Video: 2nd Prius Commercial "MPG" Shows Up, Still Embarrassing

Prius is the car that makes you want to dance on tippy toes!

 

The "Blue Man" commercials were burned with the premature release. So now they have another commercial and though "cute," it also cuts through the typical new car commercials in a nice way.

The problem is car commercials ranging from the local dealer to most manufacturers have all followed traditional "show the metal and list the <desirable feature>" To call them boring is a severe understatement. So car manufactures try to break through the conditioned-response, jaded, commercial script.

What we need is a "Hybrid Owner's Contest" for the funniest Prius, Insight, Focus, or other hybrid commercial. Rules:

• maximum 60 seconds
• original content
• dreadfully accurate
• funny as possible
• attribution of supporting music or other materials

Bob Wilson

 

These commercials are essentially "green washing." It is a bit absurd to call a Prius, or any car for that matter, "green", as they all do damage to the earth. These commercials, though "cute", are preaching to the choir. I would prefer to see a commercial where they show the utility of the car in terms of what it can do compared to other mainstream cars - kind of like that guy a few years back who decided to see how many hay bails he could fit in his Prius.

 

I'm a 36 year old heterosexual male. I like the commercials just fine.

What did you want? Heavy metal, flames/explosions, chicks in bikinis?

I really don't see what is "embarrassing" about the commercials. In fact, I just don't get how you could be embarrassed by a commercial, other than being full of lies the way a political one can be.

 

I thought the first Prius ad was different/clever if a little cutesy, but a second is way too much cutesy and preaching. America picked up on the green aspect of the Prius a while ago, and now it's probably perceived as rubbing their noses in it, cutesy comes off as sarcastic now.

I agree with efusco, time to show some tech features and less treehugging...

 

Scene One; efusco and son are riding in conventional car. Son asks: "Dad, what is m-p-g?" Dad's response, "Tell you what, I'll give you an allowance for gas money each month and you get to keep anything left over. You will figure out from there."

Scene Two: Both in a 2010 Prius. [At this point I will hand off to the next poster to add the next lines.]

 

I am a young 60 year old lady. What makes you think that only the 20 to 40 age group wants high tech, cool, fuel efficient and eco-conscious cars? I want a Prius precisely because of those items.

 

The Baby Boomers are about 45 to 65 years old. Aren't they (ok, we) the demographic group with the largest number of potential customers?

Here's another thought. In times of economic trouble people like to escape with upbeat entertainment. This commercial provides 15 seconds of cheerfulness.

 

You mean Toyota canned the versions with the Blue Man?

Don't tell me this is true! :Cry:

If it is, it will be a real pity as its intent is to showoff 2010 gizmos in the coolest-wordless possible way.

 

Well, at least these new Prius commercials aren't any worse than that "saved by zero" campaign a few months back. THAT was horrible.

 

I like the commercials.

If I was head of marketing at Toyota, I would hire Jack Black to do some funny Prius commercials to appeal the people in their 20s and 30s though (and older people). Make it a "cool people" trend, and it will become the new Civic (popularity).

 

i like the video
nice made

 

I agree. I liked the first one (Harmony) as a "teaser" trailer, but need more meat and potatoes now. And yes, I was impressed by the sync commercials as well. Why not have the invisible driver with lane assist or parking assist engaged, with the usual "do not try this at home" disclaimer . . . some humor that engages the viewer (does anyone like to be preached at . . . especially if they essentially already agree with the message?) that shows off the features, and has some FUN with the car.

 

The Blue Man videos were never planned to be public commercials. The videos were made specifically for internal entertainment and education for our dealers.

That they didn't remain internal... well, now, that's another matter altogether. I still wonder how they got out...

Doug Coleman
Prius Product Manager
Toyota Motor Sales, USA