Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

A restaurant that has a few hot cars gathered round is one thing — but a car dealership that opens a restaurant, where does that rank on the scale of ambiance? With recent trends, you could soon get a chance to decide sooner than you thought.

As our friends at The Detroit Bureau point out, California’s Bistro33 at Rocklin Mercedes will be the next dining experience in a dealership. The cars don’t mingle in the restaurant — this isn’t some trendy Vegas amusement. And this isn’t just about having something to do while you wait for the mechanics to finish with your car. You actually go to a dealership to have your dinner. That means you can discuss APR after appetizers and sort out your warranty with a nice Napa red.

There isn’t any reason a dealership can’t also make a decent dinner. Galpin’s Horseless Carriage has been open for 43 years for a menu full of good reasons. And if you have an Aston Martin, the fare in Galpin’s Aston Martin club is worthy of both brands. It remains to be seen this trend catches on in more than a few niche markets, but until car sales rebound. this could be a way to get more foot traffic and a bit more income. And besides, there’s nothing like an aged strip steak to make you hungry for a car.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

“I’ll have the 10W-30 burger, please” - Examining the car dealers as eatery trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Cadillac, Luxury

With the tagline “America, we have re-ignition,” Cadillac is out to reintroduce itself to buyers. After bursting out of their underground bunker, the spot showcases all of the models in the line - and at least one to come. The ad has begun to hit the airwaves, and it features what appears to be the production version of Cadillac’s much-anticipated CTS Coupe. The only question is: will consumers feel the fire? Follow the jump to see the spot and check out our high-res gallery of the concept below. Thanks for the tip, Matt!

[Source: Cadilac via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Production Cadillac CTS Coupe breaks through in new 60-second spot

VIDEO: Production Cadillac CTS Coupe breaks through in new 60-second spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hyundai

One of our eagle-eyed readers noticed something unusual this weekend while perusing the car ads in his local paper. Long Island, New York dealer Atlantic Hyundai was promoting a low-ball deal on the 2010 Sonata. Problem is, the car in the photo is clearly NOT a 2010 Sonata. In fact, it appears to be a rendering of the next-generation Sonata which is now expected to debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show.

So what gives? Most likely the ad was laid out by an underpaid editor at the newspaper who, in the absence of a photo of the 2010 Sonata, did a quick Google image search for that term. Several photochopped renderings including the same one in the ad, turn up on the first page of results. Since most people don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of such things and the image looked pretty realistic (and a lot like a production Genesis), it was a reasonable error. However, when the new Sonata does drop, it will almost certainly be a 2011 model. Thanks to AMBLOOM for the tip!

Photoshopped 2011 Hyundai Sonata shows up in dealer ad as 2010 classified originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Work, Toyota

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve shown you the did-not-age-well 1989 Ford dealer training videos, and the completely laughable + hopeless late-Eighties Chevrolet dealer training clips. Interestingly, in the waning years of Ronald Reagan’s America, the domestics weren’t doing so bad. The Big Three still had over 70% of the U.S. market and sentiments like, “Mazda! Not in my parking lot” still existed in cities outside of Detroit. Fast-forward twenty years and, well, you know the story. Ford mortgaged the farm to keep the lights on while General Motors and Chrysler sought government shelter. Meanwhile, Toyota is the largest automaker in the world, bar none, though these days Volkswagen’s nipping at their heels. And we’d bet that you’ve owned at least one “import.”

Here we have a Toyota dealer training video from just two short years ago. In it, a Dan Cortez-style host tells a trailer-towing Tundra dealer/driver to “take off like a bat out of hell” and then engage the ABS (panic stop) with his hands off the wheel. And yeah, the Tundra is an impressive truck in the video. As the host says, “The domestics were asleep at the wheel.” And you could make that argument in 2007. Too bad for Toyota that Ford came out with the 2008 F-150 and Dodge followed up with the 2009 Ram. Full video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra

VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Wagon, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Saab

Saab really has been changing perspective lately, from the look of its cars to the people who decide on the look of its cars. That kind of thing will happen when you enter bankruptcy and are sold back into the bosom of your homeland. So this Saab 9-3X commercial is a, yes, quirky, look at the the philosophy behind Trollhatten’s finest. Who else would make an ad that includes a paper airplane, an ant, a moose and a pine cone to advertise a station wagon?

Follow the jump to watch the video or check out Saab’s new lifted wagon in all its high-res glory in our gallery below.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Saab 9-3X commercial is all about changing perspective(s)

VIDEO: Saab 9-3X commercial is all about changing perspective(s) originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Humor

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/food_drink/Asian_chefs_create_unreal_life_size_F1_car_from_bread’; We know what you’re thinking, and we agree - if there’s one thing that we just can’t seem to accept in modern Formula One racing, it’s the distinct lack of edible race cars. Fortunately, that minor niggle is currently being remedied by the Culinary Executive Chef from the Royal Plaza On Scotts in Singapore, who led a team of six chefs, two artists, two technicians, two culinary staff members and five young volunteers from Metta Welfare Association to create bake the machine you see in the gallery below: Asia’s Largest Race Car Made From Bread. We wonder… is there some other bread-based race car vying for the world record?

According to Klik.tv, there are a thousand individual loaves and 22 different types of bread in the life-size F1 car. More numbers: it took 33 pounds of yeast, 14 liters of water, 4.4 pounds of salt and nearly three gallons of varnish to finish this delightful creation. We bet it’s the best smelling race car ever.

[Source: Klik.tv | Images used with permission]

Carb Control: Asian chefs create unreal life-size F1 car from bread originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Marketing/Advertising, Chrysler, Fiat

Chrysler Deputy CEO Jim Press arrives on stage at the 2009 New York Auto Show in a Fiat 500

Ever since the deal for Fiat to effectively take control of the troubled Chrysler group took effect, we’ve harbored a lot of questions over how the two companies would interact. With Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne taking the big office in Auburn Hills, some speculated that the two automakers would, in essence, merge, while others looked to Nissan and Renault chief exec Carlos Ghosn as a potential example - that is, keeping the two companies allied but run separately. Well, we may have our first glimpse at the answer with reports that the two automakers will be displaying together as one unit at next month’s upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

Both Chrysler and Fiat have a history of making big splashes at auto shows, and Frankfurt will be the first major car expo since the alliance was reached. Chrysler, for the most part, has kept a low profile since emerging from bankruptcy two months ago. And according to the latest reports, Chrysler will be limited to a section of the Fiat stand. Whatever approach Marchionne takes towards his two charges in Frankfurt, you can bet everyone will be taking notice.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

REPORT: Chrysler to display at Fiat booth in Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

It’s fair to say that since April of 2005, we’ve all paid a bit more attention to Mercury. While the marque’s products have steadily improved along with those of parent company Ford, it’s been the brand’s spokesmodel that has made us sit up and take notice. Quite simply, we have put Mercury ‘on our list’ because the Blue Oval has put actress Jill Wagner out in front of its wares.

A Winston-Salem, North Carolina southern belle at heart, we had heard through the grapevine that Mercury’s stunning spokesmodel was also something of a down-to-earth car gal. We wanted to find out for ourselves, so Jill was kind enough to make some time to speak with us as she geared up to start filming another round of ABC’s Wipeout, where she is in her third season as co-host of the obstacle course reality tv series.

To continue reading our interview with Jill Wagner, click on the jump, and be sure to check out our high-res gallery of Jill below (as if we had to tell you that!).

[Source: Jill Wagner Official; Image: Stephen Shugerman/Getty]

Continue reading Autoblog Interview: 15 minutes with Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner

Autoblog Interview: 15 minutes with Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Back in 2005, General Motors began adding so-called “Mark of Excellence” corporate logos to all of its vehicles. The reasoning behind the move was that with eight brands, customers needed to know that vehicles from brands like Hummer and Saturn came from the GM family. Fast forward four years and The General is now down to four brands, and the company now feels that a strong link to GM proper won’t necessarily help Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. Beginning with future 2010 model year vehicles, the barely noticeable silver GM badge will not be added to new products. Vehicles like the 2010 Camaro and 2010 Equinox already don the GM logo, but the assumption is that the logos will stop appearing once the remaining inventory is used up.

GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan told The Detroit News that company research shows customers outside the Midwest don’t associate brands like Cadillac and Chevrolet as GM products. Some would say that the move will serve to distance the company’s brands from the bankruptcy of parent GM, while others may question whether the badging ever captured the attention of customers in the first place. With GM’s new emphasis on strengthening the brands it has left, we’d say that tying the mother ship to any of the individual marques is pretty irrelevant and makes little sense. And besides, they’re probably saving a few bucks on badges in the process, right?

[Source: Detroit News]

REPORT: GM dropping corporate emblems for 2010. Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges… originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Got a minute? Literally, just a minute, ’cause you’re going to want to see this. And then you’re going to want to know where you can get one for Halloween.

Crafting a suit to look like a Transformer is one thing, but this video, apparently taken at a Chevrolet dealership in Mexico, shows a guy in a Bumblebee suit that actually transforms into a Camaro! Okay, so it’s not a real Camaro. It doesn’t drive, it doesn’t chase after Megan Fox or save the planet from evil robots from outer space. For that, you need Michael Bay and a whole lotta CGI. But short of that, this is about as freakin’ awesome as it gets. Follow the jump to watch the video. Thanks for the tip, Pham!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Mexican Chevy dealer’s transforming Bumblebee suit has us jonesin’ for Halloween

VIDEO: Mexican Chevy dealer’s transforming Bumblebee suit has us jonesin’ for Halloween originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Renault, Humor

When it comes to fashion and cars, the Eighties were not one of our better decades. Marketing efforts weren’t so great either, and a long forgotten extended commercial for the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible makes a case that all three elements should have never been combined. The Renault was a fuel efficient box with a penchant for breaking down on a regular basis, men and women wore two polo shirts at the same time with both collars up, and the jingles of the time inspired the singing career of Michael Bolton.

Hit the jump to watch the craziest nonsense you’ve ever seen. The video starts off on the beach, then moves to a deserted 1890s-style boom town littered with carriages, mimes, breakdancers, three very Eighties Footloosian dancers and some kick-ass neon signs.

At over three minutes long, we’re not sure what the spot was used for (it’s too long for television), but its period excellence leaves no doubt as to what decade it was filmed in. And make no mistake: This video won’t make you any smarter and it might leave you with a rehash of those childhood mime nightmares, but this old Renault promotion is at least good for a laugh. Many of them. Hat tip to Duncan!

[Source: Renault via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: It’s Footloose with mimes… it’s the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible!

VIDEO: It’s Footloose with mimes… it’s the 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising

Brilliant things can happen when Silicon Valley gets into the car business. One look at Tesla is all the evidence we need. But now one of the tech corridor’s biggest names and leading talents has stepped into the motor racing arena.

Following weeks of speculation, the upstart US F1 team has announced the participation of one Chad Hurley. Starting out at eBay’s successful PayPal service, Hurley and a few colleagues left to start YouTube, the video sharing site that they then sold to Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion. Hurley stayed on to guide the company after the acquisition and has now signed on to the first American grand prix team in some four decades to enter Formula One.

Hurley’s responsibilities with the team will center on plotting its corporate and media strategy. However, there’s been no official mention of whether YouTube - which has had its share of confrontations with Formula One Management - will itself be sponsoring the team directly.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Andreas Rentz/Getty]

Officially Official: YouTube chief Chad Hurley signs on with USF1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, Ford, GM

The Chevrolet Volt’s 230 mpg number continues to be questioned. The latest to criticize is Bill Ford, who takes issue not only with the General Motors-approved 230 figure, but also Nissan’s claim that its Leaf EV will get 367 mpg. The real culprit here, Ford said, is the EPA’s methodology, which he argues is meaningless. “This question devolves into madness,” Ford reportedly told Green Car Advisor:

“The government will have to come up with a meaningful number for customers - a user-friendly label. And I think they will. I can’t dispute that number, but I’m not sure it’s relevant to the customer either.”

Ford also said that since his company doesn’t “have any particular expertise in batteries,” they’ll probably buy the batteries from established manufacturers for their own electrified cars.

Speaking of relevance, Advertising Age, the publication that was first to guess that the whole 230 teaser campaign was a GM plot, has determined that the stunt was a bad idea. The big problems it sees with the campaign are that it often gave people the wrong idea (that 230 would be the U.S.’s new a standard voltage for outlets) and didn’t give people enough breadcrumbs to follow to the Volt. It created more questions than answers, until the big reveal last week. In any case, the whole thing was targeted at a younger, hipper audience, but are these the people who have $40,000+ to buy a Volt?

[Sources: Green Car Advisor, Advertising Age]

Bill Ford, AdAge chide GM over 230 MPG Chevrolet Volt MPG projection originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Toyota’s “Harmony Floralscape” - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota’s TV ads for the 2010 Prius feature a world of flowers blooming whenever the iconic hybrid drives by. This visual message is now available in the physical world thanks to a living ad designed by Greenroad Media. Toyota is installing flowerbeds in the shape of the Prius along busy Los Angeles freeways, with the first unveiled yesterday along the Pasadena Freeway near downtown. Called a “floralscape,” the image of a Prius in a sunrise is the first of nine that will promote the Prius around LA and in San Francisco.

The floralscape uses about 20,000 blooms from living flowers to make a 30′ by 60′ image. The green-ness of the ad extends to the solar energy and “ecologically responsible insect and fungi control” used to make the image. What’s odd is that federal regulations require the floralscapes be non-commercial - no company names or logos are allowed - yet this is obviously an ad for the Prius. Somehow, the abstract nature of the flowerbeds allows them to be approved by California’s department of transportation, Caltrans, and they are therefore okay to plant. Said another way, it’s an ad that isn’t an ad, but it really is.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota’s “Harmony Floralscapes” bloom along LA, SF highways

Toyota’s “Harmony Floralscapes” bloom along LA, SF highways originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, BMW

Bob Lutz. His name alone is enough spark heated discussions amongst us four-wheel loving types. But aside from being “Maximum” and getting GM to construct the Lutz ‘Ring and using little more than personal chutzpah to push projects like GM’s ill-fated Kappa platform through the General’s special brand of extra-thick red tape, have you ever stopped and thought about the jet fightin’, cigar chompin’ uber car dude’s credentials? If you guessed engineer or designer you would be wrong. Turns out that Lutz is little more than a (much) glorified marketer. Says Bob, “I had been practicing medicine without a license.”

But he’s a really good marketing guy. Lutz was instrumental in not only reviving the ailing BMW brand, but successfully introducing the Roundel to Americans in the 1970s. In fact, he saved the Roundel - BMW wanted to ditch the logo but Lutz said, “Nein.” In 1971, BMW CEO Eberhard von Kuenheim lured a 39-year-old sales and marketing exec named Lutz away from Opel. See, after WW2, BMW had tried producing big luxury cars like the 503 and 504 (and the super fly 507), but soon learned that no one in Europe had any money. Then it turned to bubbly Isettas that were neat but hardly mass market stuff. Lutz’s job was not only to revive the moribund brand, but get some traction in the plum U.S. market with good products like the 700, the 2002 and the guibo-laden Bavaria.

Since BMW was the underdog, Lutz went with an underdog ad agency called Ammirati & Puris after being impressed by their Fiat ads. Ammirati & Puris came up with the tag line, “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” and Lutz had the good sense to green light the campaign. In the early 1970s, Baby Boomers were out of college, making money and ready to start spending that money, especially on premium products. And it’s hard to argue with a tag line like “Ultimate Driving Machine,” especially for people whose fathers owned sloppy Buicks for the last two decades. Lutz’s gamble paid off, as no yuppy worth their salt in the 1980s drove anything less than a 320i. Now, the question becomes: does Lutz have enough left in the tank at 77-years-old to pull a similar stunt for General Motors as the recently bankrupt automaker’s chief marketer? We shall wait and we shall see.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd | Photo: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty]

Lutz’s resume includes reviving BMW with “Ultimate Driving Machine” tagline? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Remember the old General Motors? Too many brands, too many models, advertising campaigns that petered out too soon, and multiple products competing for the same buyers. That’s changed, officials from the new GM say, promising a leaner lineup of four brands and just 25 models by 2011.

But automotive analysts quoted by Advertising Age say that’s a good start, but critics say the automaker’s weight loss plan needs more fiber and less frosting. First, the still-huge GM hasn’t enough cash to properly market even four divisions, one expert says, citing Honda-Acura, Toyota-Lexus and Nissan-Infiniti as examples to follow. Three analysts recommend GM hold on to just Cadillac as the premium brand and Chevrolet as the mainline marque.

Then there’s the company’s marketing plan. Dump the GM name from ads, analysts told AdAge, and just sell the cars. “They shouldn’t even identify themselves as GM. People don’t buy GM cars; they buy Cadillacs and Chevys, and that’s what they ought to be talking about,” auto consultant Maryann Keller tells AdAge.

AutoPacific’s president George Peterson has another issue with GM’s marketing strategy. He points out that the company spent more than $100 million to launch the new Chevy Malibu in 2007, but it hasn’t advertised the car in nearly a year. “It seems like they are going back to their old ways,” Peterson said.

[Source: Advertising Age]

Continue reading Analysts: Say hello to the new GM, same as the old GM [w/VIDEO]

Analysts: Say hello to the new GM, same as the old GM [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Alternative Fuel

GM CEO Fritz Henderson was all smiles when he announced the Chevy Volt’s 230 mpg city rating yesterday. But the Internet digested the news in its own way, and there was some understandable confusion and criticism of the very big, very bold mpg claim. While the EPA put a damper on GM’s numbers, that was mostly a way to say that it’s too early to tell. GM representatives made it clear that they don’t see the 230 number as unrealistic or setting Volt fans up for disappointment when the agency finally gets to test actual vehicles sometime next year. However, others were less diplomatic.

Darryl Siry, EV aficionado and former CMO at Tesla, was quick to call the 230 number “unrealistic,” adding that, “the problem is that anytime you try to get to ‘miles per gallon’ using vehicles that don’t necessary use ‘gallons’ you end up in a very strange debate with very strange outcomes.” Indeed. Siry made sure to say that it’s the EPA method (still in development, and one we don’t know much about yet) and not only GM that’s to blame here.

Over on What is 230?, someone who claims to be a “GM employee who works directly with people who work on the Volt” wrote in to say that the number is a “mis-leading gimmick of a marketing tactic.”

In the least surprising response, Bob Lutz has nothing but good stuff to say about the 230 campaign and the rating. He says the hype was made “For one simple reason: We’re proud of it.”

[Source: Darryl Siry, What is 230?]

Chevy Volt and 230 mpg: Negative reactions abound, but not from Bob Lutz originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Alternative Fuel

Not content to let General Motors grab all the shiny happy tree-huggy headlines today with its 230 mpg claim for the Chevy Volt in city operation, the gang manning the NissanEVs Twitter account needled GM’s range-extended EV messiah, tweeting:

Given that the methodology of how the feds will ultimately arrive at the official mileage numbers (or mileage equivalents) for many of these next-gen greenmobiles is not yet finalized, we’ll take all the hype and scoreboard pointing with a grain of salt until we see actual, final numbers posted at FuelEconomy.gov. (Nissan says its 367 mpg figure was derived by using the Department of Energy formula.)

In any case, a Twitter spitball fight between GMBlogs and NissanEVs over this stuff would be kind of entertaining to watch. Sorta like the nerdy opposite of the ZR1 vs. GT-R debate.

[Source: Nissan EVs onTwitter]

Nissan pokes fun at Volt, claims 367 mpg equivalent for Leaf EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, GM

The graphic above has been appearing all over the place — television, billboards, elevators, baseball games, even people’s shirts. It has a blog, Flickr and Facebook pages, and a YouTube channel. What it doesn’t have is an explanation. Ad Age lined up the perps behind the online assets and discovered they all have a GM connection, and GM has a news conference scheduled for August 11.

The question is what that news conference will be about and how will the number 230 factor into it? Guesses so far range from the Buick PHEV announced yesterday (doubtful) to the Chevy Volt’s mpg number (uhh, no) to, oddly enough, the Aptera. Feel free to add your own guess to the mix in the comments below… or to wait until next Tuesday for the 230 wizard to speak.

[Source: Ad Age]

What is 230? GM knows, but isn’t saying… originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, Fisker, Alternative Fuel

If there was any doubt that Fisker Automotive is keenly interested in attracting buyers from the luxury car sector - and, no, there really wasn’t any doubt - today’s announcement that the company has hired the former president and CEO of Maserati North America should put any lingering questions to rest.

Fisker has appointed Marti Eulberg to the position of vice president of global sales and marketing after being head of Maserati North America for less than one year. Eulberg’s position means she will “develop global sales and marketing strategies and manage Fisker’s worldwide retail network.” Eulberg, a true auto industry veteran, has also worked for Jaguar, Volvo and BMW as well as managing Ford dealerships and interning at General Motors.

As we’ve seen, Fisker is not following fellow green luxury car maker Tesla down the independent store path. Instead, Fisker will license independent dealerships, hopefully to benefit from their expertise with selling expensive vehicles in local markets. Complete press release available after the jump.

[Source: Fisker]

Continue reading Fisker nabs ex-Maserati North America chief for sales and marketing duties

Fisker nabs ex-Maserati North America chief for sales and marketing duties originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Audi, UK

Stafford Audi, a U.K. Audi dealer, placed an advertisement on the popular website Pistonheads for the forthcoming R8 Spider. For a picture of the car, they used an uncamouflaged picture of an R8 Spider from the Iron Man sequel, as you can see from the California license plate that reads “Stark.” According to the ad, though, the car was “spotted testing in Germany.”

The ad copy goes on to say that the production car will differ from the coupe in the lack of side blades, extra air intakes behind the rear seats, a different location for the fuel filler cap, and the addition of rollover hoops that we assume are hidden until needed.

The car won’t make its debut until the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010, but you can deposit down on one right now with Stafford. Estimated price: £105,000 ($177K U.S.).

[Source: Pistonheads]

Dealer accidently unveils Audi R8 Spyder in classified ad? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, Alternative Fuel

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed to Reuters that its future electric cars will be badged as BMWs. This contradicts some earlier rumors that the automaker would revive another brand such as Triumph or Isetta for its electric vehicles.

The company will stick with its existing BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce marques, but Reithofer revealed that the board has voted to create a sub-brand for electric vehicles. This new sub-brand will be similar to BMW’s seperate marketing of the “M” line of vehicle, will be targeted at urban drivers and include a two wheeler. The first of these new vehicles will likely start appearing sometime around 2012-13.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: BMW will create new electric vehicle sub-brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, GM

As the only American automaker not recently put through a government-sponsored bankruptcy, it comes as little surprise that Ford has taken over the spot long held by General Motors as the Official Sponsor of the NHRA. The first sign of dissension in the ranks came earlier this year as GM’s bankruptcy filing ended the contracts the automaker had previously forged with Cagnazzi Racing, KB Racing LLC, Kurt Racing and Pedregon Racing to provide cash, parts and support vehicles.

This new multiyear agreement between Ford and the NHRA means that for the foreseeable future, all official vehicles used by the racing organization will now carry the Blue Oval badge, including trackside safety vehicles. For its part, Ford seems pleased with its newly prominent role within the drag racing community. Brian Wolfe, Ford’s North America Director of Motorsports, said in a statement:

We’re very excited to be partnering with NHRA on this program. We see this as a very good business proposition in terms of being able to actively reach out at-track and online to the NHRA fan base in ways that we haven’t been able to do in recent years. We’ll be able to allow that fan base to see and experience some of our great new products at-track while also partnering with the successful Motorcraft and Quick Lane program to give fans a look at the total Ford ownership experience.

[Source: NHRA]

Continue reading Chutes Away! Ford replaces GM as Official Sponsor of NHRA

Chutes Away! Ford replaces GM as Official Sponsor of NHRA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, GM

So we knew that Bob Lutz didn’t like the course General Motors commercials were taking - but no one knew what he did like. Now that he’s back from vacation in the Caribbean, he’s laid out what he has enjoyed: popular YouTube vids like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 lapping the ‘Ring, the Kate Walsh Cadillac ads, and a Howie Long Total Confidence commercial.

Sure, Lutz’s plan for ads sounds a lot like the Standard Operating Practices of old GM. However, Cadillac did good business with the Kate Walsh ads, the ZR1’s ‘Ring showing meant you could put “Corvette” and “supercar performance” in the same sentence. And while we sometimes find the Long ads a tad facile, they state their cases plainly. If Lutz can do what those three commercials did - but do so for each of the portfolio’s entire brands intentionally and over time, he’ll have done something monumental.

To do that, Lutz says he is revamping and taking control of just about everything: bringing designers in on the ad planning and going to product-driven advertising, changing how GM works with its agencies and giving agencies clearer directives, holding weekly meetings with brand executives, and even making sure all the ad photography is flattering to the car. Will these changes be enough? Check out the one of Lutz’s favorite new ads after the jump, then leave your fellow reader a line in ‘Comments’ with your best guess as to GM’s chance for advertising success.

[Sources: Automotive News, sub req'd; General Motors]

Continue reading Lutz lays out his strategy for GM advertising: “Memorable,” “clever,” “viral” [w/VIDEO]

Lutz lays out his strategy for GM advertising: “Memorable,” “clever,” “viral” [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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