Chrysler Group's New SRT8 Video Works Visually but not Aurally

We all like watching powerful cars drifting slideways and burning rubber and fortunately, we get plenty of that in the Chrysler Group's new SRT video starring the 2012MY SRT8 versions of the Chrysler 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Challenger and Charger.

But (there's always a but, isn't there?) while there's no doubt that the clip is visually stimulating, it completely misses the point when it comes to making our ears happy. Watch the video after the break and you'll see/hear what we mean.

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VW Releases New Beetle Apple App that Interacts with Billboards

Mobile apps are becoming increasingly popular these days as tools to market products and services. This has not escaped the attention of automakers and their respective advertising and marketing divisions, which try to create apps to draw the attention of consumers.

Following the recently launched FT-86 app by Toyota, Volkswagen of Canada has also released its own interactive app to promote the new 2012 Beetle named "VWJuicedUp".

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Hyundai to Introduce Commercials Tailor-Made for the Super Bowl

If there is one televised event in the U.S. that attracts record audiences, it is the Super Bowl. So it comes to no surprise that companies with an aggressive advertising campaign deem it worthy to pay a lot of cash (as much as US$3.0 million in 2011 and $3.5 million in 2012) for some air time during the game.

So far, Hyundai has followed a simple strategy when it came to its Super Bowl commercials: see what ads it has for upcoming models and debut them during the game.

But now, the Korean automaker, which has made quite an impact on the U.S. market with its new models, has decided to change its game: it wants to make commercials that are tailor-made for the Super Bowl.

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"Sporting Passion" Theme Takes Center Role in BMW's Campaign for the New 3-Series Sedan

The next generation of the BMW Group's most important volume model, the brand-new 3-Series sedan, made its world premiere in Munich a fortnight ago ahead of its global sales launch in February of 2012.

Today, the Bavarian automaker announced the first details on the ad campaign for the new premium saloon that makes its debut online through BMW's websites and Facebook pages with print media and TV to follow at the beginning of February.

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Ad Watch: Chevrolet Remembers the Past in the Present

The festivities for the Chevrolet brand's 100th birthday on November 3 continue with a new 60-second spot titled "Then & Now". The advert fuses the past and the present by holding vintage pictures of numerous Chevrolet models over the same locations today.

The automaker notes that the commercial "depicts how we remain connected to the iconic moments, locations, and Chevy vehicles as if those moments were with us right here, right now".

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Ad Watch: Oh Japan…Up Garage Auto Parts Commercial is...Uplifting

Among a whole lot of other things, Japan is known for its corny and sometimes bordering-weird commercials (and let's not forget, reality TV shows and games).

These two local adverts from Japan's aftermarket specialist Up Garage will probably make you wonder, "What the heck did I just watch and why am I so wired to look at the second clip?"

Hit the break for a strong dose of Japanese commercials....

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NBA Star Blake Griffin Returns for New Kia Optima Slam Dunk TV Spot

Los Angeles Clippers forward and 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin made headlines at February's NBA Slam Dunk Contest when he leaped over a parked Kia Optima and performed an impressive slam-dunk after an alley-oop pass through the car's open sunroof from Baron Davis.

Apparently, Kia was equally impressed as the South Korean automaker signed up the 22-year old player for a new commercial staring – what else- the latest Optima sedan.

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Toyota's Airs New "It's Ready. Are You?" Campaign for the 2012 Camry

After a first round of internet spots that coincided with the unveiling of the new 2012 Camry sedan, Toyota is ready for the official launch of its marketing campaign named "It's Ready. Are You?", which was created by the firm's advertising agency of choice, Saatchi & Saatchi LA.

Toyota's new campaign focuses on the performance, safety, fuel economy and technological aspects of the seventh generation of the Camry, highlighting key product features and packaging such as the Entune infotainment system.

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Japanese Engineers Envy Manza Sedan in New Tata Commercial

In one of those funny but not so funny commercials, India's Tata Motors takes a humorous stab at its Japanese competition with a new ad for the Mazda Mazna small sedan.

Tata's latest TV spot takes off from where we first saw fictional Japanese engineer Tanuka San trying out the Manza saloon as he travels to India along with his goofy sidekick to supposedly discover why customers are buying the sedan model.

See both ads for yourself in the videos after the break.

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Stephen King, Are you Listening? Mitsubishi Plans to Drop 1,000 MiEVs to Illinois Town

While some carmakers are trying to endorse pure-electric vehicles as being different and new, others like Mitsubishi are taking a different approach promoting them as the "new normal".

That's the name of Mitsubishi's latest marketing campaign, which will see the Japanese auto manufacturer flooding a quiet Midwest town called –wait for it- Normal with 1,000 MiEV electric cars.

In addition, Mitsubishi will help install a high-tech EV charging infrastructure comprising of 30 ultra-fast Level 3 quick charge "refueling" stations spread across the town.

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When Awesome Meets Stupid: Jump Roping with a Car

This is a hilariously stupid and awesome at the same time video clip of two men playing jump rope or rather jump chain with a…car.

The short film was created for the American clothing brand Original Penguin as part of a new campaign to promote the history of the company that has its roots in the 1950s.

While we can't be absolutely positive, the two additional videos provided by Original Penguin suggest that the stunt with the car's hydraulics is real. You can watch all three clips for yourself right after the break.

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Fiat Debuts New Jennifer Lopez Ad Featuring…the 500 Cabrio

The North American division of Fiat has launched its second commercial about Jennifer Lopez featuring the new 500 Cabrio. And no, we're not the ones to get it wrong here but Fiat's advertising agency which seems to have got its priorities confused.

While we get to see more of the Fiat 500 Cabrio than the first online ad with J. Lo, the commercial, title "My World" continues to focus on the "actress, entertainer, philanthropist and entrepreneur" with her song "Until it beats no more" playing on the background.

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New Raunchy Volkswagen Passat Ad shows us the "Naked Truth"

Volkswagen is trying its best to associate the new U.S. built 2012 Passat with both the big (cinema) and small (television) screen.

Following up on its mini Darth Vader parody, das Germans have now joined forces with FX and its sitcom, "The League", for a sketch-like ad called "Win At All Costs: Naked Truth".

The spot, which is more than two minutes long, shows Stephen Rannazzisi as Kevin and Katie Aselton as Jenny playing out a humorous sketch about winning and losing bets. Hit the jump to check it out.

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Jeep Announces New Ad Campaign for Italy

Jeep is one of the two mainstream brands within the Fiat Group – Chrysler LLC alliance (the other one being Alfa Romeo) that are destined to play a major global role in the company's growth plans for the future.

To mark Jeep's renewed lineup in Italy, the automaker is launching a new TV campaign under the tagline "Don’t' adapt to conventions". The first spot is named "Never Adapt" and it will begin airing on Italian television channels on Sunday, October 9.

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2012 Honda Pilot Commercial Taps on Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train Song

The Honda Pilot is not exactly the kind of vehicle you would associate with a rock icon like Ozzy Osbourne, nevertheless, the Japanese automaker has used of one his most well-known songs in a commercial for the mildly updated crossover.

The "Road Trip" ad for the 2012MY Pilot shows two grownups at the front and six kids at the back attempting to sing Ozzy Osbourne's 1980 debut solo single, "Crazy Train", a capella.

We're not sure the ad works but you can check it out for yourself after the break and tell us what you think.

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Time-Waster of the Day: Nissan Europe Launches New 3D Juke Site

The Juke has seen its fair share of publicity, mostly due to its unusual shape and the fact that it is Nissan’s first entry in the small crossover segment. The most recent stunt is the announcement on the development of the Juke-R with modified GT-R underpinnings.

Now Nissan has moved on to another fantasy realm: not the “what if” 530HP Juke prototype, but the virtual one. Its European division has launched Stage JUK3D, an online module that promises to give its users “an incredibly immersive experience of discovering and driving” the carmaker’s small crossover.

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Video: The Making of Toyota's Prius Family People Person TV Spot

Where some see Toyota's "Prius Family People Person" commercial as the creepy stuff children's nightmares are made of, others see a piece of creative marketing.

After the wide release of the TV spot, Toyota published a behind-the-scenes video to show us how the advertising agency managed to create a 17-foot tall person and the surrounding areas seen in the commercial.

Regardless of what you think about the ad, it's definitely worth a look. Check it out for yourself in the video after the break.

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Magnifico! Ferrari Brings F40 and 599 GTB Together for a Whimsical Duel

From time to time, automakers manage to overcome their crippling fear of being creative and actually produce something that's original and interesting for viewers. The video you're about to see is one such rare example.

Titled "Duel for the Crown – Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano", the short video, which is close to 4 minutes-long, shows Maranello's modern V12-powered gran turismo going up against the classic and still beautiful F40 that was built in limited numbers from 1987 to 1992.

Hop over the break to enjoy the clip and don't forget to power up the volume of your speakers...

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Cadillac Challenges Mercedes-Benz by Pitting the Escalade Against the C-Class [Video]

We think most of you will agree with us when we say that, for the same reasons the Cadillac Escalade is extremely profitable, it also doesn't quite fit the brand's current image being sort of a throwback to the glory days of the classic American cruiserships.

But this didn't stop General Motors from raising the ante in yet another provocative commercial for Cadillac that follows the CTS-V spot featuring the Ferrari 458 Italia.

This time, the General took the Escalade and pointed its ammo towards Mercedes-Benz and its C-Class sedan. The video spot shows the big Caddy V8 beating the C300 on a straight line duel, and then…hauling back the Merc.

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Toyota Design Boss Says "Pump That Up," But the Company's Ads Say, "It’s a Car"

As we reported earlier this week, raffish-haired Akihiro Dezi Nagaya, Toyota’s global design chief, plans to implement a more aggressive design theme for the brand. “We have eliminated emotion. We need to pump that up” he said in an interview at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Changing Toyota’s “quiet and non-offensive” image won’t be easy. Nagaya will be faced with challenges both from within Toyota, a company known for consensus-driven conservatism, and with the brand's consumer base. Nagaya recognizes that Camry buyers, for example, “don't want something too aggressive.”

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