January 22, 2010

Infiniti Ads Show off New Global Image Plans
Nissan Motor Co.'s Infiniti brand today will break two new ads in national U.S. newspapers as the luxury marquee develops its first unified, worldwide brand image. Click here to view one of the ads. In the past, Infiniti's team in North America would develop ads and other markets could either use them or create their own, said Jon Brancheau, global marketing director since April. "You'd end up with an inconsistent strategy and look," he said. Not all markets will use the same ads, but going forward "the intent is to have one look and feel on a consistent basis," he said. Rob Schwartz, chief creative officer of Infiniti's U.S. agency, TBWA/Chiat/Day, told Automotive News the luxury brand's goal is to create a messaging platform that will stand out in the crowded advertising space and mimic great global fashion brands such as Gucci and Dior. The global client and agency team developed standards to build Infiniti's brand mythology to tell its story, create a sense of heritage, and help justify a premium price. They settled on Infiniti's craftsmanship and breathing life into the two-year-old "Inspired Performance" ad tag by laying out the "Way of Infiniti" mythology in messaging. Click here for more on Infiniti's new advertising strategy.

Toyota Recalls 2.3 Million Vehicles
Toyota issued a recall covering 2.3 million late model cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks Thursday, broadening its largest such action ever and acknowledging that potential accelerator pedal problems were deeper than previously acknowledged. The auto maker previously recalled about 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal "entrapment" caused by floor mats, according to a news release issued by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. About 1.7 million Toyota vehicles are subject to both recalls, the company said. "In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats," Toyota group Vice President Irv Miller said in a statement. In "rare instances" the accelerator pedal may stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position, he said. According to MSNBC, vehicles affected by the latest recall are: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra, and 2008-2010 Sequoia. The previous recall affected Camry and Avalon sedans, the Prius hybrid, the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks, and the luxury Lexus models IS250, IS350, and ES350. Toyota said concerned customers could call its Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. Click here for more on Toyota's latest recall due to acceleration issues.

BMW 3 Series Latest to Get New Turbo Engine
BMW's 2011 335i coupe and convertible arrive this spring with a new engine, some minor cosmetic redo, new exterior colors, and other tweaks. Click here for a photo of the coupe. Click here for a photo of the convertible. According to the New York Times, the new engine is the single twin-scroll turbo 6-cylinder found in the recent 740i and 535i Gran Turismo. The revised direct-injection engine is called the N55. It maintains the same 300-horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque as the engine in the outgoing models. The engine also adds BMW's Valvetronic variable intake technology, which the company claims minimizes turbo lag and boosts performance. BMW said the N55 engine "achieves a more favorable emissions signature than its predecessor." The current 335i coupe is rated at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway. The new 3 Series coupe will be available with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and while some new wood trims will be available for the cabin, the convertible gets the advanced option of "sun-reflective" leather, which supposedly can reduce surface temperatures on the seats by up to 36 degrees to prevent backside burns. The 328i versions will also be refreshed, with new headlamps and taillight designs, and will keep the same 230-horsepower straight-6 from the 2010 models. Click here for more on BMW's plans for its 3 Series engines.

Brown's Ride Drives Buzz Back to Pickups
According to The Detroit News, Scott Brown, the Republican state legislator who this week won the U.S. Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy, got a lot of political mileage out of his truck. The green GMC Canyon, with nearly 200,000 miles on the odometer, co-starred with Brown on the Massachusetts campaign trail and in TV ads. Click here to read AIADA Russ Darrow's take on the Massachusetts Senate race. The government has set strict new emissions standards, President Barack Obama is pushing for automakers to build 1 million plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles soon, and the government is investing billions in alternative technology. However, pickups remain among the industry's top sellers and a lucrative profit source for auto makers. Obama mocked Brown by saying: "Forget the truck. Everybody can buy a truck. I'd think long and hard about getting in that truck with Martha's opponent. It might not take you where you want to go." Brown parried by vowing to drive the pickup to Washington and said: "Let me just tell you something, Mr. President. You can criticize my record, you can talk about the positions I have, but don't ever start criticizing my truck." Click here for more on Massachusetts Senator-elect Brown's truck and its implications for the auto industry.

Emerging Markets to Drive Car Sales
Brazil, Russia, India, and China will account for more than one-third of global automotive sales within the next four years, and what car sells best will be as varied as the countries themselves. According to the Wall Street Journal, automotive sales in the "BRIC countries" are expected to grow at a rate of 3 to 15 percent a year, outstripping mature markets which will average a 2 percent rate, according to a study released Thursday by the Boston Consulting Group. Russia is expected to rebound sharply. Although auto sales there dropped by 50 percent in 2009, the market will stabilize this year and sales there will grow by 15 percent annually over the next four years. The study underscores the intensifying role Brazil, Russia, India, and China will play in the automotive industry and the need for auto makers and suppliers alike to broaden their presence in these countries. General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG along with suppliers Bosch Group and Delphi Corp. are well-positioned in the BRIC countries, according to the study. China's market will dominate the group, accounting for 61 percent of the BRIC sales volume in 2014. Click here for more on how Brazil, Russia, India, and China stand to impact the global auto market in the coming years.

Around the Web
First Drive: 2011 BMW 5-Series [TheCarConnection]
Jalopnik's $5,000 top Gear USA NBC Pilot Episode Challenge [Jalopnik]
Test Video: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour vs. 2009 Toyota Venza [Edmunds Inside Line]
Top-Selling Cars in 2009 [MSN Autos]