03-04 Saab 9-3 Convertible Drivers Side Door 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.

MINI Goodwood ‘Rolls Royce’ range to grow

the MINI Goodwood range is going to grow We finally got the MINI by Rolls Royce – The MINI Inspired by Goodwood – at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show, although it had been on the cards for a couple of years. ‘Inspired by Goodwood’ is a bit less blatant than ‘MINI Rolls Royce’, but it still reflects the prestige and craftsmanship associated with Rolls Royce, as these days Rolls Royce are put together on the Goodwood Estate. When MINI officially revealed the Goodwood, they said they would be building just 1,000 cars, based on the MINI Copper S, but with a non-vented bonnet and custom alloys, burr walnut and cornsilk leather.

China’s Hong Qi State Limo twice the price of RR Ghost

FAW's Hong Qi Limo - a snip at £720k It would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, but this week China has seen the reveal of two cars that would stretch even the finances of a Western plutocrat. The Hong Qi State Limo is a behemoth of a car designed to ferry China’s elite in safety and comfort. It was used in China’s recent 2009 ‘Review of the Troops’ to chauffeur Chairman Hu.