Say what you will about the decline and fall of the French auto manufacturer’s expedition in the American market, but I for one miss the unique flavor (“Mmmm … rusty …”) that Peugeot and AMC-Renault brought to our shores. Of course, if you’ve been around the block, you’re already familiar with their, uh, avant-garde advertising style. This UK ad for the Peugeot 405 will get you up to speed if you’re not.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8GHiY6jmR8[/youtube]
Let’s see if I understand this right. You are driving your 405 towards the scene of a horrific wildfire. Suddenly, the epic chords of Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” begin wafting, as the field begins to explode and the conflagration spreads. Meanwhile, instead of wondering why the ENTIRE AREA YOU’RE DRIVING THROUGH IS BLAZING, you lazily cruise on by, occasionally rowing through the gears with a Rolex-glossed arm. Eventually, you park the car in the smoldering detritus, while the announcer notices that a Peugeot 405 will certainly “take your breath away.” If you’ve come to a stop because you’ve been asphyxiated by the wildfire that surrounded you, this might be literally true.
What’s the message Peugeot was trying to send? That casual arsonists love the 405 Mi16’s getaway capabilities? That huge wildfires are cooler when you’re rocking a French car? I’m not sure, but I will say this: I miss the French.
Youtube
Take My Fire Extinguisher Away: Peugeot 405 Gets this Ad Hot 'n Heavy
By Alex Kierstein
Dec 1, 2009
Eric Trytko 
Kamil Kaluski
Maybe they were planning on using this same ad in California. Only, they were about 15 years too early. Oh, Peugeot, you always were ahead of your time.
Now I want BBQ.
Wow! One of our comrades shared this ad with me a few weeks ago when we were discussing the feasibility of purchasing a 405… I quite liked it, in a cheesy way. Glad to see it getting its due.
I know it's just a sort of average mid-sized sedan, but I still really want one of these. Although, I'm sure the running costs would take my breath away.
I was going to say that. I'd like to see how blistered the paint was on the car used in this commercial.
The fireballs were nifty. Someone had fun blowing up buckets of gasoline on cue. In the Army we called them fougasses. Kind of a neat word, fougasse.
They have very strict truth in advertising rules in the UK. The message is clear – buy a French car and you'll get burned.
I just got an email from Peugeot's UK marketing department, with an attached video that explains their position on this commercial.
[youtube WHwMtFERcQY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHwMtFERcQY youtube]
I just got an email from Peugeot's UK marketing department, with an attached video that explains their position on this commercial.
[youtube 2a2SS0zqmzk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a2SS0zqmzk youtube]
I just got an email from Peugeot's UK marketing department, with an attached video that explains their position on this commercial.
[youtube 2a2SS0zqmzk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a2SS0zqmzk youtube]
As the wise Davey G. Johnson once said, the French are leaders in ashtray technology.
I was going to say that. I'd like to see how blistered the paint was on the car used in this commercial.
The fireballs were nifty. Someone had fun blowing up buckets of gasoline on cue. In the Army we called them fougasses. Kind of a neat word, fougasse.
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