Results filed under: “diesel”

jesse
@ September 21, 2009


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The spot: A man is jostled on a crowded city bus. Another man peddles his bicycle in a suit through the driving rain, wiping the dampness out of his eyes and swerving to and fro. A third man, strapped into a helmet, navigates a Segway - a Segway! - through a crowded street. "Many people are trying to do their part," intones the announcer. Then, we see an old station wagon chugging up a mountain road, with a gleaming white car speeding along up behind it. As the white beast tears past the wagon, we get a push in on the wagon's bumper sticker: "Powered by Vegetable Oil." The announcer tells us, "Some just have more fun doing it," as the powerful Audi races by. On screen text informs us that this is the new Audi A3 TDI, which gets 42 mpg and produces 30% fewer emissions. Cut to a screen with the text, "Diesel: its no longer a dirty word. TDI Clean Diesel."

 

This commercial is a close cousin to this BMW spot that ran last year. In that ad, alternative modes of transportation were similarly derided (there, the driving force was high gas prices instead of environmentalism). In each spot, riding a bicycle, or a bus, or some other form of motorized transportation (a scooter in the BMW spot, a Segway in the Audi one) are shown as being either depressing, difficult, or uncool.

Come on, a Segway? And he's wearing a helmet!

But aren't the environmentally responsible people who are riding the bus the target audience for fuel efficient vehicles? Why is Audi insulting their market like this? The answer becomes immediately clear; the underlying assumption is incorrect. The environmentally responsible - the people who are already 'doing their part' according to Audi  - are not the target audience.

The rest of the world is. People who want to "be green" because its the latest trend, but don't want to make even the slightest sacrifice to their own personal comfort are the target audience. Look, Audi is saying. We understand. You don't want to ride a bike to work. What if it rains? And the bus is filled with minorities! Buy our car, and you can ease your environmental guilt. We get 42 miles per gallon, and 30% fewer emissions. 30% fewer than what? Like you actually give a fuck. If you did, you'd already be taking your bike, which gets infinity miles to the gallon, and has 100% fewer emissions than everything.

This is the same audience that watches the Planet Green channel. Environmentalism as just a different expression of conspicuous consumption. Now you don't buy an Audi or a BMW to say, "Look how much money I have, look how awesome I am," you can buy one to say, "Look how GREEN I am."

The relationship between bike commuters, mass transit riders and motorists does not have to be antagonistic. Unless you live in New York City, you probably own a car, even if you commute to work by bike or bus. When you do need to use it, it would be better if it was more fuel efficient.

If I may make a humble suggestion to future green automobile advertisers: please watch those Dos Equis commercials with the Most Interesting Man In The World. "I don't always drink beer. But when I do, I prefer Dos Equis."

How about, "I don't always drive my car. But when I do, I prefer Audi Clean Diesel."


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