Mini Club Man goes Viral

Fake viral makes it real!

Citroën allows Internet users to discover the C3 thanks to an Augmented Reality brochure. A premiere ! (France)

Citroën recently offered the possibility to drive a reduced model, with the first Augmented Reality iPhone application (combination of real-world and computer-generated data). For the launch of the last C3 model, the manufacturer introduced a new experience: discover the vehicle through a Reality Augmented brochure on the C3picasso.com website. The brochure contains 3 interactive pages that allows to discover the C3 Picasso in 3D. To be able to enjoy, some preparation is required: print the 3 pages of the catalogue in colour, download and launch the C3Picasso.exe program, then place the printed pages in front of the Webcam. The last page of the brochure offers the possibility to modify the body colour of the car in real-time. A making-of was made, presenting the modelling work of the 3D and the Reality Augmented experience. The website was made in full Flash. Besides this experience, the visitor can go through the different virtual rooms of a very high-tech house, discover the different universes of the vehicle in each room with a convenient 360° view, take a shower of colours in the bathroom and discover the events on the terrace.

The Peugeot WebTV is a success, with 2 Million advertising videos watched during the last 12 months! (France)

Last March, the Peugeot WebTV celebrated its first anniversary with stunning results: 2 Million videos watched since its creation, and a satisfaction rate of 70%. And to meet Internet users’ demand eager for sharing their passion for automobile, the Lion brand did not hesitate to create a new 2.0 version online (accessible through tv-fr.peugeot.com). Available, are an optimized high quality viewing and browsing as well as a section meant for current affairs, design, models and innovation. Even better, the brand has created a sports channel and an events channel that will broadcast the brand’s highlights during the 24H du Mans, and international fairs throughout the year. Peugeot’s WebTV was launched in March 2008. It offers Internet users the possibility of downloading the brand’s commercials to their own website or their community blog.
Hence, it is a mean for Peugeot to ensure repercussions at a low cost for videos with a significant spread potential. The spots are available via 4 channels: “Current Affairs”, “Products”, “Design” and “BlueLion” (spots on the brand’s environmental progress).

"SELLSUMERS" If saving is the New Spending, then Selling is the New Saving

A recession-induced need for cash, and an ever-growing infrastructure enabling individuals to act as (part-time) entrepreneurs, are fueling concepts that help ordinary consumers make money instead of just spending it.

Whether it’s selling their insights to corporations, hawking their creative output to fellow consumers, or renting out unused assets, consumers will increasingly become SELLSUMERS, too. Made possible by the online revolution’s great democratization of demand and supply, and further fueled by a global recession that leaves consumers strapped for cash, the SELLSUMERS phenomenon is yet another manifestation of the mega-trend that is 'consumer participation'.

Controlling a Car With an iPod Touch

A project from Geekmyride.org gives new meaning to the term “remote controlled car”. Using a web server connected to an Arduino setup, an Australian man has turned his iPod Touch into a remote control for his Mazda RX-8. With a simple touch interface, he can now turn the engine on and off, lock and unlock all doors, display engine parameters and show the car’s current location on Google Maps. This tricked out car also acts as a mobile 3G broadband hub where authorized users can access the Internet. And if the owner ever forgets his iPod (or keys), it’s not a problem. He has an RFID chip embedded in his left arm that will unlock the car if he comes near it. Watch the RX-8 in action below.

PUMA: Two Wheeled Personal Urban Transportation

Project PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) is a new joint venture between General Motors and Segway. They’ve created a two-wheeled electric vehicle designed for urban use, that can get up to 35 mph, and supposedly gets 35 miles from a single charge. Kind of cool, no doubt - but wouldn’t a bike be a better, less complicated solution for urban transport? The PUMA will be shown at the New York Auto Show this week

Ikea Leko is Car Sharing not Car Making

Fast Company reported today that the mysterious cloth draped car called the ‘Ikea Leko’ is actually a car sharing program in conjunction with Comuto, the French ride-sharing company behind Covoiturage.fr, for 26 IKEA locations in France. The service will be similar to the Ikea/zipcar program in the US pictured above.
While we’re bummed that the reveal won’t be either a real car or a clever April fools internet hoax, it is nice to see the retailer expanding this service to more locations.