NISSAN JUKE
The new, integrated ad campaign for Nissan, which launches in Europe in March 2012, reflects the adrenaline junkie inside anyone who enjoys getting behind the wheel of the Juke. All we say is: don’t try any of this at home!
Image: Nissan Juke "Built to Thrill"
A 60-second television spot heads the extreme sports-themed campaign from TBWA\G1, TBWA\London and \Else, named “Built to Thrill”, which conveys the high-energy of the sporty Nissan model and features a driver’s car built around him as he performs just about every daredevil stunt known to man.
The Juke is shown being assembled by a variety of people as it skydives, jumps ramps and scuba dives before emerging out of a tunnel, set to a musical backdrop, composed by ‘The Horrors’.
The spot was shot in South Africa with most of it as live action. “We first had a guy skydive with a fake car seat strapped to his body inside which was his parachute,” explains Alasdhair Macgregor Hastie, European Creative Director, TBWA\G1.
“The guys building the car in mid air were tied to a crane hanging 100 metres above the ground and we model-made the heavier car parts in the art department. The landing scene was shot outside Cape Town and again, we used a crane to drop the car body onto the ramp, which was all real.
“We then built the stadium in post. The scene featuring the bikers is also all real and we had stuntmen jumping from bikes and hanging on to the roof of the car. The water scene was shot in a pool, with real divers. Nobody got hurt - although it aged me ten years!”
Alasdhair says the ad was “very” expensive to make, “but worth every cent.”
“Unlike all other car brands Nissan (and Infiniti) has a very talented core Marketing, Advertising team and a central agency to handle all comms for Europe, Russia, and other regions so the budgets are centralised and therefore more efficient. Instead of doing 5 different campaigns to launch a car, we only do one. Which is more cost effective and gives us access to top talent.”
The campaign also includes an art installation that aims to show off the Juke as it is being assembled using a variety of sports equipment that inspired its design. A dune buggy (originally chosen for its high arched wheel design) and a motorbike (the inspiration for the interior design and console) are combined to build a 3D image of a Juke. The car seat fabric was inspired by neoprene wet suit material, while a canoe and snowboard are also featured to appeal to the Juke’s target excitement-seeking audience.
“We originally planned to have a travelling installation and may well do so,” says Alasdhair.
“The campaign is being picked up by countries not originally interested in a Juke flight (Canada airs it at the end of March) because it is so impactful and brings a whole new perspective to Nissan and the way people see the brand. When we showed the TVC to the Nissan board, the head of Design pointed at the screen and said 'That's it, that's my car!'.”
Nissan and TBWA have also released behind the scenes footage showing how the installation was brought together. This film will also be accessible via QR codes on the outdoor and print executions of the campaign.
“The focus on human emotion plays into the new strategy,” says Ewan Veitch, President of TBWA\G1.
“Previously, communications have concentrated on the car and how it interacts with its environment. This campaign has been developed to communicate the excitement and thrill that the driver gets from a premium and high performance, yet accessible, model. ‘Built To Thrill’ celebrates both the truth of the car’s design DNA and the resultant excitement from owning and driving one.”
"Built to Thrill" will also be supported by retail, social media, digital and experiential activity.
Previous campaigns that have combined automotives and extreme sports include Chevrolet’s “Sonic Bungee Jump Launch” stunt (part of their “Let’s Do It” campaign), which literally ‘launched’ its newest, smallest car in 2011 by tying it to a bungee cord and rolling it off a ten-storey structure.
Internet users were invited to ‘push’ a brand new Sonic off the tower in Los Angeles by visiting a website and clicking on a button, with every click taking the car one step closer to the edge. After nine hours and 2.5 million hits, the car took off. It was the first digital launch of Chevrolet’s 100 year history.
Video: Nissan "Built to Thrill" by TBWA\London, TBWA\G1 and \Else
Video: Nissan "Built to Thrill" art installation, behind the scenes.
