.r. efforts.

[Sources: USA Today; Mlive]

FOLLOWUP: GM orders YouTube to remove “tasteless” gay Camaro promo video? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Green, Marketing/Advertising, GM

General Motors has certainly been pumping out a greener message for the last few years, but, on the eve of its likely emergence from bankruptcy, it looks like it might be ridiculously difficult to miss the company’s shift to a new and very public eco-mindset: The General’s traditional blue square logo could become green. No, really.

While no official decision has yet been made, insiders are saying that the background color change is being considered, “in an effort to show consumers that it is leaner and greener, more focused on fuel efficiency and better able to make quick decisions,” says MSNBC.

The fuel efficiency meaning of a possible new green logo is easy to understand and the “quick decisions” part reflects a new GM that will likely have 35 percent fewer executives to go along with fewer employees overall. More announcements on these issues and the fate of the Spark minicar could come tomorrow, when GM is expected to emerge from bankruptcy.

The real color change that GM needs to make, of course, is a shift from red to black - but that’s significantly harder than swapping pixels in a logo.

[Source: MSNBC | Logo Image: Adam Morath/AOL]

The Greenwash to End All Greenwashing? GM reportedly pondering changing logo color originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM

Click above to view video after the jump

Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago that the American Family Association was boycotting Ford for marketing in gay-centric publications? Fast forward to today and see just how much things have changed. Last month, Chevrolet sponsored an event in Los Angeles called Gay Day at the Movies to promote the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Michael Bay’s latest opus, of course, features a bunch of General Motors vehicles, not the least of which is the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that plays the leading role of Bumblebee.

A video was produced to promote Gay Day at the Movies featuring a pair of “Bumblebee Boys” in Camaro-branded briefs washing the Bowtie brand’s pony car revival. The cheeky (pardon the pun) video is clearly targeted at the gay community and uses beefcake car washers to that effect in a not-so-subtle way.

Will Chevy or GM see a backlash from being associated with this video? Who knows, but the video isn’t exactly being shown in primetime on NBC. For the moment, it lives solely on YouTube with a gajillion other vids - and one would have to actively search to find it.

Follow the jump to watch the video for yourself, and please remember to be respectful in the comments.

UPDATE: The video has been removed from YouTube by the user. We’re searching to find it again on the interwebs.

[Source: USA Today via Huffington Post]

Continue reading VIDEO: Chevrolet targets gay demographic with new Camaro marketing effort

VIDEO: Chevrolet targets gay demographic with new Camaro marketing effort originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Suzuki, Celebrities

Michael Jackson’s memorial service is being held today in Los Angeles (apparently sponsored by local Land Rover dealers). For a reminder of who the man was pre-Thriller and where all of this got started, few things could be better than some Suzuki Love scooter commercials that MJ did in way back in 1982.

In trademark Japanese commercial fashion, the spots don’t all make linear sense, but they are fun to watch and there’s even a making-of film. Better yet, the advertisements end with a line Jackson would still approve of: “Love is my message.” Follow the jump to watch the videos.

[Sources: Japanese Nostalgic Car; TMZ]

Continue reading VIDEO: Obligatory Michael Jackson Post - Rare Suzuki Love commercials

VIDEO: Obligatory Michael Jackson Post - Rare Suzuki Love commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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