Michael Phelps to hawk Mazda6 in China
Click above for a high-res gallery of the European-spec Mazda6
When American super swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records at the 2008 Olympics, he became an instant celebrity. Since the Olympics were held in the land of the Great Wall, Phelps is perhaps an even bigger sensation in China. In fact, Phelps is so big in the Middle Kingdom that he has just scored what is believed to be the largest endorsement deal of any western celebrity, a $1 million deal to pitch the all-new Mazda6. Mazda is spending big bucks on a pitch man in an effort to capitalize on its recent success in China. The outgoing 6, named Rui Yi in China, experienced a 43 percent sales increase in 2008, outpacing Mazda's already impressive brand-wide increase of 27 percent.
China is currently the world's third largest market, behind only Japan and the United States. The world's most populous nation is expected by many analysts to surpass Japan in this category as soon as this year, and the US could be in the rear view mirror by 2020. Mazda spending big to land an American hero shows goes some way to showing just how important the growing market is for the Japanese automaker.
Gallery: 2008 Mazda6
[Source: Ad Age]
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Conundrum 7:13PM (1/06/2009)
The alternate definition of hock is to pawn off. More likely the use Chris intended. "Hock" is commonly used in some regions of the US to describe the sale of assets.
I sure do like the styling on that Mazda too.
Raghu 7:29PM (1/06/2009)
@ Conundrum... I grew with hawkers and hock shops too, and know the difference...
The words hock and hawk are pronounced the same, but mean different things. Check the dictionary for the difference between pawn and sell...
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pawn
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sell
Brian B 8:02PM (1/06/2009)
+1.
Brian B 8:04PM (1/06/2009)
Didn't realize my comment was going to be placed there. Just to clarify...
+1 = I agree with Raghu. Hawk = to sell, Hock = to pawn.
diffrunt 7:00AM (1/07/2009)
Before your time, son, traveling salesmen were referred to as "hucksters" (don,t recall exactly why).Therefore the correct term as applied today would be "hucks", not "hocks"
P.V. 7:00PM (1/06/2009)
By the way, my parents finally got their new midsize sedan: a 2009 Mazda 6 i Touring w/Convenience! Now Mazda can report an extra sale for January! I love the car we have for its styling, driving dynamics (they really aren't that bad), feature content, size, and fuel economy, but wonder how much it will depreciate.
Anyway, I really like the JDM/EDM front end much better than the overdone/almost-cartoonish USDM front end, but I think the USDM rear looks a lot better (the side profile looks extremely similar, and is quite good on both). I wish the hatch and wagon were still sold here (hatch and wagon versions of the USDM models would still be nice).
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Michael 7:27PM (1/06/2009)
I'm not sure who has the worse grill, the new Mazda3 or Phelps.
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BOB 9:40PM (1/06/2009)
TO CLEAR UP THE SEMANTICS..
1-- We are sure Phelps is not going to pawn a car in China
2-- Possibly Chris is trying for "pidgin Yiddish", in which case one could say
"Uncle Sol keep hocking me to buy a Mazda" --- hock meaning talking about, or trying to convince, more or less.
And -- Phelp's grille has worked for him so far, but the Mazda is more conventionally handsome.
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BoneHeadOtto 9:31PM (1/06/2009)
how could i buy one they dont offer it.... :P
didnt buy the last gen since it was low on power, high on gas consumption and the interior was or mediocre quality. The new Mazda 6 is a different beast, and yes i would purchase a wagon if i could get it with the manual and v6.
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BoneHeadOtto 9:34PM (1/06/2009)
ugh.... GD comment system. Those wer both replies to ASEVENSEE4
I even made sure the damn comments said i was replying to that thread and they still didnt take. oh well.
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Level 10:34PM (1/06/2009)
I have to agree the US version is the worst looking one compared to the UK and JP
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David 12:34AM (1/07/2009)
I see that it's already been mentioned, but it's actually spelled "hawk."
From m-w.com for reference....
Main Entry:
5hawk
Function:
transitive verb
Etymology:
back-formation from 2hawker
Date:
1713
: to offer for sale by calling out in the street ; broadly : sell
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s13hybrid 1:51PM (1/07/2009)
Isn't the other correct term would be MEDALS, and not METALS?
Although gold is a metal, wouldn't an award be medal?
If we are going to nit pick, do it completely. :-P
David 2:17PM (1/07/2009)
Sheesh, lady. If you want to pick at the entire entry, you could've also mentioned the fact that the following sentence makes no sense at all:
"Mazda spending big to land an American hero shows goes some way to showing just how important the growing market is for the Japanese automaker."
Avinash machado 5:17AM (1/07/2009)
Maybe Mazda should do what Honda does with the Accord. Sell both the American and European version in the US. They should rename the European version and maybe even charge a small premium like Honda does with the TSX\Euro Accord.
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DCragtop 7:56AM (1/07/2009)
Who is Michael Phelps and what is he planning to do to this car?
What happens in China.......
Hock? Oh...HOCK.
Nevermind. Nevermind.
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kerry wenrich 11:49AM (1/08/2009)
dcragtop you actually have a good question we have no clue what his car intentions are still if he can wim five gold medals i don't see why he couldn't do this as well
Shadooky 9:25AM (1/07/2009)
I have a new Mazda 6 and wish each and every day that I still had my 06 Sierra.
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ClassAct4 8:12PM (1/07/2009)
At least the traitor could hawk American cars!
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Vic 9:00PM (1/07/2009)
well ever wonder why the country is going down the tubes. Its because Americans are buying to much Jap cars and other imported stuff. Such as chinese shoes and clothes . Every thing seems to be made over in the asian countries. Americans are being deskilled and no longer produce a dam thing. Every thing is made in chinkville nowadays. I wont drive any vehicle that is made in Japan,only American made cars. People wonder why jobs are folding up in the USA. Its because we dont support our own country . Our cash makes a one way trip overseas. Wake up USA buy American keep our money over here...
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