Recently, Lexus asked its Facebook fans to help come up with a name for a shade of orange on its upcoming M3-fighting 2015 Lexus RC F coupe. I have an idea for that, as well as a plan for the marketing tie-in of the century.
First, let me say I'm actually jazzed about the RC F because it has a 450 horsepower V8, and since the new Lexus IS it's based on happens to be one of the better sport sedans you can buy at the moment, it's probably going to be excellent.
And like most modern Lexuses, the front of it looks like some kind of shaving product. There is really no getting around this.
Here's my advice to Lexus: Why not own the shaving thing? It's yours! Don't deny it. Be proud of it. Embrace the shaver grille.
So this is my pitch for the color of the RC F: Gillette Fusion HydraGel Moisturizing Orange For Men. It's a similar shade of orange to the one used on Gillette's products, so why not go for it?
Yes, it's long, and kind of ridiculous. But is it any more ridiculous than naming it something like Tangerine Scream, Tsukuba Red or Mojave Metallic? Hell no, it isn't.
Naming the orange color Gillette Fusion HydraGel Moisturizing Orange For Men opens the RC F up to some absolutely sick cross-promotion marketing opportunities, for real. Here are some taglines I came up with after a few shots of after shave:
Stay smooth. On the track, and on your face.
Razor sharp handling with no bumps and irritation.
Cut down on your whiskers — and your lap times.
See? I could keep coming up with these all day long. Lexus, just think of what you'll be able to come up with if you hand this off to an actual marketing executive who isn't drunk on after shave.
Show me a better name for a color than Gillette Fusion HydraGel Moisturizing Orange For Men, Lexus. In the meantime... you're welcome.