Volkswagen Polo Ad

image Check out this ad for the Volkswagen Polo (link may be dead) that's been going around. A suicide bomber blows himself up inside the car, but the car is so tough that it contains the explosion. Seems to push the envelope a bit too much to be an actual ad commissioned by Volkswagen, and sure enough it's not. It's a 'spec ad', created by leeanddan.com. Spec ads are 'speculative ads' created to show potential clients what kind of work you're capable of doing. In other words, Volkswagen never endorsed this material.
Update (1/20/05): The Guardian reports that they were able to track down Lee of leeanddan.com, who did indeed make the VW Polo ad. Lee says that he wasn't working for Volkswagen, but implies that he made the ad to get Volkswagen's attention. Reportedly the ad cost £40,000 to make.

Advertising Hate Crimes/Terror

Posted on Tue Jan 18, 2005


Comments

Totally not something Volkwagen would ever endorse, but I still found myself laughing. It's definitely not professional quality, though. The spot is poorly edited. Guh.
Posted by AqueousBoy  on  Tue Jan 18, 2005  at  11:53 PM
Looks like its been remoevd. If anyone has a copy, i'd love to see it...
Posted by Inphormed  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  05:10 AM
Yeah, it looks like it's gone alright. That would have been such a great ad. I think VW should think about doing it. The ability to laugh at yourself makes big companies more appealing to me
Posted by Nettie  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  07:07 AM
As someone pointed out in the comments to another post (I'm sure it was intended to be in this post) iFilm.com has this video in their "viral" section.
Posted by Matt  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  09:14 AM
I can't find the clip in iFilm's viral section because iFilm apparently doesn't support Macs. Anyone have a link?
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  10:43 AM
http://www.i-am-bored.com I think you can find it there just look around I saw it yesterday from there funny stuff.
Posted by Paraeskimo  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  03:02 PM
The ad is currently available here. (see below) Via adrants. I bet someone in Volkswagen knew about and approved this...

http://ad-rag.com/117074.php
Posted by Al  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  04:45 PM
I believe that the link in the original post is incorrect, try this:

After clicking on the link, change "VW_20_b3.mov" in the adress bar so that it reads: "VW_20_B2.mov".
Posted by ErikPSO  on  Wed Jan 19, 2005  at  04:45 PM
Man that was sick, but funny!!
Posted by Nymph  on  Thu Jan 20, 2005  at  08:39 AM
The ad glorifies suicide bombers. The insinuation is that they too are small and tough when in fact they are cowardly and vicious. If you've ever seen a photo of a blown up bus or coffe shop you'll find this ad an affront.
Posted by DANCZI  on  Tue Jan 25, 2005  at  01:06 PM
Offensive, and that's why Volkswagon is considering suing over it...

http://www.snopes.com/photos/commercials/vwpolo.asp
Posted by Carl  on  Tue Jan 25, 2005  at  01:16 PM
all over the place:
http://www.geenstijl.nl/paginas/vw.html
http://www.student.kun.nl/h.huijbers/pics/VW_20_b3.mov


and here is just a nice movie of a carprank:
http://thezam.org/kam/Videos/brakehorn.wmv
Posted by B  on  Thu Jan 27, 2005  at  02:28 AM
and another link:

http://www.boreme.com/bm/JAN05/a/vw-suicide-bomber/fr.htm
Posted by Beasjt  on  Thu Jan 27, 2005  at  02:37 AM
I can't seem to find a link that works. Does anyone have one where I can see the video?
Thanks
Posted by Glamcat  on  Thu Jan 27, 2005  at  07:47 AM
If I read this article: http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101716 correctly, Volkswagen IS suing.
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Sat Feb 05, 2005  at  05:12 PM
Damn. I Did read it wrong- they're still thinking about it. Merps. Shazbot. Klaatu, Barada, Nikto
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Sat Feb 05, 2005  at  05:15 PM
did i read it right the ad cost thousand of dollars...i just think that its really odd advertising stupid crime.. maybe try to blow out a Volkswagen Air Filter. that could something for an Ad, just maybe Volkswagen can notice it..
Posted by Correy Putton  on  Sat Jan 27, 2007  at  02:10 AM
I hope VW will not support such ad, because it would only patronize such criminal act... I wonder if someVolkswagen Accessories were damaged inside the beetle in the explosion...
Posted by Shoughun  on  Mon Jan 29, 2007  at  09:26 PM
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