Environmental Disaster = GM Opportunity

With BP's environmental disaster now in the past, GM has reportedly devised a way to turn oil-soaked plastic boom used by the oil giant to soak up the spilled oil into plastic resin that that will be used for under-the-hood parts in the recently released extended range electric Volt.

In a collaborative effort with various companies, Heritage Environmental, who are collecting the used boom, as well as Mobile Fluid Recovery, tasked with eliminating absorbed oil and water with a high-speed drum that spins the booms until they are dry, and Lucent Polymers making the material appropriate for plastic die-mold production, and finally GDC Inc. combining the plastic resin with other plastic compounds to make the car components. The end product is a set of parts (25 percent boom material, 25 percent recycled tires) used to deflect air around the Volt's radiator.

GM will continue to use booms until the recovery process is completed, in approximately two months. Ultimately, the company estimates that its work will result in the upcycling of 100 miles of boom from the Alabama and Louisiana coasts--and produce over 100,000 pounds of plastic resin for Volt components.

Via - Fastcompany

Nativity Story - 2010

The nativity story translated for those born during the digital age. Lots of fun and very nicely executed!

Via - Adverblog

A Safe Holiday - Mercedes Benz

A fun holiday video from Mercedes-Benz wishing everyone a safe and happy Festive Season.

Via - YouTube

Aston Martin & Premium Value-Adds

The four-door Aston Martin Rapide range has recently been updated with a "Luxe" version.

As a value-add to all the purchasers, Aston Martin not only offers a wider range of paint and interior selections, but also allow customers the opportunity to receive a custom-made leather luggage set to match your new pride and joy's interiors.

Sure to leave you in no doubt as to the meaning of traveling in style!

Via - Aston Martin

Mercedes Outside, LV Inside

In a first for Louis Vuitton, the luxury retailer has decided to lend their signature monogram to a Mercedes-Benz G Class.

Too much, surely?



Via - Trendhunter

Luxury Goods & The Irrational Brain - Research

According to a study by Henrik Hagtvedt of Boston College and Vanessa Patrick of the University of Houston to be published in the Journal of Marketing Research, customers who purchase luxury items that don't blend in with either their wardrobe or their home tend not to return these products. Instead, they buy more - usually cheaper - products to complement their new acquisitions. The cost more often than not exceeds that of the original purchase, creating a vicious cycle of consumption.

Over three years, the 125 participants' spending habits for shoes, necklaces and furniture were tracked. Participants were given high-end products from either “designer” labels or from luxury retailers that frequently clashed with their aesthetic tastes. After a period of time, subjects were offered the chance to return the products in exchange for money or to keep the product obtained through the study.

The vast majority of participants opted to keep the luxury goods instead of returning them - and also admitted to buying a host of cheaper items to complement their luxury product.

Via - FastCompany

Hyundai's New Owners Manual

Rather than just providing written information, Hyundai USA has taken advantage of the iPad's capabilties to deliver an app that demonstates to you what it's talking about.

The added advantage of presenting the manual in the form of an app - apart from the obvious value-add for the purchaser in the form of a new iPad with every purchase - is that the the app is free to download on iTunes whether you are an owner or not, thus doubling up nicely as an interactive product brochure for potential buyers too.

Via - Autoblog

Affordable Car Deserves Affordable Ad Campaign

In a novel attempt to highlight the Chevrolet Cruz's low price point, GM decided to go free-hand for the billboard execution and armed an artist with a blue marker and a blank canvas to bring the message to life.

Via - YouTube

Absolut App Driven By QR

Absolut, the premium vodka brand, has introduced a neck collar incorporating Quick Response (QR) technology, in a bid to distribute its Drinkspiration app to consumers.


Launched in 2009, Absolut Drinkspiration combines mobile technology with social media interaction and user generated content. It is an encyclopaedia of illustrated recipes that allows users to browse drink recipes or receive personalised recommendations based on a variety of preferences such as desired taste, colour, spirit, time of the day, weather, bar vibe, or what is popular.

The initial drive will see QR-tagged neck collars on 200,000 bottles of Absolut and Absolut Naturals in the UK, which will allow iPhone users to download the application instantly and free of charge just by hovering their mobiles over the code.

Via - Marketing Magazine UK

A7 Sportback - Imagination Meets Engineering

Audi UK has launched a multimillion-pound campaign named "imagination meets engineering" for the new A7 Sportback. The commercial uses a symmetrical animation to show the A7 Sportback being conceived in someone’s mind to convey that the car has been engineered just as the designers initially imagined it.

Via - Brand Republic

Hybrid On The Cheap

The 39th richest man in the world, Mikhail Prokhorov, made his billions in finance and precious metal production. The billionaire's latest venture involves spending close to $200 million in an attempt at building and selling petrol electric hybrid vehicles for the Russian market.


The two-door ë-mobile (pronounced "Yo-mobile") will source all of its parts from Russia and former Soviet Union nations, and costing approximately $10,000 when it is released in 2012.

The ultra-cheap hybrid will come standard with a loud engine, negating the need to install extra sound and noise output now required by the US for all hybrid cars for safety purposes, and will achieve a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour, with fuel efficiency said to be around 3,5 litres per 100 kilometres.

Via - Fastcompany

Volvo Fights For Clean Air

Volvo's latest campaign in the UK, “‘Fight for Your Right to Clean Air”, draws attention to the number of premature UK deaths due to poor air quality linked with fossil fuel combustion (approximately 50,000, according to the campaign).

The automaker, taking some responsibility for those deaths, is currently developing an environmental rating system which they hope to implement for every vehicle on the road. It’s also launched petitions to lobby the government, and developed an iPhone app to help you choose the most emissions-neutral car.

According to some automotive insiders, in a few years, Volvo’s cars will be topping these ratings, and the company is essentially building a framework that it’s going to excel in — in effect, seeding a need.

Via - Facebook

Revenge Of The Electric Car

Revenge of the Electric Car is an up-coming documentary that showcases key players driving the electric vehicle (EV) renaissance over the past few years.

The film features exclusive behind-the-scenes access to several large car makers as they work to change the auto industry and offer new electric car options to the general public; including General Motors, Nissan, the American start-up Tesla Motors, and an independent car converter.

Set for release in 2011, this documentary has the potential to drive the change in perception of eco-friendly alternatives for the future as An Inconvenient Truth did a few years back.

Below is the official trailer:

Via - Revenge of the Electric Car

Mini's Interactive Vending Machine

Mini's latest communication in Canada features an interactive "vending machine" billboard, which was projected onto the side of a building near Toronto's Air Canada Centre.

Cheeky and fun, the execution does well to not only interact with potential buyers of the car, but does a great job at showcasing the various models that Mini now offers to the public.

Via - YouTube

Smart Clothing By Reebok

Having experimented with apparel and footwear that aims to help athletes in every way in products such as Easytone, Reebok has announced a further partnership with flexible electronics start-up, MC10, to integrate their thin, conformable, and stretchable electronics into future versions of Reebok sportswear.

The technology would enable athletes to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, sweat pH, body impacts, and joint stress. The goal is to provide more data to athletes using embedded sensor arrays that would communicate.

The partnership hopes to bring product to market within 2 years.

Via - Technology Review

Heineken Retails Whilst Social Networking

Heineken has consolidated it's online presence on Facebook and YouTube and aims to use it's fan base of a million or so Facebook users to sell merchandise directly from the social networking site.

Over and above Heineken branded clothing and other merchandise, the brand will also encourage users to suggest what the brand should offer, making for a more immersive and collaborative experience

Heineken is current finalising plans to standardise its branding globally, too. Having altered its logo design, including moving the star to above the centre of the word 'Heineken', it is now rolling out standardised bottle and can designs to ensure consistency where ever you might be.

Via - Brand Republic Marketing

Italian Exotic Cars vs Callaway Drivers

Lamborghini and Callaway Golf have co-developed a new material to benefit both products. Both the car and the new Callaway Diablo Composite driver uses forged composite carbon to reduce weight and increase speed.

As a demonstration, the two brands have brought together a Gallardo to race a golf drive from Stuart Appleby.

Via - YouTube

Old Navy Tries iPod Touch For POS

The Old Navy chain of stores is testing a mobile retail software called “ZipCheck” in collaboration with Apple that will see the iPod as a handheld POS (Point of Sale).

Store clerks would carry the iPod Touch which will be attached to a barcode reader and credit card scanner and can print receipts wirelessly to in-store printers or to belt-mounted mini-printers that the staff can wear. This allows any customer to avoid the billing queue by simply walking up to a store employee and have them process the transaction and check out.

The future of retail might not be exclusively online after all?

Via - Fastcompany

Jag 75th Birthday Present To Themselves

Jaguar showcased their latest concept car - known as the C-X75 - at the Paris Auto Show earlier this year.

Each wheel on the concept car is currently driven an individual 145kW electric motor which are all powered by one large 19.6kWh lithium ion battery. This system delivers all wheel drive and promises to provide extra control and traction as well as intense torque (0-62 in 3.4 seconds). On a single charge, which takes 6 hours from a conventional household plug to achieve, the C-X75 can travel up to 68 miles with zero emissions.


For extended range Jaguar has equipped the supercar with two 70kW gas powered micro turbines. The turbines can used to quickly recharge the internal battery or can be used in conjunction with the battery to achieve the car's top speed of 205 mph.



Via - Cool Hunting

A7's First & Audi's Largest Billboard

Audi's latest and largest marketing campaign to date is for the 2012 A7, featuring a 10800 square feet of canvas painted with 200 cans of spray paint over 4 days.

The headline reads: "Nothing is more inspiring than a blank sheet of paper. It is the opportunity to create something unique."

Via - Audi

Wish Your Loved Ones Merry Christmas The BMW Way

Get into the Festive Spirit by pretending you are a biker, and a rockstar! Thanks BMW..

Via - BMW Motorrad International

Ford Focus To Reuse, Recycle & Reduce

In a conscious effort toward sustainable development and management of its environmental footprint, Ford has announced that it will use recycled clothing for carpet backing and sound absorption materials inside the 2012 Ford Focus, set to be on sale early next year in North America and Europe. The equivalent of two pairs of jeans will be used for each car.

Certain other Ford models will also make use of bio-based materials and non-metal recycled waste to turn into soy foam seat cushions, recycled resins for under-body systems, recycled yarns on seat covers, and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

Via - CNET

Audi On Solar Drive

Audi is planning to expand the solar panel system at its facility in Ingolstadt so that the electric vehicle's batteries may be charged using clean, renewable energy from the sun.


Audi says it will have nearly 205,000 square feet of its German manufacturing facility's roof covered with the solar cells. The company says that the new installation alone should produce enough electricity to power 180 homes.

The VW subsidiary plans to only use about one third of the electricity produced by its solar system directly at the plant, with the juice going to both charge the company's eTron vehicles and assist in the manufacture of other products. The rest of the energy will likely be fed back into the surrounding power grid.

Via - Audi

First Chevrolet Volt Available For Purchase

As a bit of added PR for the Chevrolet Volt that has entered into the production phase, GM has decided to auction off the first Volt off the production line via an online auction, with all the proceeds going to to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education initiatives in the Detroit Public Schools.

The auction started at $50000 and bidding has already reached $180000. With the winner to be announced on the 14th of December, it looks like the initiative might raise a sizeable sum to further educate tomorrow's thinkers.

GM has also shared a video on some behind the scenes on the making of the Chevrolet Volt.

Via - GM