Automakers Ram Up Ads for Super Bowl XLV

At least eight auto brands have purchased ad airtime for the next Super Bowl sports event to be held in Arlington, Texas, on February 6. That means we can expect to witness the biggest auto-ad smackdown of recent times, as some automakers plan to air two or even more commercials during the game.
At the 2010 Super Bowl, five car makers aired a combined 5 minutes and 30 seconds worth of ads, while the same number of companies ran just three minutes worth of commercials in 2009. With an ad costing as much as $3 million, it seems that auto makers are ready to ditch their more conservative ads of the last couple of years in favor of funnier, eye-catching spots.

These days most commercials have pretty much the same agenda: a car is traveling on the road, with music playing on the background. To Steve Wilwhite, who worked twenty years for Volkswagen’s American branch, these campaigns are “absolute dreck”, “mind-numbing” and “uninspiring”.
That’s why car companies have to push their limits once again in terms of advertising. “You must have a key, new, innovative, value-laden message to put out there”, said George Cook, executive professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Rochester's Simon Graduate School of Business.
One of the most catching ads of the past years was Hyundai’s “Angry Bosses” masterminded by Jeff Goodby of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, who now work for Chevrolet.
“The Hyundai Assurance spots wouldn't have won the USA Today ad meter, but they were certainly written about in the wake of the Super Bowl a lot. There are also things like 'Angry Bosses' [an ad that aired in Super Bowl 2009] which did do well on the polls because it was designed to be something people remembered, laughed at, talked about”, Mr. Goodby commented.
One of the eight confirmed buyers is BMW, which returns to the Super Bowl after a decade of absence. The Germans plan to use the football match as a stage to promote several new cars.
GM didn’t buy ad space in the last two games, but it’s planning a comeback with Chevrolet. Chrysler did feature a Dodge ad in the last Super Bowl, but this time plans to up the ante.
Audi is consistent: this is going to be the fourth consecutive year that the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer seeks publicity during the first commercial break. Volkswagen will join Audi by purchasing an additional spot.
According to Autonews, Kia will double its exposure, opting for a 60-second ad this time, while Hyundai is bringing out the big guns with three secured commercials – one more than in 2010.
Mercedes is preparing for its 125th anniversary and four new launches next year, so it’s going to run a 60-second ad during the fourth quarter.
Ford opted not get on the Super Bowl train as it will only advertise during Fox’s pre-game coverage.
Source: Automotive News
By Csaba Daradics

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VIDEO: Bang, Bang, Bang it's the 2012 Hyundai Azera Sedan

Having wow'd us with teaser renderings at first followed shortly after by official real-life photographs, Hyundai continues to build hype around its all-new-2012 Azera before the full reveal by giving the car a promotional role in a South Korean TV drama called "The Fugitive Plan B".
While official information around the new Azera, which will be sold as the Grandeur in its home market, remains scarce, one of our South Korean readers, Jinhwan H. claims that word around local news sites is that the car will be offered locally with a choice of three engines. These include the Sonata's 2.4-liter GDI with 200hp and 184.4lb-ft torque, a 3.0-liter V6 GDI delivering 263hp and 225.7lb-ft torque plus a 3.0-liter LPI running on Liquefied Petroleum Gas with 230hp, 204.7lb-ft torque.


For the North American version there is talk about the 2012 Azera being offered with the 263HP 3.0-liter GDI V6 and a 3.3-liter GDI V6 producing 286HP and 254.6lb-ft torque, with power in both cases being transferred to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
We'll update the story as soon as Hyundai releases official intel.

Thanks to Jinhwan.H for the tip!

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VIDEO: Fiat Airs first U.S. Commercial for the new 500

Fiat has released the first U.S. commercial featuring it's 500 super-mini urging buyers to "live their life with passion". Priced at $15,500, which should certainly test your passion tolerance, the 500 will be available at 130 dealerships across the country with a 101 hp 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder engine. Check out the video after the break to see if you can resist Fiat's Jedi-like mind-control techniques.

The little Cinquecento will have both manual and automatic transmissions and the all-important for the U.S. market, XXL cup-holders as standard. Customers can choose between three trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge, and numerous exterior and interior color combos.

By Csaba Daradics

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VIDEO: Skoda Fabia vRS Hot Hatch Shows its "Meaner" side in New TV Ad

As Skoda is enjoying its best year on record, the VW Group-owned company wants to build on the momentum by launching a new TV campaign for the Fabia vRS hot hatch. The new ad, which is meant to show the darker side of the 180-horsepower-strong hatch, features the "Made from Meaner Stuff" tagline. There will be two versions of the TV commercial, a short 30 second ad and an uncut, 60 second advert.

The 'meaner' campaign, which is the work of Skoda and its advertising agency, Fallon, sees creative directors Chris Bovill and John Allison, who were behind the the 2007 'Cake' campaign, joining forces with director Nick Gordon.

"We always said we'd never make a sequel to 'Cake' but when the vRS brief came along we thought we'd make an 'opposite'. 'Cake' made our mums smile, this should make them want to hide behind a cushion" said Chris Bovill.

Indeed, the cast in this video is anything but friendly or cute as there's a naughty, dark feeling taking center stage here. Just how modern young-lings like their rides to be.

By Csaba Daradics

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Alfa Romeo Creates Giulietta Mosaic with Thousands of Photos

As part of the ongoing celebrations for the Italian brand's first 100 years, Alfa Romeo has unveiled a unique billboard in Chelsea, UK. The specially commissioned artwork depicts the latest model to join Alfa Romeo's range, the all-new Giullietta hatchback, through a mosaic of pictures.

In an apparent nod to the belief that Alfa Romeos have a soul, the mosaic was created by using thousands of photos from past and present owners, historic stills from film, TV and landmark motorsport successes.

Damien Dally, Brand Communications Manager, Alfa Romeo said:

"This piece of artwork communicates the brand in its centenary year extremely well. Creating our latest Giulietta model from hundreds of images sent in by fans of the brand and from our heritage really sums up what Alfa Romeo is all about. Not only does the final outcome look fantastic, it also a great piece of memorabilia to mark this special year."

Alfa Romeo said that every person who contributed a photo will receive a Limited Edition print of the mosaic artwork as a token of appreciation.

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E28 BMW 5 Series Ad: "The Car that blurs the distinction between racing machines and luxury sedans"

Classic car ads are always nice, because they were made in times when people weren't so wound up and actually had the time to read something. So, there's plenty of information in them, some of which is quite entertaining today, almost thirty years later.

This here ad depicts the E28 BMW 5-Series, built between 1981 and 1988, claiming that it's both a sports car and luxury sedan.

BMW is showing off the 535i here and it throws in the big guns right from the start: "It eats up the road – any road – at ungodly speed without a hiccup - Car and Driver wrote". And wait, not about this one, but its predecessor, the E12. You can only imagine, then, that the E28 535i must / should have been a better car.

And it was, because this is the generation that spawned the first M5 (or M535i), which you can admire in the gallery below, and started a new dynasty of sports saloons.

Nevertheless, the 535i was no slouch either. The ad doesn't say it, but the 3.4-liter engine had 182 hp (136 kW). However, it does brag about the "0-60mph time" – just 7.4 seconds –, the "communicative power assisted steering" and the "fully independent suspension".

And that's not all: BMW also claimed that the engine management was computer-controlled to "ensure peak engine performance".

The standard equipment list wasn't exactly long, as the E28 owner only got leather seats, air con, a sunroof and on-board computer. Even the description in the ad was short.

And I'll tell you why: because up until the current generation (F10/11), the BMW 5 Series was always a driver's car first and a luxury vehicle after. Not the other way around.

By Csaba Daradics

[Ad photo source: Tumblr]

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Nissan Juke Ad: Crossovering to Cross-dressers?

I've watched this bizarre Nissan Juke ad about four times (that I'll admit to), and I still can't for the life of me get the point. For all intents and purposes, it's about dreaming, energy, and possibly angled at people who are emo/hip or worse; all this while the Juke is on your mind. Then your hair gets frizzy and washing machines blow their loads.

As some of you may remember, way back when I first started here my little bio picture appeared to be a gay pirate. That being said, one would think I was far enough outside the box - at least back then - to get this artsy ad, but...nope. I even tried to put myself in the mindset, but still nothing.

There's a nice, calming soundtrack by someone that sounds like Regina Spektor and a few different cross-dressers by my count, but what's the point? Is it just being weird to be weird?

Hand to God, I will deposit $5 US into the PayPal account of the first person to explain this ad in the comments to the point where it makes sense. Otherwise, I'll die thinking that the Juke is a crossover for cross-dressers or something back-alley poetic like that.

By Phil Alex

Via: Thetruthaboutcars

Audi Brand Promo: Nothing Sticks Like Quattro [with Video]

At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada, communications Company Lowe Roche has stuck hundreds of 1:43 scale Audi quattro models to metal surfaces as part of an ad campaign by Audi.

Fitted with strong magnets and stuck to lamp posts, newspaper boxes and the like, passers-by were encouraged to remove the die-cast models and take them home with them. On the underside of each model is a sticker that reads, "Nothing sticks like quattro."

The models include the Audi R8 coupe / convertible, Q5 SUV and TT.

"We wanted to give people a real demonstration of how great the [quattro all-wheel-drive] system is. It's also a great way to get the brand into the consumer's hand." said Geoffrey Roche, company founder and chairman of Low Roche when asked about the campaign.

Audi is also pushing its wares through magazine and newspaper ads, escalator wraps and online advertising through the festival, which is held annually each September.

By Tristan Hankins

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