Desire is brilliant, but what about the F-Type?

ANYONE remember that Peugeot 406 advert from absolutely ages ago?

You'll know the one I mean. A girl in the path of an oncoming lorry gets saved from certain death, M People's soultastic hit Search for the Hero gets belted out in the background, and there's lots of money shots of France's favourite repmobile to establish it's - to reuse Peugeot's wonderfully awful slogan - the drive of your life. Even though it hasn't been aired in an ad break since about 1996, it's up there with Bob Hoskins telling us it's good to talk and three frogs belching out the name of a light beer for sticking around in the old grey matter.

As for car adverts, there's only two others I can actually recall out of the thousands I must have seen over the years - the VW Golf ad responsible for getting my favourite song to number one in the charts (The Bluebells' Young At Heart, if you're intetested), and Vauxhall's efforts to make the 1997 Astra the star of a sort of automotive Apocalypse Now. That's it.

Jaguar, however, has now decided to take the art of car adverts to a whole new level; for the new F-Type a minute-and-a-bit of Britpop and a clever catchphrase wasn't enough. So they sent Ridley Scott, Damian Lewis and their new sports car to the Atacama Desert in Chile not to make an advert, but a movie instead.

 

Desire, the 13 minute short film they came up with, is surprisingy watchable even if you aren't a petrolhead - think Quantum of Solace crossed with trippy Seventies car chase hit Vanishing Point and you won't be too far off. Without wanting to ruin the plot, Damian Lewis plays a suave, Bond-esque delivery driver who has to deliver a new F-Type, but finds himself having to fight off would-be assasins and the searing desert heat.

The only problem is that, for all the Gladiator guru's best efforts, you're always aware at the back of your mind that Desire is an extended car advert, and that poor Damian always plays second to the car itself. There's one scene where he crams the cars Top Trumps specs into a conversation he's having with a gun-toting gangster - something I can't imagine 007 or Jason Bourne doing any time soon. I applaud Jaguar for pushing the boundaries with what's possible, but I can't help feel it might have been better off getting Ridley and Damian to do a sequel to Bladerunner instead.

Desire is, in its own right, a brilliant bit of automotive artwork, but it doesn't answer the biggest question everybody has about the F-Type. What's it like to drive?

a marketing idea in Germany gets worldwide attention, for sexist themed parking

The spaces set aside for women are wider, well-lit, and closer to the exit, TheLocal reported, while those designated for men require the driver to skillfully maneuver the vehicle into the spot and avoid hitting cement pillars.

The mayor told Focus the parking policy is, above all, a publicity stunt to draw tourists' attention to the idyllic town of Triberg.

"Our city spends about 50,000 euros every year for marketing, and the parking action may have cost us 50 euros," Strobel told Focus. 

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/10/12664764-german-mayor-designates-parking-spaces-just-for-men?lite

minimilist but cool posters about movies by the artist Marcin Plonka

 “There are films where cars are a bit more important then anything else around them. Ladies and Gentlemen, please meet the cast.”
– marcin plonka

found on http://megadeluxe.com/sports/road-movies-poster-series-by-marcin-plonka

"official vehicle of America(tiny little 3 over the last a)"

in 1992, Chevrolet sponsored the America's Cup yacht America³ and so were able to designate the Corvette the "official vehicle of America^{3 "}

So it's a small little thing that might be overlooked when you read the big headline "Official vehicle of America". Nice advertising gimmick. 

the Olympics mini Mini... 1.09 billion dollars of sponsorship gets some things past the "No Advertisement" rule

this is just the most obvious advertising/publicity gimmic that I've heard of... BMW mini's getting all the free press in the world (I'm guilty too aren't I) because they were brilliant enough to get these small 10 HP electric remote controlled Mini's to be on camera in every discus, javelin, and hammer toss event (So I heard, I don't watch the Olympics)

The International Olympic Committee has had a rule for a long time about no advertising or publicity by sponsors. Yeah, I bet they have a rule against performance enhancing drugs too... but since these R/C cars are on the field, I doubt that the IOC can pass a test that they followed that rule about advertising

"IAAF validates several different transporters. Yes, it happens to be the official partner of the London Games but there is no commercial delivery," he told a news conference.

(wow, this guy tells lies easily, he is relying on the "No visible Logo" technicality, like the shape, look, design, front, side, and back of the mini isn't instantly recognizeable and therrefore giving BMW Mini publicity, in violation of the rule)

 "There is no link between the sponsorship and the coverage of the physical fact that these are mini Minis on the field of play," Lumme said.

 The IOC's rule on advertising states that no form of advertising or other publicity shall be allowed in and above the stadia, venues and other competition areas which are considered as part of the Olympic sites."

"The Mini is an incredibly known globally, British icon. Again Rule 50 compliant. No logos," he said.

 The London Games have received some $1.09 billion from sponsors wishing to be associated with the 2012 Olympics.

Information from http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/07/13166816-micro-minis-crash-olympics-despite-advertising-rules?lite


MINI’s owner BMW is, of course, a major sponsor of the 2012 Olympic Games and the cars are as much of a marketing tool as anything else, but a rather clever one in classic British fashion. The company is showcasing many of its zero emissions cars in conjunction with the event  http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/08/06/mini-mini-electric-cars-enter-london-olympics/


In the past, motorized boxes have been used to tote javelins, discuses, shots and hammers from the field back to their throwers, cutting down on time (and volunteer exhaustion). BMW was among the handful of brands that managed to get an exclusive marketing deal in the Olympic Park, and in the heart of one of the most significant sites of the London Games as well. The opportunity gave birth to the Olympic “Mini Minis.” http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/mini-minis-help-keep-field-events-on-track/

The Mini MINI R/C cars will be used at both the Olympic and Paralympic games, and they join a fleet of 160 full-size  BMW series E Active models and 40 MIni E hatchbacks as part of BMW's own all-electric Olympic team.  http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/olympics-to-use-mini-cooper-r-c-cars-for-javelin-discus-retriev/

Cool ad in the Comic Con magazine, good placement for this ad campaign

Buick is trying to get your attention... if their car making isn't getting your notice, maybe Shaq, Ving Rhames, or a beautiful blonde will

 Now, if Buick would just go back to making a GSX, GNX, etc etc... they would not need funny commercials, they would have serious free publicity. Why don't they? The Caddy (whatever)  is a Corvette in an expensive suit. Make a Corvette in a Buick body, and let it be cool, not stodgy.

 Videos via tom.semioli@badertv.com ;

Great advertising for Harley

from a 2008 newspaper

Brilliant advertising by a metaphor or analogy... whichever it is, showing a new BMW as an analogy of a bullet in the iconic slow mo photography of bullet vs apple or vs balloon, is a great idea

Found on http://www.tripsandturns.com/

Carros Antigos Wordpress.com (Nik from Brazil) has posted more cool stuff, a 1956 magazine about racing in many forms, sports cars, race cars, bikes, scooters, and power boats

 Imagine driving that course across South America in the late 1950's on a scooter!

Just a couple clips to show the cool 1950's Brazilian magazine content at http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/revista-carro-a-vista-no3/#comment-7074

Prada uses classic cars in this ad for it's clothes... it has a good variety... but should have chosen better looking women, I saw 5 today alone that would put these models out of business

thanks Aaron!

 It's not surprising that fashion clothing for women uses classic cars, hot rods, or dragsters for advertising, it goes back to at least the 1960's
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/im-impressed-and-amazed-by-obscurity-of.html http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-post_24.html and a one page Dodge Dart ad http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/picture-is-worth-thousand-words-except.html

More cool and unusual vehicle photos found by Motor Life Blog aka reservatory6.blogspot.com

 1949 De Franceschi micro-car born in Torrington, Connecticutt

early twenties Dodge with crawler modification

 Rocket car used by Wilford E. Danelz (1909-1999) of Benson, Minnesota to help sell that city's Monitor-News.

for more, check back now and then at http://reservatory6.blogspot.com/ because he doesn't post often, but it's cool stuff when he does

a couple intreresting images from FauxReal tumblr (wesbooden.tumblr.com)

all from http://wesbooden.tumblr.com

Great car chase scene in a commercial for a cell phone... well, it's better than watching a long movie for the chase scene!

Found on http://thekevinchen.wordpress.com/ along with a ton of other cool stuff that I'll be posting my favorites of next week, I think with Mopars at the Strip, and my coverage of the Vova Las Vegas, plus the two museums I was in last Friday, I'll be busy this weekend

Presidential motorcade, great way to advertise your business if you can find a photo of a President with your company building in the background

I drive past this place a couple times a month, and never looked too close at this before. I am impressed.

Kiera Knightley, one of the most beautful faces in movies... was a motorcycle rider in a Chanel perfume commercial

found on http://karamelocycles.blogspot.com

"Imported from Detroit" what that breaks down to

"a Canadian car, a Mexican engine, a Brooklyn rapper and a song sample from Tennessee"

Automobile Magazine Jan 2012 issue, page 12

On the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet, a look at it's roots, it's first dealership, and the town where that dealership has been a part of the community for 94 years

Episode One: Bridgeville | Welcome to Bridgeville | The Road We're On | Chevy Centennial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WtX-Cp_w2I  this is in 1080 res, high def, full screen if you select the settings on the bottom of the video

each video is about 2 minutes long

Thanks to Jeffers High grad Dan at Big Fuel Communications for letting me know about this video, episode one, and the rest of the series that follows you can see by clicking on the episode at the end of each one you've watched

Episode 2: The Colussys
Dating back to 1918, the Colussy family owns and operates the oldest Chevy dealership in the United States
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPnOmoijfoI&feature=relmfu

Episode 3: Half Mile of Dirt
24 year old driver Jared Miley carries on the traditions and breaks new ground with his family-run race team
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZEg2kNCcds&feature=relmfu

Episode 4: Steel Roots
Lisa Baer, a 4th generation steel contractor, tells the story of taking over a family business and the importance of keeping businesses local
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqAJD04hEvY&feature=relmfu

Episode 5: History of Bridgeville
The story of how Bridgeville, PA came to be what it is today and what it will be tomorrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBvaMMUU_kk&feature=relmfu

Episode 6: The Road Ahead
What does the future of mobility hold for a small town in America?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoXAteTr14M&feature=relmfu

Episode 7: Sarasnick's
The story of the Sarasnick's and how they helped build their family-run business helped build their community.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T41CVhx1k2Q

Episode 8: Me & My Chevy
A look at local car clubs and profiles of vintage auto enthusiasts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YcdiQwIeTA&feature=related

Inside the Space Age Paint Supply in Phoenix Arizona you will see this Arrow Plane.... cool cars make for great advertising!

found on the HAMB

Cool Model T stuff found on Acesdeluxe.blogspot.com

http://acesdeluxe.blogspot.com/