DETROIT, 3:45 PM, FRI JUL 18 | 31 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@jalopnik.com | RSS
Posts Tagged “

Marketing

2009 toyota venza

2009 Toyota Venza Website Goes Live With A Wide Stance

We heard last night Toyota began the opening salvo of the marketing campaign on the all new Camry wagon 2009 Toyota Venza with an elaborate flash-based website. The first phrase that pops up? "We gave it an extra wide stance." Hmm, wethinks perhaps given the mass media's reporting of certain alleged attempted Congressional dalliances in recent months, usage of that particular phrase strikes us as potentially ill-advised. Hilariously ill-advised, yes. But ill-advised nonetheless. Not that we're saying there's anything wrong with that. [Venza Minisite]

novelties

Subaru Wants You To Make Sumos Sexy, Take Shots Of Forester

When we were but wee Jalops, dreaming fantastically about our glamorous future as car journalists, the photoshoot seemed to be one of the most alluring perks of the job. What could be better than spending the day surrounded by models and a fast car? Subaru is hoping there's many more dreamers out there and is offering them the chance to experience the wonders of a photoshoot, virtually, as a marketing tool for their new 2009 Subaru Forester. Sexy models included. More »

industry news

Saturn Discovers Social Networking, Attempts To Join 21st Century

Apparently young people these days like to talk to each other online rather than read. Sometimes, they even take advantage of toy-like technological innovations to transmit electronic images and even music! Based on this cutting edge research, Saturn has launched a new concept in online communication to reach these digital girls and boys in the 21st Century. Called ImSaturn, it provides an online "space" Saturn owners can call their own — a place that let's them say "why yes, this is my space." More »

ad watch

Rampenfest To Launch BMW 1-Series From Oberpfaffelbachen

Taking a page out of its MINI playbook, BMW appears to be setting up some very clever guerrilla marketing to promote the 2009 BMW 1-series. Rather than shovel another recycled "look at the amazing precision of this new car" advertising campaign at us, BMW may be going in a different direction for the tossable new sports coupe and convertible. The story of this "viral" advertising begins with the video you see above, and we've done enough digging to figure out where it may be leading. Hit the jump to find out.

More »

industry news

Diesels On The March... On The Internet

We've got some good news for those of you among our readership that are constantly clamoring for new U.S.-bound diesels, it's working! According to Marketing Daily, a new report by BrandIntel entitled "Shaping the Future of Automotive Engine Technology" shows that positive online conversations relating to diesels are up on the web (they must read our comments). More »

2008 lincoln navigator

Rapper Common to Sell Out For 2008 Lincoln Navigator

Common is the latest in a long line of rising or falling (ahem Flex) hip-hop stars to endorse an SUV, in this case the 2008 Lincoln Navigator. There's generally nothing wrong with a rapper, even a conscious rapper, marketing an SUV. Mos Def once marketed a Denali and, you know what, the world didn't end. But there's something about this that bugs us. Common constantly shills for PETA and is now marketing a product that's more cow than steel? Let's hope he selects the faux-leather option. Full press release after the jump. More »

ad watch

The BMW 3-Series Is A Cult On Wheels, Makes For A Good Commercial


Yes, the BMW 3-Series is a religion to many — a part of pop culture, a subculture. Heck, it's like Joseph Stalin or Kennedy — it's a cult of personality. And it also makes for a killer car commercial. In a world of watered-down attempts at humor and silly jingles — this 3-Series commercial stands out. It's an ad that's does what ads about cars with a history should be doing — drawing upon that history and the positive emotions associated with it to use to sell the present day car by showing us the new version of the ride with a clear white background — a lack-of-color representing the endless possibilities of the future. Don't get us wrong, it's no Ferrari Shell ad, and it's no Michael Bay Chevy ad — but it does succeed where many recent commercials have failed — it made our pulses quicken and lean forward to pay closer attention. What more does an advertiser want?

transformers

Chinese Man Takes Car Commercial Too Far, Builds Transformer Out Of Citroen

According to our gadget-obsessed brothers, a man in China spent $8,000 to build his very own Transformer out of a Citroen. We feel like we've seen this before — again and again and again. All we're hoping is it's lead-free. [UPDATE: Now we've got video!]
[via Gizmodo]

marketing

Hummer H3 NIB

Hummer UK appear to have a surprising level of insight into the psyches of their potential customers, marketing the first H3 to reach English shores as a big boy's toy. The vehicle is for sale on eBay for the standard list price of £26,495 and will be the first Hummer ever officially imported. It's not clear whether the badly photoshoped box comes with the car, but the ad does note that "Full function forward/reverse drive and left/right steering" come as standard. eBay

promotions

Chevrolet Diggs Social Link-Sharing Sites So Much, They've Created A Couple Of Their Own

We just received an e-mail from the folks at Campbell-Ewald about two new sites Chevy's just created called Silveradohub and Cobalthub. Apparently they're Digg-like sites for submission of "blog posts and articles" on the Chevy Silverado HD and the Chevy Cobalt. We actually were the first to drop a link up on SilveradoHub — and let me tell you, it was all the excitement of Digg, with none of the you know, excitement. Maybe it just needs more than one submission up there. We guess we'll just have to wait and see. But at least the first submission is funny and yes, you'll have a chance to see the full review that accompanies the picture shortly. Full text of the e-mail we received after the jump. More »

marketing

The Prius Halo Effect Continues?

So maybe one of us is a conspiracy theorist when it comes to whether the Prius casts a green marketing halo over the entire Toyota lineup. Sometimes however, the one of us who believes it is able to provide some evidence for why he may not be wrong. Like this example we found this morning. If there's one site you'd expect the new Toyota Tundra — or any light- or medium-duty pickup truck — to not be covered on, it would be an enviro-friendly site like GreenCarCongress. Yet, for some odd reason, they've just put up a story on Toyota offering the Tundra pickup in 13 additional trim variations. We mean, we'd understand if Toyota were adding models with active fuel management, E85, diesel — anything that may remotely have to do with being more fuel efficient. But new trim packages? [GreenCarCongress]

With GM pulling out of Olympic sponsorship, Keith Naughton thinks Toyota can go...all...the...way...to the gold. [Newsweek]

grab life by the vulva

Dodge Ram: Inspired By A Uterus?

Apparently — according to the boys at Truckblog — there's a very clear inspiration for the Dodge brand logo. We're of the opinion there's probably more of a phallic Joe Camel-like muse for the brand that used to be all about grabbing life by the horns. [TruckBlog]

ad watch

Subaru WRX: The "Legend" Reborn?


Hey, how did those quote marks get in there! Anyway...hey Subie fans, you know what they say: "Once you go black, you never go back to boy racer blue."

industry news

GM May Subsidize $10,000 Two-Mode Hybrid Powertrain

Automotive News is reporting the General's new dual-mode hybrid powertrain, which has two electric motors to assist the engine, and is one of what may be up to three new hybrid powertrain systems for the General, costs $10,000. The dual-mode hybrid system is designed to be dropped into the upcoming hybrid versions of the GMT-900 twins, the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe. Although considering the Toyota Highlander hybrid costs about $8,000 more than the base model Toyota Highlander, this sounds pretty much in line with the rest of the industry. But, to make a more steal-like deal out of the dual-mode expected to cut 25% of the fuel consumption in the big SUV's, we're also hearing GM's looking to subsidize the cost. Sounds like a smart marketing move to us but we'll see if it translates to a sticker price that'll push big beasts out of dealer lots. More »

ad watch

Dodge "Grabs Life" By Going Bold And Killing Horns In New Ad Campaign

The horn-y brand has got a new owner and now they've got a newly shortened tagline. Dodge is going from "Grab life by the horns" to just simply "Grab life" and now they've got a new ad campaign to sell it. They've done it on the cheap though, snagging images from old commercials, tossed together with images of sporting Americana — Red Wings and Nascar. All of that's re-mixed with an amerigasm of what we'd describe as "freedom rock." I guess our only question after watching the new ad is — when did Dodge become the advertising amalgamation of Ford and Chevy. Or more appropriately, since when did Michael Bay start directing coffee achiever "Bold Moves" commercials for Dodge? All we know is that ain't creamer those kids are adding to their Dodge. More »

transformers

CNBC Rolls Out Poser Pundit David Poland To Talk Transformers

More »

industry news

Are Bold Moves No Longer Happening Every Day At Ford?

After taking another peek at the mulletgasmic commercial for the Ford Taurus we showed yesterday we realized it was missing something we've come to expect on all FoMoCo commercials as of late. To wit, where were the "Bold Moves?" Although the reduction in importance began with the pseudo-"Pepsi Challenge" ad campaign for the Ford Fusion. But even in those, there was a token B.M. placed at the end of the ad. But with this commercial, the ad slogan at the center of the most ambiguous motorized marketing messaging campaign in recent history (at least since "Hyundai. Yes, Hyundai.") appears to be quite noticeably missing. Wherefore have thou gone, sweet movement of boldness? Could it be Ford is no longer making "Bold Moves?" Maybe it's just that they're no longer happening every day in Dearborn. We're not sure, but we know one thing — if "Bold Moves" is gone, what's to take its place? More »