Filed under: Etc., Euro, Marketing/Advertising
Opels brought to life by Pixar

Think you've seen a lot of tie-ins involving Disney/Pixar's Cars this summer? Well, here's one more, in which the stars of the Opel lineup get a Pixar-style rfacelift.
Click here and you'll be brought to an Opel/Cars minisite that shows the characters from Pixar's latest tour de force interacting with the Opel Astra (above), Opel Meriva, and Opel Zafira. In addition to the intro movie that plays automatically when you enter the site, you can click on a link to watch a Euro-market TV commercial that shows the three GM cars auditioning for the part of Mater.
The spot is well done, and it's pretty neat seeing how the Pixar folks gave life to the Opels. Each car has it's own personality: Astra is very sporty and aggressive, Zafira is slick and stylish, and Meriva ... well Meriva's a little more shy. If you saw Cars and liked it, you'll get a kick out of it.
Desktop wallpapers, a screensaver, behind-the-scenes podcasts, and a PDF coloring book are also available for download.
Addendum: Thanks to reader/commenter Scott K for finding the direct link to the minisite!
(Additional images after the jump)
[Source: Opel]
Opel Zafira:

Opel Meriva:

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dennis 7:26AM (7/21/2006)
Please direct link to the video...can't find it! Thanks!
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roger born 7:27AM (7/21/2006)
BOGUS - OPEL SITE IS FLASH. NOTHING THERE ABOUT DISNEY-PIXAR.
EVEN LOOKED IN THE SOURCE CODE FOR THE PAGE - NO LINK.
ANYONE HAVE A BETTER URL FOR THIS?
THANKS
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alex 8:04AM (7/21/2006)
www.opel.es
quite funny
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Dennis 9:14AM (7/21/2006)
No hablo español.
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Dennis 9:46AM (7/21/2006)
I don't get the screen you are showing above when I click on the link in the article. What country did you pick to get the page you are showing?!!
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Alex Nunez 9:55AM (7/21/2006)
Dennis, I pick no country. I just go to opel.com and get the select-a-country screen. Try this link:
http://www.opel.com/flash.html
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Dennis 10:07AM (7/21/2006)
Alex - This is maddening. I click on your link and I get four buttons on the bottom of the screen, not two as you shown in your snapshot. None of the buttons are linked to the video. Why am I seeing a different screen from you are seeing?
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dc 10:09AM (7/21/2006)
I didn't get the Pixar Cars button either, but if you select Spain it shows up as the main image on the page. The direct link to the Spanish version of the Cars minisite is: http://www.opel.es/content_data/GME/019/ES/es/GBPES/microsites/cars/pixarcars.html
Working on getting the English version...
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Alex Nunez 10:35AM (7/21/2006)
Dennis, my screenshot is cropped. I have 4 buttons as well. If there's a button with Lightning McQueen and the Zafira, just click it. The sitelet opens in a new window. Make sure your popup blocker is off.
I would send a direct link, but it's all Flash so I can't.
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Adam 10:36AM (7/21/2006)
Where the Cars button is circled in the screen shot, I have an Opel Corsa promo.
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Scott K 10:50AM (7/21/2006)
Try this one out...
Oddly, I got the button on one browser on one of my PC's but not on the others.
http://www.opel.com/brand_sites/pixarcars/pixarcars.html
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Alex Nunez 11:03AM (7/21/2006)
That works, Scott. Thank you!
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Hank 11:15AM (7/21/2006)
I've used OS X with Safari, Camino, and Firefox....no show.
I've used XP with IE & Firefox...no show.
And I unfortunately don't speak Spanish. Oh well.
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jon 1:04PM (7/21/2006)
Clever and endering.Perfect for Saturn
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jon 1:10PM (7/21/2006)
Clever and endearing.Would be perfect for Saturn
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gary 5:06PM (7/21/2006)
nice find noonz!
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Allan Barger 9:36PM (7/23/2006)
Cool makes me see my Astra in a whole new way =]
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