Safe Speed Forums

I've seen a TV ad for the 'new Dodge Calibre' a couple of times now.

It features cuddly toy characters passing judgement on the appearance of the Calibre.

One says: "It's neither cuddly nor wuddly". Another says: "I've just wet my pants". The ad ends with the claim: "It's anything but cute."

I'm slightly disturbed by the ad and the values that it appears to project. What IS 'anything but cute'? Aggressive? Ugly? Frightening? Tough? Intimidating?

Well, I'm thinking the advert is anything but cute. We seem to be seeing some disturbing shifts in social values.

Or am I worrying about nothing?

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I think its a great advert. Hope they do many more.

"Grab life by the horns" gets my vote.

It gives the PC brigade the finger.

Check out the american version

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WgqD47AnroQ


I don't think many people realise how tightly controlled car adverts are. MG Rover had to pull a multi million pound advertising campaign because the bill board signs had their wheels blurred indicating that is was "speeding", what b*llocks.

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Speed camera policy Kills

I think they're just trying to make the point it's a Focus-type car that looks something like an "SUV".

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Well at least it is a truthful advert - it IS "anything but cute" - it's pug-ugly!

No often you can praise a major corporate for honest advertising

Try this one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ-fyst4-7w

I don't see anything wrong in wanting to advertise a car as something other than cutesy-wutesy tree-hugger friendly, although I'm not entirely sure the Calibre is the type of vehicle I'd have chosen to launch such a style of advert - I'd be far more inclined to agree with the pant-wetting comments if it'd been something like a Viper

But in general I'm quite happy to see cars advertised as something with a bit of edge, particularly if the car actually has any edginess about it, and especially if it's done with an element of humour too. Of all the car ads being shown at the moment, the only two that spring readily to mind are this one and the Fiesta one. The Calibre one I remember because I think it's pretty good, whereas the Fiesta one I remember only because I think the idea that driving a Fiesta is even remotely similar to being snogged by a gorgeous Italian (?) woman is totally bonkers Which dealership would I be more likely to visit based on these two ads? Not the one with the blue oval above the door...

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Chris

It's going to bought by loads of 30-something mothers with serious glasses, and driven selfishly, you wait and see.

It's a sheep in wolfs clothing - and only the advertising is going to convince the buyers otherwise.

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Prof Beard is nob on.

I've seen more attractive open sores than this new Dodge.

What they actually need to convince buyers of is that it won't explode in a shower of cogs and springs as most american cars have a tendency to do when they are driven off the forecourt.

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Simon

It could be that these adverts are deliberately inviting a ban from the Advertising Standards Authority, thus resulting in acres of free publicity. No doubt some numpties will already have complained that they encourage an aggressive attitude to driving.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

It's a funny ad, but I think by "Not cute" they mean butch & aggressive.

In actual fact it's just plain ugly. And not in a good way. It looks like a cheap piece of Korean/Malaysian rubbish that's had a rebadge (even though it's not)

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“For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.” - H. L. Mencken