Autoblog

REPORT: Cadillac quietly unveils new, old-look logo

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Cadillac, GM

As with its model line, Cadillac has performed surgery on its logo. The previous logo, at right, was a sleek bit of matte color and metal unveiled in 1999 as a result of Cadillac wanting a new icon to represent its "art & science" campaign. The aim was "to combine suggestions of high technology and elegance through faceted shapes-inspired by the stealth fighter and by gemstones." Sure.

The new logo cranks up the texture effect on the wreath, adds texture inside the crest, and plays up the embossing and light effects of the crest edge. It's new, but it's got a shiny bit of retro about it that we don't mind.

Cadillac doesn't appear to have said anything about it, and while it appears on the 60-day Guarantee site we can't tell if it's made it onto Caddy's official plot of the interwebs. The real test, though, will be how it looks when it makes it onto the cars. Thanks for the tip, Scott!

[Source: Under Consideration]

Continue reading REPORT: Cadillac quietly unveils new, old-look logo

REPORT: Cadillac quietly unveils new, old-look logo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari's Prancing Horse voted most iconic badge [w/POLL]

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, UK

The people have spoken. (Well, the British anyway. But they're people, too). And according to a public opinion survey, Ferrari has the most iconic badge among exotic automakers.

The poll in question was conducted by European telecom company Orange for the MPH Top Gear Live show, a sort of live-action performance car show held in car-crazed England. Ferrari was identified far and away as the most recognizable of car logos, garnering nearly half the votes. Aston Martin came in second with a quarter of the votes, edging out Lamborghini, Bugatti and Porsche, while Maserati, Spyker, Lotus, Koenigsegg and Pagani rounding out the rest of the top ten with small shares of the votes.

The numbers go to show that while the Prancing Horse is still king, England's own Aston Martin has grown to eclipse some of the biggest power houses in terms of brand recognition. We wonder how long it will take McLaren's Nike-like tick logo, which appears as a motif repeatedly in the design of the new MP4-12C supercar unveiled today, to rise up the ranks, too. We also wonder how American car fans would vote differently from our former colonial masters, and we're wondering if the survey takers were given a limited number of choices, or if the poll specifically targeted performance marques. After all, aren't workaday emblems like Ford's Blue Oval or Chevrolet's Bowtie more recognizable, or even Blighty's own Rolls-Royce's Double R logo?

In any case, we've started a performance badge poll of our own and thrown in the Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper sub-brands (together with McLaren) for good measure. Follow the jump to cast your vote and read the press release with full figures after the jump.

[Source: MPH]

Continue reading Ferrari's Prancing Horse voted most iconic badge [w/POLL]

Ferrari's Prancing Horse voted most iconic badge [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi makes subtle changes to its four-ringed emblem

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Audi

The four-ringed logo has been in use since the Auto Union days back in the 1930s, so we wouldn't expect Audi to go changing it too drastically, but it has given the logo a fresh take to mark the occasion of the company's centenary.

Following the lead taken by other automakers, the subtly revised Audi logo is more chrome-tastic and three-dimensional than the one it replaces. The Audi name has also changed to a more conventional font instead of the backswept typeface, and the name, when appearing next to the ring emblem, has moved away from the center to the bottom left corner. A subtle change, for sure, but a change nonetheless. Click on the thumbnails below to compare the old and new emblems to discern the differences for yourself.

Gallery: Updated Audi Logo

Audi makes subtle changes to its four-ringed emblem originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Greenwash to End All Greenwashing? GM reportedly pondering changing logo color

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Marketing/Advertising, GM

2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has certainly been pumping out a greener message for the last few years, but, on the eve of its likely emergence from bankruptcy, it looks like it might be ridiculously difficult to miss the company's shift to a new and very public eco-mindset: The General's traditional blue square logo could become green. No, really.

While no official decision has yet been made, insiders are saying that the background color change is being considered, "in an effort to show consumers that it is leaner and greener, more focused on fuel efficiency and better able to make quick decisions," says MSNBC.

The fuel efficiency meaning of a possible new green logo is easy to understand and the "quick decisions" part reflects a new GM that will likely have 35 percent fewer executives to go along with fewer employees overall. More announcements on these issues and the fate of the Spark minicar could come tomorrow, when GM is expected to emerge from bankruptcy.

The real color change that GM needs to make, of course, is a shift from red to black - but that's significantly harder than swapping pixels in a logo.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Chevy Spark

[Source: MSNBC | Logo Image: Adam Morath/AOL]

The Greenwash to End All Greenwashing? GM reportedly pondering changing logo color originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty

Mercedes-Benz CL550 "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" - Click above for a high-res image gallery

While so many other automakers have reinvented their logos over the years, Mercedes-Benz has stuck with the same one for 100 years now. One century ago, Daimler-Motoren-Gesselschaft went down to the local patent office and registered the Three-Pointed Star, the logo everyone knows and recognizes today. Just a few weeks later, August Benz & Cie did the same with their logo, the Benz name encircled by a wreath. These two icons later became integrated when the two companies banded together, but to celebrate the anniversary of their registration, Mercedes-Benz has announced a new special edition of one of its most upscale coupes.

The CL550 4Matic features a number of special Designo and AMG touches inside (light tan perforated leather with contrasting stitching and grey accents, gilded brass emblems on the center console) and out (special dark gray paint, new aero kit, and five-spoke 20-inch anthracite wheels with silver brake calipers) to differentiate itself from its more common counterparts. The special edition is available on either the rear-drive or all-wheel-drive 4Matic models around the globe, but since Benz made 4Matic standard equipment on the CL550 in the States, we'll only get the grips-at-all-paws variety.

No word on American-market pricing, but the package commands a hefty €17,850 ($23k USD) premium in Europe. Nobody said celebrating came cheap. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" CL550

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550

Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday Poll: Lambo logo showdown

Alex Nunez — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Supercars, Lamborghini

After the G419 Invitational ended last Sunday, I was outside BSing with Davey G. Johnson (the erstwhile Jalop, friend of Autoblog, and all-around great guy) as we looked over the cars that still remained parked in the GPNY lot. The front row contained both a Gallardo Roadster and a spanking new LP560-4, while row two was home to a silver Diablo SV. We were going over the SV, commenting on how it's aged rather well, when Davey noted something that inspired this particular post.

"Look at that," he said, pointing at the all-lowercase, italicized, block-letter 'lamborghini' badge on the Diablo's rear deck. "That would look so much better on the new cars." The new-school Lambos, as you're all aware, wear the cursive 'Lamborghini' on their tails. Davey and I walked over to the LP560, eyeballed it, and returned to the SV. I have to say, I'm with him on this one. Those lowercase block letters are like Countach-flavored exoticar comfort food, and they'd look perfect on the angular modern Lambos. Then again, maybe the happy medium would be to split the difference and go with this classic.

In any case, let's put it to a vote:

View Poll

Gallery: Lamborghini Diablo SV

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Sunday Poll: Lambo logo showdown originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Woodward Dream Cruise launches new logo, website

Chris Shunk — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

The Woodward Dream Cruise has been a very professionally run event for most of the past 13 years, but when it came time to check for updates on the Dream Cruise website, it was amateur hour. That has changed, as the rip-roaring event has been given a more modern website with easy to traverse navigation and cleaner graphics. The site also includes a new blog that features the ideas and knowledge of the Dream Cruise leadership team.

Team Dream Cruise also wanted to feature an all-new logo that captures the spirit of an event that hosts a million people and 40,000 vintage hotrods. The team hand-picked former GM Design Director Dick Ruzzin to come up with a classic yet contemporary design that gives props to the classic car, while also providing the event an extra touch of class. Ruzzin chose the classic 1930's roadster as the new face of the Dream Cruise, and we'd say the end result is a job well done. Click on the gallery below for Ruzzin's progression from first sketch to final product, and click the link below to visit the Dream Cruise website. The actual event takes place Saturday, August 16th, and you know we'll be there.

Gallery: Woodward Dream Cruise Logos

[Source: Woodward Dream Cruise]

2008 Woodward Dream Cruise launches new logo, website originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refreshed Opel logo accompanies Insignia release

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Europe, Misc. Auto Shows, Opel

Opel will be following the lead of its corporate sibling, Vauxhall, later this year when it unveils a new badge to correlate with the release of the Insignia sedan. The restyled emblem will still feature the Opel nameplate and lightening bolt, but will be coated in polished metal and will attempt to signify Opel's upmarket ascendancy in the European market. The gentleman at right holding the redesigned logo is Mark Adams, GM Europe's of design, who says that new emblem, "is very much consistent with the overall design language and philosophy of our vehicles." Expect to see the new logo affixed to the Insignia at the London Motor Show next month.

Gallery: Opel / Vauxhall Insignia

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Refreshed Opel logo accompanies Insignia release originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 May 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ripped-off automotive logos lack innovation

Michael Harley — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, China, Government/Legal

Automakers worldwide spend millions of dollars perfecting and updating their logos. Study groups offer input to help capture that timeless design and color that precisely represents their product. Once approved, the automakers drop tens of millions of dollars into promoting the new look in product and advertising. What happens when another company arrives with a mildly-modified copy-cat version of the same logo? Apparently, if the country is in Asia, not much.

A reader tipped us off to a site loaded with proprietary logos from some well-know automotive corporations, and their not-so-original Chinese, Philippine, Korean, and German... well, look-alikes. Sure, they aren't exact copies, but some of them are close enough to be kissing cousins.

Thanks for the tip, Alex!

[Source: Cartype]

Ripped-off automotive logos lack innovation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intelligent Design: The evolution of the car logo

Michael Harley — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Automotive logos, those quasi-interesting designs that adorn the front and back of nearly every vehicle in the road, are more than just haphazard enameled scribbles. If you ask the marketing team, they will correctly tell you that each automotive logo symbolizes the tradition, culture, and history of the automaker it represents. (Don't ask the accounting department, which will just tell you it represents millions of dollars in design costs for haphazard enameled scribbles.)

After following a tip from a reader, we stumbled upon a site that offers excellent insight into the historical development of many popular automotive insignias, like Volkswagen's logo above. Take a look here. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Neatorama]

Intelligent Design: The evolution of the car logo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Cooper Works relaunched under same white roof as MINI, new logo unveiled

Noah Joseph — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Hatchback, BMW, Mini

click above to view more JCW-related MINI images

Back in December of 2006, we reported that BMW had officially acquired the John Cooper Works garage with the intent of making it the MINI brand's official performance label, much like the M division is to BMW. Over a year later, Munich has finally relaunched the JCW division, which is headlined by the evolutionary new logo you see here.

The rebranding of JCW is more than an exercise in badge engineering, however. The new effort draws on the decades-long heritage that has been shared between Cooper and MINI, starting with the first MINI that F1 engineer John Cooper tuned and continuing through the resuscitation of the MINI brand by BMW to today's rapidly expanding second-gen range. John's son Mike Cooper continues on as chief executive to oversee JCW's activities under the Bavarian wing, which will include products for both road and track.

In addition to the one-make John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racing series (spec car shown above), JCW will also continue to offer the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit as well as a catalogue of individual components for the top-of-the-line Cooper S versions of the MINI hatch, convertible and Clubman. The bottom line is that with JCW under the same white roof, MINI can now offer even more packages and options than the gazillion choices already in store for buyers, all with full factory backing.

BMW released a bunch of retro-licious MINI Cooper JCW pics, which we've put into the gallery below along with descriptions of what you're looking at. The official BMW/MINI press release can also be found after the jump.

[Source: MINI]

Gallery: MINI John Cooper Works

Continue reading John Cooper Works relaunched under same white roof as MINI, new logo unveiled

John Cooper Works relaunched under same white roof as MINI, new logo unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is VW considering a new logo?

Chris Shunk — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has a very simple and instantly recognizable logo which has seen subtle changes through the years. In the end, though, it has remained generally the same. The German Car Blog is reporting that VW chief Martin Winterkorn has decided to give the logo a freshening, making the symbol larger (must be a trend) while also better separating the V and the W from the outer ring. The new look will be more 3-D, but the branding itself will retain its central location on the grille. Look for the new VW ornament to bow on the Golf VI.

[Source: The German Car Blog]

Is VW considering a new logo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler Corp. will revive Pentastar logo

John Neff — Thu, 17 May 2007 10:38:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler

In order to celebrate its new found freedom after being divorced from DaimlerChrysler AG, the newly minted Chrysler Corp. will ditch its current winged logo and return to the famous Pentastar logo. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that a senior executive has already emailed some Chrysler employees about the switch back to the old logo after learning about it in a meeting Monday night with veeps and senior management. In addition, the Pentastar will get a redesign to update its look.

Apparently this email from a senior exec included a few interesting tidbits, including that Cerberus CEO Stephen Feinberg regrets naming his company after the mythological three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hell. We also learn that Feinberg owns Ford and Chevy pickups, which he plans to quickly trade in for a Dodge Ram. He might want to keep them around for benchmarking purposes, though.

[Source: Detroit Free Press via MotorAuthority]

Chrysler Corp. will revive Pentastar logo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2007 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles goes Professional

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:39:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Work

It's been a period of big changes for Fiat's commercial truck division recently. First the brand gained independent incorporation in the restructuring of the Fiat Group, and now the division is getting a new name and image. What was incorporated just a few months ago as Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles is now being re-named Fiat Professional.

Along with the more serious moniker, Fiat Professional is getting a new badge. The logo pictured above is based on the Fiat badge revealed on the new Bravo, spruced up for the commercial division by Robilant Associati, the same marketing consultants that collaborated with the Italian industrial giant on the creation of the new Fiat logo revealed last October.

The name change and new logo aren't likely to change anything concrete for Fiat's light truck and van division, aside from giving it a more professional image with which to stand up to the competition. Nor is the image shift expected to have any implications for Iveco, Fiat's more heavy-duty truck subsidiary.

[Source: Just Autos]

Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles goes Professional originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coattails: Audi gets unintentional boost in Chevy spread

Dan Roth — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:42:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Audi, Chevrolet, GM

Call it a value-add of sorts. Perhaps Chevrolet is hoping that some of the goodwill towards Audi amongst enthusiasts will rub off on their HHR. Either that or someone was asleep at the switch. On page 2 of the February 5th issue of Automotive News, a new Chevy ad depicts a tribal-tattoo-patterned HHR. Above said retro-wagon happens to be a series of interlocking rings. While the rings don't appear to be Audi's actual logo, they're close enough.

We can't help but wonder why the photographer didn't flag this from the get-go, and as it went down the line, someone, somewhere, either with GM or its ad agency certainly should have noticed and considered it. No word on whether heads have rolled, but we're sure there was at least one stern talking-to upon discovery of this anomaly.

Thanks to tipster Christian.

[Source: German Car Blog]

Coattails: Audi gets unintentional boost in Chevy spread originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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POLL: Should Pontiac change its logo?

John Neff — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Pontiac

Seems like more than a few automakers still believe that little tweaks can have a big impact. Consider all the hoopla over Ford reviving the Taurus and Sable names. Likewise, Pontiac actually unveiled a new concept logo at the Chicago Auto Show last week that could be found between the nostril-like grilles of the new G8 sedan. Unlike the current logo that's been around for as long as we can remember, the new one is monochromatic with a bezel of chrome that surrounds a textured silver inlay. Pontiac says the logo on the G8 is technically a concept, and that reaction to it by the public will be gauged to determine whether or not a change is called for. No doubt some will decry the lack of that passtionate red in the logo's center that has been Pontiac's unofficial-official color. Unfortunately, the red never made Pontiac any more passionate of a brand, so perhaps clinging to it for sentimental reasons is a bit silly. So we want to know (and we're sure Pontiac does, too) whether or not you like the new logo.

POLL: Should Pontiac change its logo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UPDATE: Mercury logo plans

Dan Roth — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Trends, Etc., Mercury

These are the issues that define our times. Forget the volatile price and supply of oil, an economy teetering between robust growth and rampant inflation, worldwide strife. What really matters is whether Mercury will make a change from the "waterfall" stylized M logo to something more retro. Well, our Deep Throat inside Ford has dashed any hopes of seeing the "Winged Messenger" return. Rather than get all distracted with shifting the marketing plan, Lincoln-Mercury is hard at work getting the product right. Can't say we blame them.

You could always hire a local airbrush artist to do up a hood-size mural of your favorite Mercury logo in "screaming chicken" fashion. eBay also has vintage Mercury emblems. You could find one from your favorite era and affix it right over the top of that waterfall, if you so choose. The dream was fun while it lasted; for a retro-advertising treat, click the image above. Careful, you could lose hours of productivity revelling in the over-saturated Cleaverness. Our favorite is the '66 Park Lane. What a beast! Put a pair of glasspacks on it and go rumbling around the Dairy Queen at 5 mph - we can't wait for summer.

UPDATE: Mercury logo plans originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Presto Change-o: Fiat switching badges...again

Noah Joseph — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc., Europe, Marketing/Advertising

Fiat's been changing badges like Williams.F1 changes engine suppliers (and drivers, and management, and sponsors, and tires...). Now apparently the Italian auto giant is considering swapping logos yet again, for the 16th time.

Apparently Fiat's design chief saw the sun reflecting off the sign at the factory and was inspired to draw up this new badge. The design seems to retain a little bit of Fiat's considerable heritage in the lettering, while incorporating more modern shapes and shading. The shape of the inner section even seems to hint slightly at what's becoming the automaker's new corporate grille, first seen on the Grande Punto, ostensibly showing up on the new Linea sedan, and now carrying over to the new Bravo hatch on which the new logo is to make its debut.

While a new emblem is a quick way to refresh a brand's image, there's something to be said for a constant icon to consistently represent the marque.

For a gallery of historic Fiat badges, click here.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Presto Change-o: Fiat switching badges...again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do you dig Pontiac's concept logo?
	Yeah, it's time for a change!
	No, where's the red?