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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.

Carburetor maker Weber celebrates 90th birthday

Weber -- one the great names in automotive carburetion -- has just turned 90. The company was founded by Edoardo Weber in Bologna, Italy in December 1923. In 1920, Weber got his start producing kerosene conversion kits for Fiat trucks (gasoline being relatively expensive in Italy at the time).

Guy Ritchie wrecks Top Gear Cars

Guy Richie wrecks four Top Gear Cars in SIARPC There have been one or two ‘Stars in a reasonably priced car’ who seem intent on wrecking the Top Gear car. Most of those have been our Colonial cousins who don’t understand the concept of using your left foot to change gear, nor do they seem to understand that you also need to use your left hand in sync with your left foot to do so. We shouldn’t mock the afflicted – no discrimination at Cars UK.