Autoblog

Toyota GT86 ad banned in UK for encouraging "dangerous driving"

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, UK

A ban has reportedly been issued on a UK commercial for the Toyota GT86 (know as the Scion FR-S here in the US) that supposedly might "encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly," because it "condoned dangerous driving."

The commercial, known as "The Real Deal," in question has very clearly made an effort to distance itself from any kind of illicit real-world driving, as Toyota is fully aware that British laws forbids that kind of advertising. Toyota reportedly told Britain's Advertising Standards Authority that it did not, in fact, condone unsafe or irresponsible driving, and that its commercial - which features a digital man in a sort of Dystopian "video game" world - is impossible to reproduce under real-world conditions.

Toyota UK has not, as of this writing, felt compelled to remove the advertisement from its YouTube page, meaning you are at liberty to watch it for yourself below. At least here in The States, we consider it extremely "safe for work" - just don't try this on the road, hotshot.

Does banning a commercial from television serve to make it more popular on the internet? Give us your thoughts in Comments.

Continue reading Toyota GT86 ad banned in UK for encouraging "dangerous driving"

Toyota GT86 ad banned in UK for encouraging "dangerous driving" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange

Zach Bowman — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

Banned Dacia Duster ad - Click above to watch video after the jump

Let's just start by saying that the ad in the video after the jump contains some not-so-safe-for-work language and a couple of crude body gestures. Dacia evidently worked up an ad for its Duster that was intended to underscore the great bargain that its pint-sized SUV represents. In the process, the company managed to alienate an entire nationality and portray its dealers as a pack of bloodthirsty, vulgar thieves willing to yank the shirt off your back and insult your wife. Would you be surprised if we told you that this particular spot was apparently banned? We didn't think so.

Still, if you're an admirer of the art of stringing together obscure profanity, you'll likely get a chuckle out of this unconventional ad. Hey, no one ever accused us of being the classiest kids on the block. Hit the jump to take a look for yourself, just remember to plug in those earphones if you're on the clock. Thanks for the tip, cornel001!

Gallery: Dacia Duster 4x4

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange

Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: UK ad authority restricts "violent" VW ad after logging 1,000+ compliants

Michael Harley — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Volkswagen, UK

Click above to watch VW's banned video after the jump

Remember this Matrix-inspired VW ad that arrived just before the holidays last year? It seems the exaggerated fight scenes were too much for some viewers on the other side of the Pond. The British Advertising Standards Authority received more than 1,000 complaints about the staged violence, with UK residents reportedly fearing that it children may view the sequence and try to copy it.

Statistically, the ad is now the fifth most complained about UK commercial ever. That honor helped it earn a pre-9pm TV ban in the local markets. Volkswagen, obviously a bit frustrated by the ruling, points out that the action seen in the commercial was not "dissimilar to the levels of action seen in many family TV programs." The automaker went on to say the fighting in the ads was "metaphorical rather than real" and that the "exaggerated, cartoon-like sound effects and actions were designed to dispel the gravity of the fighting." Um, that's exactly what we were thinking.

In case you missed it, check out the video re-posted after the jump.

[Source: Guardian News UK]

Continue reading VIDEO: UK ad authority restricts "violent" VW ad after logging 1,000+ compliants

VIDEO: UK ad authority restricts "violent" VW ad after logging 1,000+ compliants originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California outlaws texting while driving... finally

Michael Harley — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

After wiping the egg off his face for approving legislation earlier this year that banned cell phone use yet still allowed texting behind the wheel, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hurriedly signed legislation today banning drivers from sending, writing, or reading messages on electronic devices. If you are one of those text-messaging morons in the fast lane, no need to worry as the law doesn't go into effect until January. Even when it does, the fine for a first offense is only $20 (what, a mere 5 gallons of gas?), and the second offense is just $50. Considering it is still legal to type in a phone number on a keypad while driving... um, we haven't the foggiest idea on how they are going to actually enforce this law in the first place.

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

California outlaws texting while driving... finally originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lead wheel weights meet their demise in California

Michael Harley — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Green

Environmentally-friendly California is putting an end to lead balancing weights on wheels and tires. The heavy metal neurotoxin is polluting the state's ground water supplies, according to the Center for Environmental Health. The group claims that more than 500,000 pounds of lead weights are inadvertently flung off wheels each year, making it the state's leading cause of environmental lead contamination. Under a court settlement approved this week, Chrysler and the three largest lead weight wheel manufacturers will all phase out lead in wheel weights by the end of 2009. While California is taking the initiative in this country, we are still years behind the European Union, which banned lead weights in 2005. With lead on the chopping block, future wheel weights will be made from either steel or zinc alloy. Those metal weights are larger and more expensive to produce than lead, but much safer for Mother Earth.

[Source: Business Week]

Lead wheel weights meet their demise in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More hysteria over suggestive ads: Hyundai yanks ad featuing baby behind the wheel

Dan Roth — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hyundai

Aw hell, here we go again. Hyundai is pulling its spot called "Restless" after the Advertising Standards Bureau of Australia banned it. The ad, which appeals to people's warm, gooey centers by adultifying toddlers, shows a baby snatching the keys to the Santa Fe and hitting the highway. Along the way, he picks up a girl who happens to be hitching to the beach. He surfs, she watches, world hunger and strife are nearly wiped out in the span of sixty seconds. It's a great spot and was voted the most popular ad in New Zealand last year (what a dubious distinction!)

The ASB argues that the ad shows illegal activity (and there's nothing else on TV that shows illegal stuff?), and may entice youngsters into copycat behavior. Right. Like nobody in the history of the car ever had a kid yank the controls before this ad suggested it? Kids love to pretend like they're adults, so you can be sure that if you plop your toddler in the driver's seat, they're going to have a grand old time. Not that there's much watchable content on television anymore, but these situations go beyond the ridiculous and will just lead to more whitewashed, mamby-pamby crap for us to have to sit through. What's next, banning talking animal spots because no animal really talks? Come on people! There's got to be a more fulfilling pursuit than getting all wadded up over an ad - this is one of the most harmless, charming spots we've seen in a while.

We just don't get it, but apparently there's a large contingent out there who yearns to be protected from themselves. Life is no fun if you don't collect a few bumps and scrapes. Yes, I drove mom's '68 Rambler into the garage and out into the street a couple times as a kid. I couldn't help it - that column shift was just asking for it!

Thanks for the tip, Anton!

Check out the spot after the jump

[Source: duncans.tv]

Continue reading More hysteria over suggestive ads: Hyundai yanks ad featuing baby behind the wheel

More hysteria over suggestive ads: Hyundai yanks ad featuing baby behind the wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari F430 may be banned in U.S.

John Neff — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance

It is being reported that sales of the Ferrari F430 may be banned in the U.S. by late 2006 due to the supercar's airbags being unable to protect a small number of female occupants and children who are buckled into the car's passenger seat.

Ferrari has filed a petition with the NHTSA to be granted a waiver to continue selling the cars in the States until late 2008 when a "newly designed eight-cylinder model" will replace the F430. The lustrous Italian marque claims is has tried everything to get the car to comply with NHTSA standards but has failed.

Inside Line reports that the NHTSA suggested Ferrari accelerate F430 production before the September 1st deadline in order to stockpile cars until the replacement debuts in two years, but Ferrari's workers are already toiling at full tilt trying to meet demand for the car.

What this means for Ferrari isn't clear, as the F430 is a major portion of it's U.S. sales. One would think, however, that a company capable of building the Enzo and some of the best F1 cars in the world could figure out how to fix an airbag.

Ferrari F430 may be banned in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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