An advert that shows a suicide bomber trying and failing to use
a Volkswagen Polo as a car bomb was not authorised, Volkswagen said
yesterday. But like the best viral marketing campaigns, the clip
has spread quickly across the internet.
It shows a man dressed in combat gear getting into a Polo and
driving to a restaurant. Sitting in his car he opens his jacket,
revealing a bomb strapped to his chest. He presses a detonator, but
the Polo contains the explosion. The VW badge appears with the
slogan: "Polo. Small but tough."
Volkswagen issued a statement denying any involvement. It
appears that it was the work of viral marketing specialists known
only as Lee and Dan. They have told reporters that they never
intended the ad for public viewing.
Commenting to Brand Republic's newsletter Digital Bulletin, Dan
said: "We think the spot reflects what people see in the news
everyday, and in this instance the car is the hero that protects
innocent people from someone with very bad intentions. We're sorry
if the ad has caused any offence."
According to the New York Post, Volkswagen is planning legal
action.
