It seems that sometimes advertising scrapes the bottom of the barrel for ideas.  We are getting better at ignoring the desperate lengths some companies go in order to ‘inspire’ us. That is one word that is gold to advertisers. Inspire. Products are so much more exciting when they are ‘inspired’ by something. Toyota have taken this advertising angle and driven it (pun intended) to new levels of absurdity.

Let’s first look at the ‘F1-Inspired Hilux Concept’ recently unveiled in the UK.

It’s difficult to tell but the F1 car is on the left. The similarity, however, is uncanny - what with the red and white paint… and four wheels… and Toyota badge?

Don’t think that the Toyota advertisers stopped there.  They obviously went to the engineers and got a thorough insight into the inspiration for their entire product line.  They then discarded the truth of “we just based it on last years model” and came up with something more exciting.

Here are (apparently) the three biggest influences on the design of the new Toyota Aurion according to their TV ads:

1. The 3rd fin (Thruster) on a surfboard.

 “Like Thruster, we’ve combined control and power for better performance”
Good to know for next time you are surfing your Aurion at Byron.

 2. Big Bertha Golf Club

 “Like Bertha, we added more power without using any more energy”
Like Bertha we achieved this by making the Aurion big, chunky and ugly.

3. The “Superbike” (actually bicycle and not that super)

“Like the Superbike, our improved efficiency means far better performance”
We did this by installing pedals for the occupants to use.

The funny thing about these “inspirations” is that I can’t quite see it in the Aurion?  Maybe they will make it more obvious in the 2009 model - of which I have managed to score an exclusive picture: 

See the colour of the umbrella?  You know what that means - this model is “F1-inspired”!!!!  Oh, what a feeling. Toyota.

you know at least it’s not a straight rip-off of thee 2008 model - there’s no thruster!

That is hilarious!

Loving the new posts, however I see you have directed your puns towards my current favorite car. The F1 inspired Aurion TRD.
Come to think of I believe Honda said the same thing about my Integra, and that was lacking a certain F1-ness about it.

_B