The Tiguan Q&A

I like the interface of the website launched in Japan by Volkswagen to promote its new Tiguan model. The car is at the center of the stage, while all around you find questions (and answers) about its characteristics. This is definitely not the usual way to present a car, it requires a bit of effort from the user and therefore more engagement.

Of course this choice has also a negative side as it might result annoying to the less intuitive and patient users. I would have rather chosen this path for a car with a younger audience (eg. Smart).

Volvo's Rush

On October 4th 2008, the Volvo Ocean Race will start off again in Alicante, Spain. Volvo, head sponsor of the global sailing event, just launched RUSH, a cool interactive film game to promote the event - and offcourse some of their Ocean Race car models.

RENAULT INAUGURATES 'RENAULT LIVE' AT TWITTER.COM

Renault on the 2008 Paris Motor Show has launched 'Renault Live', its instant messaging space on the social networking website Twitter.com. Renault_Live will publish short messages (known as 'tweets', and restricted to 140 characters in length) to relay news from the show, announce the publication of new content available exclusively on Renault's websites (the Renault brand's space on Dailymotion, renault.com, renault.fr, etc.) and keep 'Renault Live' subscribers up to

speed with what is happening on the Renault stand in real time.

This original tool is part of the trend known as 'brandstreaming' which facilitates contact between brands and internet users away from official websites. Renault's Twitter site can be found at http://twitter.com/Renault_Live (or via cell phones: m.twitter.com/renault_live)

Twitter is an on-line social networking and micro-blogging tool which permits users to keep their personal networks informed about what they are up to. It is possible to send and receive updates via the web, instant messaging or digital messaging. The special feature of these updates, known as 'tweets', is their brevity (maximum length: 140 characters) which means that Twitter sites can be updated quickly and at any time.

TWITTER stats (September 2008)

Total users: 2.9 million (source: Twitdir.com)

Total active users: 200,000/week

Total messages: 3 million/day

Renault's Twitter site: http://twitter.com/Renault_Live

Twitter's slogan: "What are you doing?"

Twitter was founded in San Francisco, California, in July 2006.

Car Buyers Motivated By 'Green'

Toyota, Honda and Chevrolet are perceived by consumers as selling the most environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient models, according to a new Eco Watch US study from Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research.

Sixty percent of respondents reported they were "extremely concerned" or "very concerned" about the environment, citing water and air pollution, global warming and energy shortages as their primary issues.

The online study of 1,000 in-market consumers, taken in September, also found:
* 58% were considering a more fuel-efficient vehicle for their next purchase. On average, they said they would be willing to spend up to $2,600 more on an environmentally friendly vehicle.
* 57% said they had changed their driving habits.
* 58% who have already changed the type of vehicle they are planning to buy said they would not go back to their former vehicle of choice even if gas prices were to drop to $1 a gallon.
* The alternative-fuel technologies they most favored were hybrid engines, hydrogen fuel cells and natural gas vehicles.
* Motorists were most skeptical of biofuel, diesel and battery-electric vehicles.

Half of respondents reported that rising gas prices were a factor in their next car decision or have made them consider vehicles that they heretofore would not have considered. And 75% said they wished there were more alternative fuel vehicles in the marketplace to choose from.

The appearance of Chevrolet right behind Toyota and Honda, names almost required in an talk about fuel-efficiency, "is proof that advertising works," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com.

"They have been hitting it so hard in their marketing," Nerad said. "And what is ironic is that a lot of that advertising centers on the Volt, which isn't even available."

Hybrids, the alternative fuel technology that has received the most attention, represent only 1.6% of new car sales in August, per CNW Marketing Research, Bandon, Ore.

New diesel models with fuel systems allowing them to meet emissions standards in all 50 states are just starting to appear from Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes. But state taxes and demand have so far kept the clean burning fuel too high in price to make it attractive to most buyers.

According to KBB's Web site, the top 10 "green" cars of 2008 are (in order): Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Smart Fortwo, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Mini Cooper, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Fit, Mercedes E320 BlueTec, Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.

New Twingo Campaign

For the launch of Twingo Sport, Renault asked Publicis to work on a European campaign that will seduce youth. It includes press and two TV spots. In these two humorous films, director Bart Timmer (Pac), showcases two situations normally embarrassing: a son discovers that his father is a drag queen and a mother learns her daughter is striptease professional. The spots conclude "Good with its time, good in its twingo" and a music by Sporto Kantes.

BMW 7 Series - Hourglass Moscow

We just found a video of the gigantic construction on the red square at moscow that marks the launch of the new BMW 7 Series. The world´s biggest hourglass in front of a famous scenery.

Enjoy!



BMW 7 Series - Hourglass Moscow - video powered by Metacafe

Subaru DC Mountain Lab 1.5 // Ken Block

For those who appreciate extreme sports, here is an amazing video featuring Subaru Official U.S. driver Ken Block, who plays with the DC Shoes snowboard team on the snowpark of the mark in New Zealand.