Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Audi bucks trend, beefs up ad budget]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/audi-bucks-trend-beefs-up-ad-budget/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/audi-bucks-trend-beefs-up-ad-budget/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/audi-bucks-trend-beefs-up-ad-budget/#commentsFiled under: ,

Automakers have been fleeing main-stream media faster than most new reality shows get pulled from prime-time programming. There are many reasons for the move away from big dollar media, including decreased TV viewers and online ads soaking up some of the budget, but perhaps the biggest reason is that cash isn't spewing out of SUV tailpipes any more.

Audi is one company that isn't high-tailing it out of the high rent district. The German automaker won't be cutting its 2008 ad budget, and instead, will be pumping more money into big-ticket campaigns. You'll see Audi touting the A4 at events like the Academy Awards and Sunday Night Football, along with its recent spots during the Olympics and last year's Super Bowl. Audi's goal is to bust misconceptions that it is a near-luxury brand by selling its cars as bigger, faster, and more efficient than the competition.

Audi is in a huge hurry go expand to 1.5m global sales per year by 2015, and it has no intentions of letting something like a massive auto market downturn get in the way of its goals. To reach that goal, Audi will have to fare better in North America, and great products alone won't cut it if the word never gets out.

[Source: Ad Age]

 

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]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsadvertisingAudi advertisingAudiAdvertisingmarketingVW2008-08-28T08:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: Fast and Furious 4 trailer debuts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/video-fast-and-furious-4-trailer-debuts/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/video-fast-and-furious-4-trailer-debuts/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/video-fast-and-furious-4-trailer-debuts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for gallery of stills from Fast and Furious 4

Could it be? Could the fourth installment of The Fast and the Furious be... as good (we use that word loosely) as the first movie? Perhaps even good enough to make us forget the installments that followed, both of which tried to shoot poison darts through our eyes and into our brains? Too early to make predictions, but for now we can certainly enjoy the trailer, which is high on action and light on dialogue -- just like we like our action films. And unlike some other action trailers, the stunts will get your blood going but don't require you to believe that Jason Statham should be shooting laser beams out of his eyes. Follow the jump for the video and The Return of the Vin. Thanks for the tip, Brodiemash!

Gallery: Fast and Furious 4


[Source: DumbDrum]

Continue reading VIDEO: Fast and Furious 4 trailer debuts

 

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]]>fast and the furioufourth installmentmovie trailermovie trailersmoviesMovieTrailerMovieTrailerspaul walkerPaulWalkertfatftfatf 4Tfatf4the fast and the furiousthe fast and the furious 4TheFastAndTheFuriousTheFastAndTheFurious4trailertrailersvideovideosvin dieselVinDiesel2008-08-26T08:27:00+00:00<![CDATA[Ford seeking directors for Mustang movies]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/ford-seeking-directors-for-mustang-movies/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/ford-seeking-directors-for-mustang-movies/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/ford-seeking-directors-for-mustang-movies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more high resolution photos of the Mustang Bullitt

If you want to be the next critically acclaimed filmmaker, the Ford Mustang may be your ticket to an audience of millions. Ford and Filmaka.com are teaming up on a contest to see who can create the best Mustang-themed script. Would-be filmmakers can choose from one of eight Mustang stories or pick a tale of their own, then write a script about it. The people with the top 20 scripts as chosen by Ford and Filmaka.com will get a budget of $5,000 to produce their film, along with contacts at local Mustang clubs for the use of vehicles to shoot. Those 20 winners will have two weeks to submit their finished work, and nine winners and an alternate will receive an additional $5,000 in prize money. The top 10 will also get the chance to create a promo that will appear on network TV. The grand prize winner gets the opportunity to direct a film for promotional materials for the 2010 Mustang.

That's a pretty cool contest for aspiring filmmakers everywhere, but there isn't much time at all to get in on the fun. The contest ends on August 26 (today!), and the top 20 winners will need to have their initial work completed by September 16.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt


[Source: Ford]

 

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]]>filmaka.comFord motor Companyford mustangFordMotorCompanyFordMustangmustang commercial contestMustangCommercialContest2008-08-26T07:59:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: Transporter 3 trailer debuts, could be worse than Transporter 2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/transporter-3-trailer-debuts-could-be-worse-than-transporter-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/transporter-3-trailer-debuts-could-be-worse-than-transporter-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/transporter-3-trailer-debuts-could-be-worse-than-transporter-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The first Transporter was a nifty little romp. The second one was an absurd little romp. This third installment, befitting a director whose last name is Megaton, has absolutely overdosed on the outlandish. But apparently you've all spoken by making the first two profitable, and this is what you want. The plot in the third film is like John Woo redid Crank, but with a detonating bracelet and an Audi. And as much as we dig Jason Statham, if he doesn't hit the brakes soon he's on his way to becoming the pauper's Nicholas Cage. Or the rich man's Steven Segal, which might not be so bad... Follow the jump to check out the trailer. Thanks for the tip, JP!

[Source: Trailer Addict]

Continue reading VIDEO: Transporter 3 trailer debuts, could be worse than Transporter 2

 

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]]>jason stathamJasonStathammoviemovie trailersmoviesMovieTrailersthe transporterTheTransportertrailertrailerstransportertransporter 3Transporter32008-08-25T18:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/ford-reveals-super-duty-cabela-fx4-and-harley-davidson-f-450-mod/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/ford-reveals-super-duty-cabela-fx4-and-harley-davidson-f-450-mod/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/ford-reveals-super-duty-cabela-fx4-and-harley-davidson-f-450-mod/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Outdoor enthusiasts and urban cowboys get some love from Ford this year in the form of the Blue Oval's first-ever Cabela FX4-edition F-Series and the latest Harley-Davidson tie-up -- the first time ever the Bar and Shield logo has appeared on the heaviest-duty F-450 model.

Apparently, Ford has found that 76-percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish, hence the newly expanded relationship between the automaker and the outdoorsy retailer. Consisting mostly of a paint and badge job, the Cabela buyer gets his or her choice of five two-tone paint schemes: Ebony, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Silver Metallic -- all with Sterling Grey Metallic lower accents along the rocker panels, running boards and wheel arch moldings.

For the twelfth iteration of the Harley-Davidson edition, Ford will put blue-flames along the length of the vehicle and on the black leather seats. Also included are large chromed vents just aft of the front wheels. Expect plenty of Harley logos all over the truck, though a photo has yet to appear.

Along with these two new models, the Super Duty trucks receive an optional spray-in bedliner from the factory, an integrated trailer brake controller, the new Ford Work Solutions suite, Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS Travel Link and the heavy duty trucks first application of SYNC.

[Source: Ford, Pickuptrucks.com]

Continue reading Ford reveals Super Duty Cabela FX4 and Harley-Davidson F-450 models

 

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]]>2009 super duty2009SuperDutycabelascabelas fx4CabelasFx4fordford super dutyford super duty pick...ford super duty pickupsFordSuperDutyFordSuperDutyPick...FordSuperDutyPickupsharley davidsonharley-davidsonharley-davidson f-450harley-davidson truckHarley-davidsonF-450Harley-davidsonTruckHarleyDavidsonsuper dutysuper duty fordsuper duty trucksSuperDutySuperDutyFordSuperDutyTrucks2008-08-25T12:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[GM Style Event nixed from 2009 NAIAS activities]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-style-event-nixed-from-2009-naias-activities/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-style-event-nixed-from-2009-naias-activities/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-style-event-nixed-from-2009-naias-activities/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res gallery of 2008 GM Style Event

After two years of combining celebrities, fashion and music with the best of its vehicle lineup, General Motors has decided that the 2009 GM Style Event just isn't worth the expense. The cancellation of GM Style is part of the General's goal to free up $15 billion in cuts and asset sales by 2009. Considering the automaker pays B- and C-list celebrities and sports figures to attend, there's some money on the table here. The event has actually been a big hit the past two years with attendees like Kid Rock and Jay-Z, Carmen Electra, Jeff Gordon and the some well known fashion designers from around the world. GM also used the bright lights and catwalk to show the Camaro Convertible Concept and Corvette ZR1 for the first time.

The death of GM Style comes right after the automaker decided to pull its advertising at the Emmy Awards and next year's Academy Awards broadcast. GM has been the largest advertiser of the Academy Awards over the past 10 years, with $97.1 million spent on the awards show since 1998. GM will still advertise at the Golden Globes, Grammys, and Country Music Awards in 2009.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: GM Style 2008


Gallery: Detroit Auto Show: Cars and Stars - GM Style Event


[Source: Detroit News]

 

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]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsadvertisingemmysGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGM style eventGmStyleEventjay-zkid rockKidRock2008-08-19T15:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[GM brings back employee pricing to sell remaining 2008 models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-brings-back-employee-pricing-for-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-brings-back-employee-pricing-for-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-brings-back-employee-pricing-for-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It is no secret that the automotive industry is hurting for sales to close out 2008. Over the past few months incentives have been thrown out left and right to draw in more buyers. The deals have not done enough to bring folks into the showroom, though. With all the media talk of bleeding Detroit, consumers know that the domestic manufacturers have been holding out on their best offers. Perhaps the memory of 2005's employee pricing incentives has kept many waiting on the fence. With 2009 models heading to dealerships as we speak, General Motors is hoping to end the stalemate. It will be testing the waters of employee pricing yet again beginning Wednesday, August 20th and running through September 2nd.

The employee discount program will apply across all 8 GM brands. Buick, Pontiac and GMC dealers will mark down 91 percent of their inventory on all 2008 models, along with the 2009 Pontiac Vibe and G5, Chevy Cobalt and HHR and, surprisingly, the Cadillac CTS. Chevrolet dealers can unload 90 percent of their 2008 inventory with all 2008 models eligible for the employee price. Cadillac, Saturn, SAAB, Hummer will each have their own stipulations as well, but it is certain that the discount will be widespread. The price reduction varies from vehicle to vehicle, but is typically on order of a few thousand dollars. Additional incentives will also still be offered on some slower selling items, such as, you guessed it, trucks and SUVs. So the question is, will employee pricing get you off the fence and into a dealership?

[Source: GM]

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]]>BuickCadillacChevroletEmployee DiscountEmployee PricingEmployeeDiscountEmployeePricingGMGMCHummerPontiacSAABSaturn2008-08-19T10:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[9/11 Silverado featured in Olympics commercial]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/9-11-silverado-featured-in-olympics-commercial/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/9-11-silverado-featured-in-olympics-commercial/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/9-11-silverado-featured-in-olympics-commercial/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


A tip of the cap is due to GM for the automaker's new Chevy Silverado TV spot, which premiered this Sunday during the Olympics. The spot features brief testimonials from drivers of high-mileage pickups wearing the bowtie badge, but one stands out more than the rest. Twenty seconds in, FDNY Firefighter Craig Monahan's segment opens with a wide shot of him standing in front of the Manhattan skyline. His battered truck has melted lights and a Ladder 5 placard affixed to the bed on the driver's side. In the spot, he recounts how the damaged truck started when he reached into the singed interior and turned the ignition key, saying that it served as an isnpiration, "If that truck could keep going, then we could all keep going."

This all happened on 9/11, a fact left unsaid but tactfully implied in the commercial. Veteran New York Daily News reporter Michael Daly knows Monahan and tells the truck's full story in an excellent piece that ran in Tuesday's Daily News. Frankly, you need to go there and just read the whole thing, because Daly's account is first-rate. Reading it also underscores the level of restraint GM exercised in how it used the truck in the commercial. It's a great TV spot, but the story behind that one particular 14-second segment is more remarkable and inspirational than you'd ever guess. Firefighter Monahan agreed to let his truck be used because he felt it was important for people see it and get a feel for what it represents. Monahan was compensated by GM for his participation, but he donated that money to another FDNY family, showing that even now, that burned and battered Chevy still helps him help others. We salute him, and we hope he keeps that truck forever. Thnks for the tip, Julius!

[Source: New York Daily News]

 

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]]>911craig monahanCraigMonahanladder 5Ladder5olympicssilveradotv spotTvSpot2008-08-13T08:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Auto industry advertising slump hurting old media]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/auto-industry-advertising-slump-hurting-old-media/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/auto-industry-advertising-slump-hurting-old-media/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/auto-industry-advertising-slump-hurting-old-media/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mainstream media has been quick to pile on Detroit automakers, which, along with some questionable Motown metal, has helped drive nationwide perception of the Big Three into the ground. Now that times are tough at traditional media outlets, well, that's Detroit's fault, too. Back in 2004, about $24 billion was doled out to television, print, and radio ads. Fast forward to 2008, and painfully slow sales coupled with cash-strapped automakers and dealerships have cut that number to about $15 billion. That's putting an Excursion-sized dent in the earnings of stalwart media companies like Viacom and Time Warner (Autoblog and Weblogs, Inc. are owned by Time Warner), as the media giants point directly towards Detroit and a soft auto market to explain their drop in revenue.

While times are tough on TV, print advertising is taking the brunt of the blow. Newspapers took a $131 million hit in the first quarter of 2008 as dealers have pulled back on full and half-page ads due to slow sales and limited cash flow. The proliferation of mainstream Internet advertising is also cutting into old media's profits, as automakers feel they're getting more bang for the buck with less expensive online ads. With the car market looking worse by the day and the unabated growth of Internet advertising, we don't expect this trend to reverse itself any time soon.

[Source: New York Times]

 

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]]>advertisingbig threeBigThreedetroit automakersDetroitAutomakersmarketingtime warnerTimeWarnerviacom2008-08-12T09:30:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: Kia Forte eats a Bentley, yum!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/video-kia-forte-eats-a-bentley-yum/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/video-kia-forte-eats-a-bentley-yum/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/video-kia-forte-eats-a-bentley-yum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Kia's hungry for your business, which explains the pending arrival of the Forte. The Spectra is a good car, but blends in far more than the attractively turned out Forte. It seems the Forte also has an appetite, and it's for the good stuff. Kia wants to bolster its image, so what better way than a clever commercial that infers that inside the Kia is all the goodness of a partially digested Bentley? Of course it's hyperbole, that's why it's so cool! Video embedded after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Alberto!

[Source: kia-world.net]

Continue reading VIDEO: Kia Forte eats a Bentley, yum!

 

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]]>forte bentleyforte eats bentleyForteBentleyForteEatsBentleykia fortekia forte adkia forte bentleykia forte commercialkia forte spotkia forte tvkia forte videoKiaForteKiaForteAdKiaForteBentleyKiaForteCommercialKiaForteSpotKiaForteTvKiaForteVideo2008-08-11T15:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[Mocking the Eco-Poseury - MINI pushes the CarFun footprint]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mocking-the-eco-poseury-mini-pushes-the-carfun-footprint/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mocking-the-eco-poseury-mini-pushes-the-carfun-footprint/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mocking-the-eco-poseury-mini-pushes-the-carfun-footprint/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



High fuel prices or no, MINI offers a solid entertainment-to-efficiency ratio. The neo-teeny MINI is fun to fling around, and if you can keep your boot out of the turbocharged engine in the Cooper S, you can have your fuel economy and eat it, too. To emphasize this point, MINI is launching a new campaign focused around what it calls the Carfun Footprint, and the new ad push includes its own website and new print ads and billboards with typically clever MINI taglines. If you're curious to see how your current vehicle stacks up against the MINI's Carfun quotient, head on over to carfunfootprint.com and plug in your vehicle info. Of course, you're not going to score as high as the R56, but you expected that, didn't you? At least MINI has avoided getting all preachy and kept its trademark whimsy intact. Lengthy press release after the jump.

[Source: MINI]

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]]>carfun calculatorcarfun footprintcarfuncalculatorCarfunFootprintmini carfunmini coopermini cooper sMiniCarfunMiniCooperMiniCooperS2008-08-08T17:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[MINI Clubman Rickshaws running around Beijing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mini-clubman-rickshaws-running-around-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mini-clubman-rickshaws-running-around-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mini-clubman-rickshaws-running-around-beijing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for more shots of the MINI Clubman Rickshaws

The rickshaw is a time-honored method of transportation in China. While the vehicles were initially pulled around by men on foot, the pedal-powered versions have grown much more popular in recent years and are a symbol of Chinese culture. When Beijing MINI needed an interesting way to communicate that the Clubman model was being introduced in Chinese, especially in light of all the media attention on the Olympics, it back-halved a slew of new Clubmans, mounted a pedicab front-end and sent them out for business.

According to China Car Times, MINI's publicity stunt is working exactly as planned. Though the vast majority of media coverage is centered on those games from Greece, the MINI Rickshaws have managed to make some headlines of their own. We think the cabs turned out pretty cool, even incorporating the sunroof into the final design.

Gallery: MINI Rickshaws


[Source: China Car Times]

 

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]]>beijingbeijing 2008beijing miniBeijing2008BeijingMinimini clubmanmini rickshawMiniClubmanMiniRickshawpedicabrickshaw2008-08-08T12:59:00+00:00<![CDATA[Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/saudi-arabia-threatens-nissan-boycott-over-israeli-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/saudi-arabia-threatens-nissan-boycott-over-israeli-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/saudi-arabia-threatens-nissan-boycott-over-israeli-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch the video

Saudis may be known for a lot of things, but let's face it - comedy is not one of them. Israelis on the other hand... have you seen The Zohan? In any event, it's not surprising that people in Saudi Arabia are outraged at something from Israel, but this time it has nothing to do with military actions or residential construction, and to be fair, while talk of boycotts is filling the air once again, they're not actually blaming Israel itself for anything. Instead, Nissan is the boycott target.

The spate was started by a commercial Israeli TV that depicts Arabian oil sheikhs getting medieval on a Nissan Tiida. The implication is that the car's fuel efficiency is harming the sheikhs' business interests. The Saudi regime, along with other oil-producing Gulf states, is threatening to boycott Nissan - which itself is collaborating on the development of the Project Better Place electric car system in Israel - if the automaker doesn't apologize.

Follow the jump to watch the commercial - which, strangely, we could only find in Arabic with Russian subtitles - and leave your thoughts in the comments section below (just please keep it tasteful).

[Source: Haaretz]

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]]>boycottisraelnissan adnissan ad israelnissan commercial israelnissan israelnissan tiidaNissanAdNissanAdIsraelNissanCommercialIsraelNissanIsraelNissanTiidasaudi arabiasaudi boycott nissansaudi nissanSaudiArabiaSaudiBoycottNissanSaudiNissan2008-08-06T15:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Doing the save-money shuffle: Ford consolidates divisional marketing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/doing-the-save-money-shuffle-ford-consolidates-divisional-marke/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/doing-the-save-money-shuffle-ford-consolidates-divisional-marke/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/doing-the-save-money-shuffle-ford-consolidates-divisional-marke/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Despite Ford's mostly successful efforts to yank its product line along by the earlobes, it still needs to find cost savings. To that end, the advertising arms of the Ford and Lincoln-Mercury divisions have been combined, bucking the traditional Balkanization in the marketing wing.

Ford traditionally maintained separate sales and marketing groups, though a single person did serve as brand overlord for all three. Now, the marketing and sales efforts will be by product type, rather than brand, so the Edge team will also shill the MKX, for example. To execute this change, a game of musical chairs has been going on, with Brett Wheatley moving from general manager for Lincoln-Mercury to the customer incentives group, Lincoln brand manager Tom Grill will be joining the global marketing group, while global media manager for Ford, Mark Kaline, has separated from the Blue Oval. This deck shuffling may wind up with a good marketing hand, or it could be a whole bunch of worthless cards.

[Source: AdAge]

 

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]]>fordford executiveford lincoln mercuryford marketingford marketing departmentford marketing exeutiveFordExecutiveFordLincolnMercuryFordMarketingFordMarketingDepartmentFordMarketingExeutivelincoln mercuryLincolnMercury2008-08-06T08:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: How Mercedes-Benz beats them all]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-how-mercedes-benz-beats-them-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-how-mercedes-benz-beats-them-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-how-mercedes-benz-beats-them-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,



What happens when you combine corporate tone deafness, crappy 1980s-sounding schmaltz rock (think "Karate Kid" montage-level bad), and a dash of political incorrectness? You get this deliciously uncomfortable Mercedes-Benz propaganda extravaganza, "That's How We Beat Them All." Like Jason Giambi's mustache, this is so bad, it's awesome.

[Source: YouTube via NextAutos]

 

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]]>2008-07-30T15:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[GM launches UsedCarAmbush.com to pump CPOVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/26/gm-launches-usedcarambush-com-to-pump-cpovs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/26/gm-launches-usedcarambush-com-to-pump-cpovs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/26/gm-launches-usedcarambush-com-to-pump-cpovs/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Used car sales as a profession has a rather sullied reputation. Some establishments deserve the distaste, while others work hard to take care of customers and stock their lots with good merchandise. Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are often a good bet, because they're automaker-sanctioned and undergo an extensive checklist before hitting the lot. GM is making a frontal assault on non-CPO used cars by launching UsedCarAmbush.com, expending lots of hidden camera effort and Mission: Impossible trappings to put home the point that GM's Certified Used vehicles come with a multitude of benefits.

Unfortunately, it's an epic fail, mainly because private sellers were targeted instead of shady operators. Who ever heard of a private sale offering financing, roadside assistance, or warranty? Does GM (or its agency, Mullen) really think that the guy with 8 cars on his front lawn is their sales arm's competition? It's a case of a very slick website, lots of time and money invested, but totally wrong aim. If a fuzzy-haired guy in a ratty sportcoat starts asking you about financing on that Aztek you've always regretted, punch him. That would be more compelling video than what they've got now, which is basically just private sellers getting confused with this dude's out of place questions. Press release after the jump.

[Source: GM]

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]]>gm hidden cameragm used carGmHiddenCameraGmUsedCarused car ambushusedcarambush2008-07-26T09:02:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: MINI JCW has a virus]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/video-mini-jcw-has-a-virus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/video-mini-jcw-has-a-virus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/25/video-mini-jcw-has-a-virus/#commentsFiled under: , ,



One of the apparent keys to creating a viral video is mimicking reality by showing young people attempting stunts. The main difference is that in Virals, the injuries aren't real, and the camera work is better. Oh, and the payoff is usually CG that's been fussed over, versus pimply little Johnny trying to figure out chromakey in his bedroom. MINI wants to put across the point that the Cooper S with the John Cooper Works package is more extreme than extreme. The very definition of extreme, perhaps. Extremus maxiumus. Whatever. Corralling a big-power MINI is first rate entertainment, but a lesson in how levers work from a massive crane would tickle the adrenal gland more. The fact that we just expended a bunch of words about the video means that MINI hit its mark, though -- the whole point of Viral ads is to get people talking, so... as Linda Richman would say - "tawlk amongst yuhselves..." Video posted after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Mini Cooper S JCW


[Source: World Car Fans]

Continue reading VIDEO: MINI JCW has a virus

 

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]]>coopercooper sCooperSextreme catapultingExtremeCatapultingjohn cooper worksJohnCooperWorksmini catapultmini commercialmini coopermini viral admini viral videoMiniCatapultMiniCommercialMiniCooperMiniViralAdMiniViralVideo2008-07-25T18:30:00+00:00<![CDATA[Tata Nano may be branded a Fiat in overseas markets]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/tata-nano-may-be-branded-a-fiat-in-overseas-markets/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/tata-nano-may-be-branded-a-fiat-in-overseas-markets/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/tata-nano-may-be-branded-a-fiat-in-overseas-markets/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to view more images of the Tata Nano

Fiat and Tata already have a joint venture to distribute commercial vehicles. If they can do the big stuff, why not the little stuff? Tata and Fiat are looking at an agreement to sell the Tata Nano outside of India in markets where Fiat has a strong presence.

If the deal goes through, and once the car is upgraded to meet Western standards, Tata can take advantage of the Fiat name, marketing, and dealer network. Fiat would probably have a big seller on its hands -- and a slice of every one -- since the car is still expected to maintain a healthy price advantage even after it gets beefed up.

The Tata, however, is not expected to come to the U.S. as a Fiat. Ratan Tata said, ""We have held talks about the Nano being marketed in markets where Fiat has already a strong presence." Frankly, America isn't one of those places yet. With Tata making such a big splash over here with Jaguar, they probably wouldn't need Fiat to help the brand. Still, the thought of a Fiat 500 and a Nano snuggling in the corner of a dealership would be too cute to miss. Thanks for the tip, Yash!

Gallery: Tata Nano


[Source: Economic Times via The Earth Times]



 

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]]>brandingfiatjoint ventureJointVenturemarketingnanopartnershippartnershipsratan tataRatanTatatatatata nanotata nano europeTataNanoTataNanoEurope2008-07-24T13:59:00+00:00<![CDATA[Hyundai pushing dealers upmarket abroad]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/hyundai-pushing-dealers-upmarket-abroad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/hyundai-pushing-dealers-upmarket-abroad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/hyundai-pushing-dealers-upmarket-abroad/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hyundai is shaking its money makers, spending €60 million to upgrade its dealer network in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Each of 2,500 dealers will spend at least €24,000 on improving their facilities, with matching funds coming from both distributors and the parent company.

The plan is called Mission Q, and it has several objectives: upgrade the dealer experience, increase customer loyalty, and move the brand away from being considered solely for value or low cost. Hyundai wants "people to think of Hyundai as a market leader in quality, SUVs, family cars and because of our sports sponsorships, and then later come to the price discussion."

In addition to the new furniture and paint, Hyundai has created a brand academy at its European headquarters to train distributors and dealer staff. As it moves up the brand ladder, cars from China and India will be arriving to take Hyundai's place in price-first considerations. And that means that Honda, Nissan, and Toyota should probably start getting ready for another guest at the table.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

 

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]]>brandbrandingdealerdealersdealershipdealershipseuropehyundaihyundai dealershyundai europehyundai mission qHyundaiDealersHyundaiEuropeHyundaiMissionQmission qMissionQ2008-07-22T10:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[U.S. Nissan Cube site hits the web]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/20/u-s-nissan-cube-site-hits-the-web/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/20/u-s-nissan-cube-site-hits-the-web/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/20/u-s-nissan-cube-site-hits-the-web/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The new Nissan Cube will be unveiled the morning of November 19 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the automaker has begun the buildup to its arrival. The Cube now has an official website, where you can count down the days and see more on the Cube art cars that design students prepared for the '08 New York Auto Show, among other things. Nissan's covering all the bases, also getting the Cube set up on Facebook and other social networking sites in the meantime.

We like the Cube a lot, and hope the new version keeps the character of the current Japanese car intact while delivering power and fuel economy geared to appeal to the U.S. buyer. We don't think Nissan's going to botch this, so and shoppers looking to get their geek ought to have a strong candidate from Nissan. Not that it'll be without competition -- the Scion xB, Honda Element, and Kia Soul will all be vying for peoples' attention, too. Let the geekmobile deathmatch begin. Thanks for the tip, Turkey Pie!

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Nissan Cube


[Source: Nissan]

 

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]]>cubecube websiteCubeWebsitela auto showLaAutoShownissannissan cubeNissanCube2008-07-20T11:38:00+00:00