Volkswagen Goes Home with Award

Volkswagen won the Commercial of the Year 2011 prize awarded by the US industry title Adweek.

Volkswagen won the award for a commercial they aired all the way back in February for an ad featuring the Volkswagen Passat. The commercial featured a kid dressed as Darth Vader trying to use Jedi mind tricks to control household items. The kid has little success until his dad arrives home in the family’s Passat. Using the remote start feature the dad is able to make it seem as though the kid was able to start the car using his Jedi powers, and everyone lives happily ever after.

While the ad does not go over too many of the nifty benefits of the 2011 Passat, it does indicate its family friendliness. Appealing to families looking for a car that is safe, good-looking, and convenient this commercial warms the hearts of drivers with thoughts of a new Passat.

Adweek has revealed that the ad has been a huge success for Volkswagen as well. It currently boasts 44 million YouTube views, 6.8 billion impressions worldwide and has generated more than $100 million in earned media. Not too bad for a charming commercial that reaches from sci-fi lovers to warm hearted parents.

To win this award Volkswagen not only beat out other major car companies but also other major companies such as Snickers and Google to name a few. This commercial can be put with a long list of other great Volkswagen commercials in history and without a doubt takes home the 2011 commercial of the year award.

r� L a a �OV @ Y he US industry title Adweek.

Volkswagen won the award for a commercial they aired all the way back in February for an ad featuring the Volkswagen Passat. The commercial featured a kid dressed as Darth Vader trying to use Jedi mind tricks to control household items. The kid has little success until his dad arrives home in the family’s Passat. Using the remote start feature the dad is able to make it seem as though the kid was able to start the car using his Jedi powers, and everyone lives happily ever after.

While the ad does not go over too many of the nifty benefits of the 2011 Passat, it does indicate its family friendliness. Appealing to families looking for a car that is safe, good-looking, and convenient this commercial warms the hearts of drivers with thoughts of a new Passat.

Adweek has revealed that the ad has been a huge success for Volkswagen as well. It currently boasts 44 million YouTube views, 6.8 billion impressions worldwide and has generated more than $100 million in earned media. Not too bad for a charming commercial that reaches from sci-fi lovers to warm hearted parents.

Got Electric Cars……..? Kia Does

The recent introduction of the Kia Ray EV to the Korean market may be a sign of things to come in the United States.

Kia is getting into the electric car game. Recently, the automaker unveiled their very first production electric vehicle the Kia Ray EV. The Ray will offer buyers a range of 86 miles or so, and will include a fast-charge option that will top off the cells in around 25 minutes. Otherwise, the 16.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will take about 6 hours to charge on a 220-volt circuit.

Kia is celebrating the fact that the Electric Ray shares the same production line as the gasoline version of the car, which was introduced just last month. Kia will exclusively offer the electric Ray in their domestic Korean market at first.

Actually Kia plans to produce 2500 Rays in 2012 and has already designated them for use by government officials as part of a long-term research and development program for environmentally friendly transport. There are currently 500 slow and fast charging stations in Korea, with plans to 3100 stations operating by the end of 2012.

However, although the Ray EV is only going to be available in Korea, this unveiling provides a strong hint of how many cars around the world may look in the near future. The size, power system, and other design features of the Ray EV reflect a direction that many car makers, including U.S. manufacturers, are exploring as they try to lower overall fuel consumption.

Consumers are much more conscious about the impact their car has on the environment, and car manufacturers have taken notice and started producing cars that are environment and cash friendly. The Kia Ray EV may currently only be available in Korea, but Kia along with all manufacturers are surely paying close attention American car trends.

2013 Dodge Dart to be Revealed in Detroit

Dodge has revealed plans to revive the Dart name – though not the styling of the original Dart – in an all-new 2013 sedan.

The original Dart, sold from 1960 to 1976, was one of the most-loved lines in Dodge history, evolving through a series of looks and always boasting durable and well-performing engines. The Dart was offered in a variety of versions over its lifetime, including the high-performing Dart Swinger, and offered a number of trim options that were high-tech for the time.

Although the new Dart sedan won’t offer “Convertriple” or “Hang Ten” trim package, it is likely to hold appeal with younger buyers. The 2013 Dart will rock a sporty appearance, with sharply-angled head lamps and a grille and rear spoiler similar to the Charger. This look was designed by Dodge engineers in collaboration with Dodge’s parent company, Fiat. Buyers will be able to select from three four-cylinder engines, including options from the new Tigershark line.

More information on the new Dodge Dart is expected to be released at its unveiling in Detroit next month.

2013 Ford Escape Built with Recyclables

The 2013 Ford Escape contains a number of high-quality materials to ensure safety, comfort, and aesthetics. Several of these materials are living a second life.

Ford is one of several automakers using recycled materials in cars. Plastic bottles are the most popular recyclable for vehicle manufacturing, and have been used by carmakers in upholstery, carpet, and body panels. Ford’s latest sustainability efforts are readily apparent in its 2013 Ford Escape crossover SUV.

The carpets of each 2013 Escape will contain about 25 20-ounce plastic bottles. Ford says this recycling effort will keep about 4 million bottles out of landfills every year. All of the material in the carpeting is derived from either post-consumer recycled content or post-industrial content (materials recycled from manufacturing waste).

Seat fabric in the new Escape also contains post-industrial recycled plastics. Sound-absorbing dash insulation on every Escape will contain over ten pounds of recycled cotton, from scrapped clothing. The climate control gasket is made from recycled tires, and the power undershields beneath the engine and transmission are made of 100% recycled material.

In addition to the use of recyclables, the Escape utilizes renewable materials, including soy foam in the seat cushions and headrests and plant fiber used in the door inserts.

The Escape itself is even largely recyclable. It meets the USCAR Vehicle Recycling Partnership goal by containing 85 percent recyclable materials. Ford says its recycling efforts will join its gas mileage improvement technologies to reduce Ford's carbon footprint.

Mazda CX-5 to Feature SkyActiv Technology, TomTom Navigation

Mazda announced its all-new CX-5 over the summer and recently revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Now, the manufacturer is calling the CX-5 the most significant vehicle it has launched since the Mazda 3. This compact SUV is bound to live up to its manufacturer’s expectations, from breakthrough engine design to new partnerships to better features inside the cabin.

Mazda’s new SkyActiv-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine, the engine slated for use in the 2012 Mazda3, will power CX-5. A series of similar innovations in transmission, body, and chassis design will make the CX-5 it the first model to sport the full suite of SkyActiv technologies. Via these new technologies, Mazda takes a full-body approach to building a light vehicle and optimizing internal combustion. The result provides excellent gas mileage and 155-horsepower.

Mazda engineers have designed both the interior and exterior of the vehicle to ensure a quiet, comfortable ride. Exterior design features ensure low wind buffering, and suspension tuning offers smooth travel on bumpy roads. The placement of the driver’s seat and side mirrors provide good visibility, and the cabin offers spacious seating and storage options.

The North American edition of the CX-5 will offer a TomTom navigation system, marking the extension of the current European partnership between TomTom and Mazda. It will be the first in-dash navigation system offered by the famous GPS manufacturer in the United States.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is slated for release in March, likely replacing the CX-7 by next year.