Behind the man finishing his follow through (he didn't keep his head down) is a glimpse of the new BMW 7-Series front end. Freed from the matte black paint on the mules and with the right bit of studio lighting, the car has the kind of bada** mien that we should expect from the top dog BMW. And we finally see what the tape has been covering over the headlights: chrome eyelids that are straight off the CS concept. Also taking cues from the CS are that wider, Joker-grin grille and the angel eyes composed of individual LEDs. The full monty is supposed to be revealed on July 7, so stay tuned. But so far, we likey. Thanks for the tip, Josh!
In terms of sheer size, Russia is the largest country in the world. That must have something to do with this gargantuan advertisement found in Russia... According to the caption, the surface area measures more than 1.5 acres (billboard haters should stop complaining right about now, as it appears we have it pretty good over here).
More interesting than the sheer massiveness of the super-colossal ad are the full-sized BMWs, lights ablaze, mounted sideways as if zooming across the surface. Those aren't base model Bimmers, either -- sharp eyed readers will recognize them as the Z4 M Coupe, M3, M5, and M6. Now, that is what we call an advertising budget! Thanks for the tip, Hank!
The ads that get your lasting attention are the ones that make you respond. And we have no doubt that's exactly what you'd do if while cruising down the boulevard you happened upon what looked like an impact crater. When Pioneer Suspension wanted to show off the extraordinary smoothness of its ride, it placed images of holes on the road, which prompted folks to slow down and then... they didn't feel them. A few yards up the road they found out why: because that's what a Pioneer Suspension feels like. Clever, if not a giant potential lawsuit waiting to happen. And we can't help thinking that if Pioneer did this in the U.S., someone with a Pioneer suspension would try driving through a sinkhole and then wonder how they ended up at the center of the Earth.
"This citation has ben brought to you by _________, for all your _________ needs. Thanks for using the Toledo PD, please drive safely and have a nice day."
The Toledo, Ohio police department needs to replace about 100 of its 140-car fleet at a time when money's tight. When budget deficits are forecast, getting funds can be a challenge, and that's what led the Toldeo department to offer cruiser sponsorships. In exchange for $15,000, the cars will have a 3 by 1 foot ad placed on the rear quarter panels. Four businesses have signed on so far, which means that two cars have been paid for. Toledo PD Chief Mike Navarre has received more negative feedback than good comments, but the bottom line is that it's going to offset the considerable annual cost of replacing all those cars. The influx of cash means the fleet gets replenished sooner while still leaving money for the many other things a police department needs. Innovative thinking in tough times is a consistent theme in America, and Toledo's not the first department to put ads on their cars. The Fire Department is keeping an eye on how the sponsorships unfold, and could roll out its own effort. We don't see what the big deal is; it's saving taxpayers money in the end. It's not like they've sold naming rights to the department or anything, so keep an eye out for new Chargers with a cop motor, a HEMI plant, cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks, and an ad for Bambino's Pizza where 9-1-1 used to be.
click above image to view both versions of Ford's new ads for the 2008 Taurus
While Ford seemingly let its large front-wheel-drive sedan languish in obscurity when it was called the Five-Hundred, it doesn't intend to make the same mistake now that it's called the Taurus. We told you at the beginning of the month that the Taurus' new tagline will be "Rated Safest Car In America", and now we've got some advertisements to go along with the new marketing babble. Above you'll find one of the two print ads developed, we assume, by longtime Ford ad agency JWT Detroit. The ad features a highly photoshopped shot of the new Taurus wearing its Sunday best, which is comprised of super shiny chrome trim and 18-inch chromed 7-spoke wheels. The color appears to be Light Ice Blue Clearcoat Metallic, although it looks much better in the ad than it does when building the car on Ford's website. Besides the gussied up Taurus on the left, consumers will also notice the new tagline and references to the stellar crash test scores the Taurus received from both the NHTSA and IIHS.
After the jump you'll find Ford's new commercial for the Taurus that debuts on June 18th. Playing off of Father's Day, it shows that heartwarming moment we've all experience when Dad hands you the keys for the first time and says, "You drive." We thought this would be a perfect set up for a demonstration of how safe the Taurus is when the son blows a stop light and introduces Dad's new car to the business end of a fire hydrant, but alas, the 2008 Taurus just accelerates away.
This is the ultimate car guy birthday cake. This advert for the Skoda Fabia is designed to hit you in the warm, gooey center. Right away, you're drawn in by dulcet tones from The Sound Of Music that trigger flashbacks to a Generation Y childhood and endless preschool sing-a-longs. Furthering the irresistible pull of the commercial is the fact that they're making cake. Anyone who can turn away from watching bakers at work is just dead inside. It's so much like what we gearheads do - look in the book, follow the instructions using your skills to ensure a proper result. Maybe it's just us wrench-turners who know our way around a kitchen, and are also suckers for confections. Whatever it is, even if it turns out to be subliminal flash frames (doesn't work, btw), the Skoda is so sweet, we want to take one home. Which is the point. Except, we still want it for dessert.
Advertising a product on television can be a very complicated exercise, as each demographic and market get its own specialized message. Many people who travel overseas notice that commercials are peculiar outside their native market, and anybody that sees GM's new Cadillac commercial for the Chinese market has to be scratching his or her head.
In the commercial, a large group of 18th century Englishmen (or American colonists?) are trying to wrangle a wild horse, when a Cadillac SLS comes in to tame the beast while the wig-wearing gentlemen in puffy Seinfeld shirts and petticoats run for cover. We think the premise of the commercial is that the beauty of the SLS tames the savage horse, but with all those makeup-wearing colonists running around, we're too distracted to know for sure. Hey, here in the States we have Abe Lincoln pitching insomnia medication, so anything is fair game. Hit the jump to view this bizarre pitch, and chime in to let us know what you think.
Assembled in the YouTube clip above are four brand new commercials from Chrysler that the automaker hopes will convey the message that its lineup offers "world-class quality and engineering at an extraordinary value". Thus, the new tagline for the campaign is "Engineered Beautifully".
The first spot, titled Technology Throughout, is 60 seconds long and uses the CGI technique du jour of taking us inside select vehicles to see various technologies at work. The second spot, called Key to Happiness, is 30 seconds long and highlights the new Sebring Convertible. The third, titled Success, is 30 seconds long and attempts to remind the collective that Chrysler's still keeping its stylish 300 sedan relevant with new technology. The final spot revealed by Chrysler today highlights the mileage of such vehicles as the 300 sedan, PT Cruiser and Sebring sedan. There's a fifth spot called Taking Care, which also highlights the new Sebring Convertible, that Chrysler didn't provide in the above YouTube video.
If you watch shows like Grey's Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars, Conan O'Brien or the ongoing NBA Playoffs, then you'll likely come across these ads in the wild. Do they resonate with you, or is Chrysler just trying to remind folks it's still here? The press release from Chrysler is after the jump.
Most commercials we see on television pitch products like soft drinks and toilet paper – you know, the kind of things that most people buy and most people can afford. There's certainly no shortage of car commercials, either, but they likewise typically focus on mass-market automobiles like the Volkswagen Rabbit or Dodge Caliber. But a commercial for a million-dollar supercar?
The superlative Carrera GT is a piece of automotive excellence that can speak for itself, but the fellas down in Stuttgart evidently felt it deserved a promo ad and threw this one together. The video after the jump draws on Porsche's innovations and racing experience to introduce the race-bred Carrera GT, highlighting its lightweight V10 engine, carbon ceramic brakes and ceramic clutch.
We reported a couple weeks ago that Shell was pouring big money into furthering its brand association with Ferrari and F1 racing by filming what was projected to be the most expensive television advertisement ever to be produced. The commercial was set to feature a Ferrari F1 car racing through the streets of downtown Sydney, London and New York.
The crew was reportedly all set to begin filming in Sydney last week when they ran into a slight glitch: at the last second, the government in the state of New South Wales denied the film crew the necessary permits to begin filming. When it was suggested that they could obtain the permit by making a certain – ahem – "charitable contribution", the presumably enraged producer called a halt to production and the entire crew packed up and left.
For our readers in Australia hoping to get a glimpse of the Ferraris racing through their streets, you'll know who to blame for the disappointment. All is not lost, however, as a Ferrari street parade is scheduled to run down Melbourne's Lygon street on March 3. The event, which will serve as a combined promotion for the Australian Grand Prix and for Ferrari's 60th anniversary, will feature 60 Ferraris rolling down the closed-off street section, including a modern Ferrari F1 race car.
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
In the Autoblog Garage: Aprilia RSV 1000 R
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
