Today is the day that Nissan releases the Tiida onto the Australian market, replacing the now retired Pulsar. To market the new 1.8 litre car Nissan have worked with advertising agency Whybin TBWA on a sexy campaign featuring Kim Cattrall, best known for her role as Samantha Jones in the television series, “Sex in the City”.
There are three spots in the Tiida campaign, each featuring Cattrall’s rapturous enjoyment of the new Nissan vehicle of pleasure. Each finishes with a voiceover: “With the powerful 1.8 litre engine, heaps of room, extra comfy seats, the new Nissan Tiida makes you feel really really really good inside.” The super includes the text, “Shift_pleasure”.
Phone Call
Cattrall’s breathless with pleasure as her mobile phone rings. She looks through her bag, which features a New York Times crossword book, to find the phone. On the line a voice asks, “Is this a bad time?” “Oh no, it’s OK… I just stopped.” “So lunch?” “I don’t think I can, honey. I’ve just had the ride of my life. Really smooth. Great look. Amazing body. And the size! I couldn’t take my eyes off of it! It was so much bigger than I expected. I’ll call you later. I’m ready to go again.” Click on the image below to play the video.
Showroom Dealer
In a showroom Cattrall is talking to a salesman. “Ah! That was amazing. Absolutely fabulous! I mean the great body and the way you moved it. Why didn’t you tell me it was so big? I just wasn’t prepared for it. You know what? I think I’m ready to go again.” She moves over to the car in the show window. “Coming?”, she calls suggestively.
Hump Driver
As Cattrall drives her Tiida through the streets she purrs with excitement, letting out exclamations of pleasure. “Mmmh! Oh yeah!” As she drives past a sign warning of a road hump she reaches a peak of enjoyment.
Credits
The Tiida Kim Cattrall campaign was developed at Whybin TBWA, Sydney, by art director Madeline Smith, copywriter Jen Speirs, agency producer Margot Ger, working with Nissan account team Roger O’Donnell, Laurelle Ese and Clare Gibbs.
The advertisements were filmed in Sydney especially for the Australian market. Whybin TBWA’s marketing plan for the Tiida identifies the focus target as a 30 something person (female skew) who leads a life balanced between settling into their career and an active and enjoyable social calendar – most likely in an established relationship but without chuldren. It’s acknowledged that the people who buy the car are a much broader group of consumers.
The commercials were directed by James Holt at Luscious International, with producer Susie Douglas and director of photography Simon Duggan.
Editor was Bernard Garry at Karl Marks.
Sound was designed by Simon Kane at Song Zu, with music by Rafael May Music.
Update, July 23, 2006
It appears as though the Australian-made Nissan Tiida ad is too racy for New Zealand tastes. The Kim Cattrall spots, introduced in Australia in February this year, were recently aired on New Zealand TV screens. After numerous complaints to Nissan and to the NZ Advertising Standards Authority, Nissan has voluntarily pulled the campaign.
I like it. The cinematography is a touch unforgiving to Kim’s wrinkles. Maybe they have done this on purpose to hook the over 40s, she still looks great. It’s a solid case of non-creative advertising speaking directly to its market using someone else’s idea. No awards here though, not really a water cooler discussion ad. It may have been if they’d dressed her as a bag lady.
Slogans for Nissan’s Tiida:
You know you want it cheap!
Have you seen my bleeder?
Ahh…ahh…ahh…ahh…AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION!!!
I’ll have what she’s having!
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*?! Ne’er!!!
Honey, with the money I’m getting to do these ads, I think I can do better!
Hey guys,
Just wondering on your thoughts on using sex in advertising for cars?
Can you think of any other were it has been done successfully of not?
K
Kerry, your comment makes no sense.
Does anyone know where you can see the “Showroom” commercial online? Thanks.
Tom
USA
You can see it at
http://www.nissan.com.au/tiida/
I thought the commercial was hilarious! While it probably wouldn’t make it past the censors here in the US, it would probably do well in Europe.
Concerning using ‘sex in advertising’ for cars, it is somewhat appropriate as many people have had sex in cars….
Much to do about nothing – great commercial – can be seen on http://www.nissan.com.au/tiida/
No one has answered Tom’s question, and I would still be interested in hearing the answer.
The links to Nissan Australia’s website that Ted and KickedJunk posted ONLY show the “Hump Driver” and “Phone Call” commercials, and do NOT show the “Showroom” commercial. According to the description above, THREE DIFFERENT commercials were made for this campaign.
So, to ask the question again…
Does anyone know where you can see the âShowroomâ? commercial online?
I’ve updated the post with a link to the Showroom ad at YouTube.
Wow. I still remember conducting the name test for Tiida in Malaysia back in 2005. And we really had a fun time teasing the name. ‘tiida’ when pronounce in Malaysia means ‘No’ and how the ad agency was trying to switch to a different pronounciation “Ty-da’. And now the ad got banned in NZ and Aussie…must be the Tiida. LMAO!
I have been watching Nissan ads for some time now and think the idea having “shift” as catch or hook line has bothered me.I have the perfect hook for their spot and whole ad campaign that is more fitting for the U.S. market. If Nissan or their ad agency would be interested I would be gald to talk to them. It would put “zoo-zoom” out of the water and they would win a cleo.The idea is alot better than a once fat man eating subway sandwiches to lose weight and that was his idea when he was in college. Subway contacted him! They can phone me at 954-472-3317 in Ft. Lauderdale,Fla.
They have nothing to lose but a little of their time.
Oh dear! Another car advert that’s not about the car.
Hello, Michael. Hello! HELLO!
These ads makes me wish I had gone back to the Mazda dealer my late father bought the Astina from in 2002 when it came time to trade her in for a Mazda 2 in 2006 instead of defecting to Nissan and getting a Tiida instead.They and I know I made a huge mistake.I traded the Sex and the City Mobile in for a Micra in 2010 by the way as I needed a more suitable work vehicle and the fact My series 1 was a Dog.