Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Hyundai Suicide ‘Advert’ causes a rumpus

It’s not easy advertising your wares and finding the right balance between mainstream and innovative to capture attention, as Hyundai has found out to their cost with an ‘advert’ for the hydrogen powered ix35 FCEV which, rather distastefully, depicts a man trying to commit suicide by running a hose from the tailpipe to the cabin before realising he can’t achieve his aim as the FCEV’s only emissions are water. It’s a proper cock-up from Hyundai – usually so sure-footed with their PR – but, despite Hyundai US putting the blame at the door of Hyundai UK, there’s more to this suicide ‘advert’ than meets the eye. It seems the suicide video was put together by Innocean – a European Ad Agency owned by Hyundai’s Chairman Chung Mong-koo and his daughter, and responsible for much of Hyundai’s marketing output – and was a clumsy attempt to gauge reaction to the somewhat macabre take on the benefits of an FCEV.

Suzuki Swift S-CONCEPT Hot-Hatch at Geneva

Suzuki Swift S-CONCEPT Suzuki ended up giving us a bit of detail on the 2011 Swift back in June last year. But their hand had been forced by a leak of photos, so they dribbled out that bit more than the leak did to negate its impact. But by September Suzuki were ready to reveal the all-new, 2011 Suzuki Swift.

Chrysler, VW, Kia and Toyota set March sales pace

U.S. light-vehicle sales--aided by Chrysler Group, Volkswagen Group, Hyundai-Kia and Toyota Motor Corp.--rose 13 percent in March to 1.4 million units, with demand for smaller, fuel-efficient models, redesigned vehicles and pickups driving the gains. Even with gasoline prices exceeding $4 a gallon in many parts of the country, the seasonally adjusted sales rate for March hit 14.4 million units.