Memorable Car Ads & Promotions from 2012

In the spirit of end of year lists, the RedlineNorth team has compiled a few of the most memorable car ads and promotions from 2012.  With the sheer amount of car advertising out there each year it can be sometimes hard to distinguish one commercial from another. The following were selected for creativity, humour and thinking outside the box, or in the first example, thinking inside the box!

Hot Wheels Promotion

In this promotion Hot Wheels placed a life size replica of a hot wheels box around the cars of unsuspecting shoppers at a mall.  When the shoppers returned to their vehicles they found their vehicle had been turned into a Hot Wheels car. Quite a simple, yet creative way to get your product noticed. Source: Adweek, Comunicadores

Hot Wheels Promotion

Hot Wheels Promotion

Life size Hot Wheels box

Life size Hot Wheels box

Lightsaber Insurance Ad

Does your car insurance company cover damage caused by flying lifesabers? Well this insurance company in Asia does.  In this funny commercial for a free in-car camera by DBS insurance, one just never knows what can happen to your car in a parking lot when you’re not around!  The RedlineNorth team loved the concept of this ad and the CGI work.

DeLorean NYC Taxi

Okay, this doesn’t quite qualify on a 2012 list as it was created for a student advertising competition a couple of years ago, the RedlineNorth Team thought it was worth a mention.  This NYC DeLorean Taxi is alas not real, but is a pretty cool mock up nonetheless.  Take me up to 88 mph and step on it!

delorean-cab-1 delorean-cab-3 delorean-cab-4

Source: Hypervocal

Fiat 500 Abarth

http://youtu.be/jjYxE2VD7VE

Entitle Not All Bad Boys Are Created Equal this Fiat 500 Abarth commercial features Charlie Sheen tearing around a mansion in a black Fiat 500 Abarth.  The commercial shows him wearing an ankle monitor after being sentenced to house arrest.  The video has garnered over 4 million views since it launched in March of 2012 and proves Charlie’s still got it. Fiat has been creating some very creative commercials for the Abarth recently, including this one entitled the Immigrants.

http://youtu.be/XKUrYf1z9Bg

The Bark Side

http://youtu.be/6ntDYjS0Y3w

Shown as a teaser for a longer Volkswagen 2012 Super Bowl ad, this Volkswagen commercial shows off the lyrical talents of a group of dogs barking a recognizable tune. This ad went viral and has been viewed almost 18 million times, while the longer Super Bowl commercial has been viewed over 55 million times, proving the marketing power of anything Star Wars.

http://youtu.be/R55e-uHQna0

The RedlineNorth team looks forward to seeing what the advertising agencies will come up with in 2013 and we won’t have to wait that long as the 2013 Super Bowl is just around the corner.  You can bet at least one or two automakers will be launching some new commercials during the game.

The Fiat 500 Abarth comes to North America

The 2012 FIAT 500 Abarth has finally arrived in showrooms in the US and Canada and is one more thing to get excited about as we head into the good weather.  The new 500 Abarth is designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving-purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.The 1.4L MultiAir Turbo will be rated at 170hp, that’s up from the standard European spec’d version with 135hp and even up from the optional Esseesse version with 160hp.

In Europe, Abarth is considered a separate brand—one with substantial racing heritage. The 500 Abarth benefits from this connection with a suspension that has been substantially revised from the normal car’s. New front springs are 40 percent stiffer than the regular 500’s, while the rears are 20 percent stiffer. With performance Koni shocks up front, the car sits 0.6 inch lower than a normal 500, and there’s more negative camber. The Abarth’s steering is quicker, and the front brakes grow an inch in diameter to 11.1 inches. The standard wheels are 16s, and 17s are an option.

Many of you may have seen Fiat’s Super Bowl commercial for the Abarth.

Fiat has gone a slightly different direction for its most recent commercial.  Check out their latest new “winning” ad

Not sure about you but it makes me wish I had a bigger house….