http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:58:47 -0500 Tips and Advice -- find out how to maintain, service, insure, wash and wax, and change the oil in your car with tips from TheCarConnection.com. Lifestyle/Fashion http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/tcc-feed.jpg http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039636_video-chrysler-gets-political-in-new-spots-for-300-sedan http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039636_video-chrysler-gets-political-in-new-spots-for-300-sedan Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:35:00 -0500 Chrysler has launched a new 30-second ad for its 300 sedan, and we have to say: it's pretty impressive. No, the copy's not the best on record, and the theme comes out of left field, but the clip delivers a strong emotional wallop. And best of all: it says practically nothing about the car itself. See, here's a little secret from the marketing ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039635_ford-needs-hipsters-for-its-next-fiesta-movement http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039635_ford-needs-hipsters-for-its-next-fiesta-movement Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:32:00 -0500 Just yesterday, we gave Ford high marks for its recent marketing efforts -- specifically, the "Fiesta Movement" campaign and subsequent "Retail Movement" initiative, which aims to educate dealers about social media and grassroots marketing in advance of the Fiesta's U.S. launch next summer. Not content to rest on its laurels, Ford is already ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039563_today-in-social-media-ford-dealers-the-retail-movement http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039563_today-in-social-media-ford-dealers-the-retail-movement Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:58:00 -0500 It's no secret that Ford's "Fiesta Movement" campaign has been a huge success. Though some critics found it slightly cloying and trendy, the program  made great use of web resources like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to generate brand awareness. Now the company is asking dealerships to join the "Retail Movement" in advance of the Fiesta's ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039345_ford-best-buy-sync-for-success http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039345_ford-best-buy-sync-for-success Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:21:00 -0500 Ford has been on a winning streak lately, improving vehicle quality, buffing its brand perception, and growing the company's market share. Now Ford has something new to brag about, thanks to a successful pilot program aimed to raise awareness about Ford's Sync telematics system. The program was also a win for Ford's partner in the program, ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039254_audi-ups-advertising-in-response-to-crumbling-economy http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1039254_audi-ups-advertising-in-response-to-crumbling-economy Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:01:00 -0500 In economic times like these, most companies are looking to trim expenses. Many start by scaling back their marketing budgets -- which, as anyone who's taken Marketing 101 can tell you, is a pretty bad idea. Audi, however, has gone in the other direction, with a 20% increase in advertising and plans to run spots during the Super Bowl. The ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038861_today-in-social-media-the-toyota-4runner-you-in-campaign http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038861_today-in-social-media-the-toyota-4runner-you-in-campaign Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:40:00 -0500 Social media is the bold, new frontier of marketing: terra incognita, Wild West, Deep Space. Sites and services like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Flickr allow advertisers to reach huge numbers of people at minimum cost and maximum speed; all companies have to do is post videos or photos of a product, make sure the right people see them ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038857_marketing-wtf-smart-little-debbie-give-away-a-fortwo http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038857_marketing-wtf-smart-little-debbie-give-away-a-fortwo Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:42:00 -0500 To be successful at marketing, companies have to shill their products in a variety of ways: on TV, in print, via editorial coverage, and so on. Partnerships with other companies and organizations can be a great way to generate awareness, too -- remember when Oprah Winfrey gave away those sweet Pontiac G6s? Even though Pontiac lost money by ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038644_adwatch-mini-cooper-convertible-spot-touts-protection http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038644_adwatch-mini-cooper-convertible-spot-touts-protection Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:59:00 -0500 Let's face it: MINIs have a lot of curb appeal, but the company's advertising campaigns frequently come up short. A new spot for the MINI Cooper Convertible proves that point beautifully. Compared to yesterday's ad featuring the Alfa Romeo MiTo, this clip feels clunky and under-rehearsed -- although the potentially clichéd punchline somehow ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038626_bmw-automotive-partner-of-2012-olympic-paralympic-games http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038626_bmw-automotive-partner-of-2012-olympic-paralympic-games Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:03:00 -0500 BMW has been given a fairly impressive international branding opportunity: the company was just announced as the automotive partner of London 2012, which includes the upcoming Olympic games and Paralympic games. As part of the arrangement, BMW will provide roughly 4,000 vehicles to move athletes, officials, and others around the city during ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038566_adwatch-alfa-romeo-mito-video-is-simple-clever-jeans-free http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038566_adwatch-alfa-romeo-mito-video-is-simple-clever-jeans-free Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0500 Last time we heard from Alfa Romeo, we wondered what new drugs had found their way to Europe. (Seriously, that genes/jeans campaign from London's Performance PR was terrible.) The latest ad for the Alfa Romeo MiTo comes from Milan's Fabbrica Virali agency, and it's equally bizarre -- but in a totally good way. The spot features Mozart's ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038253_wtf-adwatch-chinese-print-ad-for-the-volkswagen-gti http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038253_wtf-adwatch-chinese-print-ad-for-the-volkswagen-gti Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:12:00 -0500 We're not entirely sure that this Chinese print ad for the Volkswagen GTI is for real -- and if it is, we're even less sure what it might be saying. The copy along the bottom translates as "It will go fast". That could mean "It will go so fast that you'll spill all that hot, delicious coffee from McDonald's right in your lap". Or it could ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038133_adwatch-mercedes-benz-e-class-estate-ad-goes-off-track http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038133_adwatch-mercedes-benz-e-class-estate-ad-goes-off-track Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:10:00 -0500 There are lots of things you could say about Mercedes-Benz's new ad for the E-Class Estate. The first thoughts to cross our minds were, "Wow, that's a nice slot-car track" and "Wow, that voiceover is a great example of German efficiency -- but not in the good way". Sadly, the one thing none of us thought was, "Oh, this is a car commercial". ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038084_chryslers-new-marketing-plan-aims-for-refinement-machismo http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038084_chryslers-new-marketing-plan-aims-for-refinement-machismo Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:27:00 -0500 Since emerging from bankruptcy nearly five months ago, Chrysler's been fairly quiet on the marketing front -- which may explain why the automaker's sales are so deep in the tank. (October 09 rang in 28% below October 08.) But a new $1.4 billion ad campaign aims to revive and refresh Chrysler's marques over the coming calendar year: Dodge will ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037886_adwatch-do-smarts-new-ads-look-better-than-its-cars http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037886_adwatch-do-smarts-new-ads-look-better-than-its-cars Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:17:00 -0500 The Smart ForTwo is impossible to ignore. It inspires adoration (because it's cute and convenient for city-dwellers) or antipathy (because it's ugly, cramped, expensive, and not nearly as green you'd think), but little in-between. That said, Smart's new print campaign designed by BBDO NY is awfully attractive -- possibly more attractive than ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037708_rumor-jeep-to-be-the-only-chrysler-brand-sold-overseas http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1037708_rumor-jeep-to-be-the-only-chrysler-brand-sold-overseas Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:33:00 -0500 Tomorrow marks the big unveiling of Chrysler's five-year recovery plan. There's been a lot of speculation about the company's new strategy, and now comes a bit more: sources familiar with the recovery document say that CEO Sergio Marchionne will scrap plans to sell most Chrysler brands outside North America. The sole exception? Jeep, which ..]]>