Latest Toyota TV for the Auris - ‘Say Hello to Better’.

It seems they are taking their cue’s from Honda’s creatives - the voice over sounds like a British replica of Garrison Keillor!

Not only that but the line ‘say hello to better’ and overall creative direction seems to be slipping into past Honda TV territory, smacking of the ads  ’Cog’ and ‘Sparks’.

See David’s post for the new Civic TV ad - also not a million miles away!

CR

A smart piece of product placement from VW here in the form of a Beetle-shaped shark cage, tying in with the 25th anniversary of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week programming.

VW have been building buzz for weeks in the lead up to the reveal video above, and although the connection between VW and Shark Week is not immediately apparent, the intention seems to be to forge an exciting extension of their current safety-led strategy.

SW

Not to be outdone by Ford’s use of iPads in dealerships, Nissan USA are piloting Windows Kinect software in 16 outlets across the country. The technology allows for customers to explore cars, such as the 2013 Pathfinder, before physical models are available for test drive or a hands-on demo.

“The Pathfinder application using Kinect for Windows is a game changer in terms of the way we can engage with consumers,” said John Brancheau, vice president of marketing at Nissan North America. “We’re taking our marketing to the next level, creating experiences that enhance the act of discovery and generate excitement about new models before they’re even available. It’s a powerful pre-sales tool that has the potential to revolutionize the dealer experience.”

With brands embracing this kind of technology, it’s feasible that visiting a car showroom will become a much more all-round, customer-led experience based on building more of a long term relationship with the particular dealership. Alternatively, it may be an option for people to curate their own virtual showroom using kinect software, exploring all the cars on their shortlist in their own home in detail.

SW