Jalopnik: mccann erickson

GM Not Breaking Up With Big Oil, Just Needed Time To Think

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:20:00 EDT

GM just can't quit Big Oil. One week after we reported that the General planned a very public breakup with petroleum, GM is backing away from its new ad campaign. In a statement, GM spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato said, "It's one spot, and it's not in its final creative treatment yet. We don't know if we're going to run it." Reportedly, Big Oil actually has a really big heart and isn't that bad, it's just been under a lot of stress at work, and besides, it promised GM it would only drink beer or wine from here on out.

GM's Cusinato said the new campaign wasn't actually designed to target the oil companies but rather our dependence on oil as an energy source. GM is attempting to draw attention to its alternative energy efforts in the face of record gasoline prices and the perception that Japanese imports have made more progress in hybrid and alternative powertrains.

While we applaud GM's public awareness efforts, however flawed, the statement by Cusinato that "the commercials aren't meant to sell cars," is a blatant lie; combined with the mismanagement of this entire campaign so far, we question whether GM has the cajones to green-light an innovative marketing campaign should one present itself, and then stand behind its decision. But like a jilted lover, we'll keep waiting and hoping that something might change.
[Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

GM "Breaks Up" With Big Oil; Booty Calls, Beatings Likely To Continue

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:20:00 EDT

McCann-Erickson, the agency that brought you such Buick tag lines as "Dream Up" and "Beyond Precision," has decided GM needs to put its foot down and end its self-abusive, codependent-yet-carnally-thrilling relationship with Big Oil. A new campaign will debut on June 22, when the General will present a "Dear Oil" letter, accentuating the magic the two industries once had together but acknowledging things haven't been the same since Oil got drunk and hooked up with China. Reports hint GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner hopes the automaker can maintain an ongoing "friends with benefits" arrangement, at least with BP.

GM has been ~~greenwashing~~ boosting ad spending for its more fuel-efficient models since the middle of last year. But Katherine Benoit, GM corporate marketing director, claimed that although the company may have been cheating with E85, they swear they'd stopped dating, citing as proof the suspension of ads for its Flex-Fuel models — remember Live Green, Go Yellow? — partly because the fuel isn't widely available, and partly because recent reports are blaming corn-based ethanol for elements of a burgeoning global food crisis. And frankly, GM just doesn't need that kind of stress right now.

Unconfirmed reports state that a consortium of hydrogen fuel cell labs always thought GM was hot, but that they'll wait a few months to see if GM is really through with Big Oil before making a move. They don't want to end up getting the shaft like Electric did back in the '90s. [Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

Ad Watch: When Did 30 MPG Become The New American Revolution?

Ray Wert — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 13:02:03 EDT

Did you know nine out of every ten cars Chevrolet sells get 30 mpg or better highway mileage? We didn't either, what with the Silverado, Avalanche and Tahoe's it's sold in all sorts of different area codes. It was only then we realized...Chevy said "cars" not "vehicles" — so yeah, we guess that makes sense. But, as the McCann Erickson ad humrously point out, and to our friends at Corvette Bloggers absolute glee — the one that doesn't, the Corvette, still gets 26 mpg on the highway. Not a bad trade off in our minds either.

New Chevy Commercial Touts Corvettes HWY MPG [Corvette Blogger]

Ad Watch: Prestone Trying To Go Anti-Buzzkill; Plays Games Instead Of Work

Ray Wert — Wed, 24 May 2006 10:03:41 EDT

We've got a problem with windshield wiper solution — don't manufacturers know at 95 mph, the fluid just flies right over the windshield and on to the car behind us? Apparently the windshield wiper washer fluid solution kings of Prestone are looking to at least provide us with an easy way to experience what it would be like if we could actually use their products on our own vehicles. They've gone and dropped a decent chunk-a-change into a new online-only awareness campaign to do it. Prestone's looking to build their "Bug Wash" solution into the Kleenex or...better yet...the Windex of windshield wiper fluids — the brand used by consumers in naming the entirety of the segment. So Prestone's contracted with McCann Erickson to build an online game simulating looking out the front windshield while driving — killing insects and spritzing "Bug Wash" on to clear the mess up. So how'd they do?

Well — it was really the worst online game we've ever played — cause there doesn't appear to be a way to end it. But at least there's finally a way to see what life in the slower lane coulda been like.

Buzzkillmain [Buzzkill.com]
Zap Virtual Windshield Bugs, Get Coupon for Bug Wash [AdAge.com]

Related:
Cadillac Does Away With the Ice Scraper [internal]

Ad Watch: What Caddy's That?

Ray Wert — Fri, 12 May 2006 08:45:00 EDT

So, as we plopped down to check out the new GM ad 'Then Again, Now Again' last night — we found ourselves stunned to see a GM "mini-reveal" — it appeared to be a Caddy, and with some kind of CUV-like shape. We tried to figure out what the hell this piece of hotness the McCann Erickson team dropped into the ad at GM's behest, but were stumped — we hadn't seen it at any of this year's auto shows. Then, it dawned on one of us — isn't that the Imaj concept from the 2000 Geneva Auto Show? We don't think we're wrong — but let us know what you think — we've put both the current ad and the Imaj press release from way-back in 2000 after the jump — and then check out our pictures of the concept here.

The Cadillac Imaj, a high-tech concept car revealed at the 2000 Geneva Auto Show, extends Cadillac's philosophy of blending art and science to its logical next step: an all-wheel-drive ultra-luxury sedan with exhilarating performance and unprecedented technological applications.

With its crisp lines and sharp angles, Imaj is a direct descendant of Evoq, the concept roadster introduced in 1999 and the first embodiment of Cadillac's vision of art and science. Imaj takes its lead from Evoq in giving further tangible form to Cadillac's vision to be a uniquely American, global automotive leader in both design and ingenious technology.

Underneath the hood, Imaj features an updated version of the supercharged Northstar V8 engine that debuted on the Evoq. Featuring a liquid-to-air intercooler and continuously variable valve timing, the enhanced Northstar delivers 425 horsepower. The power is fed to all four wheels through an all-new five-speed automatic transmission.

Imaj also features Cadillac's Night Vision system with obstacle alert signals work both in front and the rear. Adjustable pedals, seating, steering and head-up display combine with steering wheel mounted controls and shift-by-wire gear selection to create the quintessential driver-in-control environment. Adaptive cruise control manages following distances at highway speeds, while front- and rear-facing radar ease parking in close quarters.

Ad Watch: GM's Still Not Sold On FM — Then Again, Now Again

Ray Wert — Thu, 11 May 2006 11:42:35 EDT

We were able to snag a copy of the new GM ad before it airs tonight on Survivor, and its a veritable orgy of self-love of the past. And we all know how excited GM gets when it talks about the past — they seem to drop trou at the mention of sock hops, AM radio and tailfins — but umm, does that mean the target audience for the second of two Everclear soundtrack-ed ads is the senior citizen demo? Because an ad reminiscing about the 50's and 60's aint gonna sell many cars to the kiddies. Those of us in the 18-35 age bracket barely remember "Born on the Fourth of July" — much less the actual Fourth of July, 1969. Well, at least this McCann Erickson ad tries to keep the kids happy by featuring the likes of Tiger Woods, Carmen Electra and Jeremy Piven to counter Marilyn Monroe and Frank Gorshin. Yeah, cause when we think Carmen Electra — we totally think of Marilyn Monroe.

More dead celebrities, this time from GM [AdFreak]
GM "Then Again Now Again" Commercial [YouTube]

Related:
Ad Watch: GM Listens To The "AM Radio" [internal]