Six car ads that are truly out of this world
When we said we wanted more space from our cars, we didn't mean outer space...The world’s fascination with space and interplanetary exploration began hundreds of millennia ago when stars were guiding markers for travellers, could predict the future and found to even control the oceans. Today, the space race has become more commercial, literally. Our screens have shown many depictions of space, planets and even aliens helping some of planet Earth’s biggest car brands reach for the stars and create TV ads accordingly. We’ve scoured the depths of the internet to bring you a list of six car ads that are truly out of this world.
Toyota Camry
The ‘90s was a unique time for Australian TV ads which we have covered off previously. This Toyota Camry ad is no exception, employing the use of a spaceship to promote that the new Camry V6 is the most powerful quad-cam production engine on Earth. Does strapping a family sedan to the outside of a rocket and blasting into space sell cars? In Toyota’s case yes, as this was the start of Australia’s love affair with their family sedan.
Holden Apollo
If you’ve named your car after one of the most important and scientifically significant rocket launches ever, you really should have an astronaut promote it right? That was Holden’s plan with their Apollo sedan. Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin stared in this ad speaking about the Apollo project and somehow connecting it to the car. Funnily enough, the Holden Apollo was a rebadged Toyota Camry, similar to the one they blasted into space.
Holden Camira
Holden’s fascination with the extra-terrestrial can be traced back to the early ‘80s when they claimed their Holden Camira medium sedan was a supercar that was "energy in its newest and most efficient form". The ad would have definitely turned heads in its day, mimicking the magic of the Tron film that had been released earlier that year and using UFO-shaped graphics, lasers, 3D graphics and Space Invaders sounds throughout the ad.
Holden Crewman Cross 8
Again, another Holden (RIP) ad makes the list of space-related commercials. This time instead of getting an astronaut to talk about it, or some computer graphics to simulate it, they actually took us there! Okay, it’s still computer-generated graphics but at least they drove on Mars. The short-lived Holden Crewman Cross 8 ute goes so far off the beaten track that the family end up boating on a lake on Mars. Believable, no. Impressive, yes.
Find your own intergalactic Holden Crewman Cross 8 on carsales
Tesla Model S
So Tesla has actually sent a car into space which in itself would have made an awesome ad. But instead, they made a really lovely ad featuring the Model S which makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. A little kid is imagining he is in a space ship and uses the spaceship-like Tesla to bring his imagination to life.
Volkswagen Passat
Okay, so not technically ‘real’ space, but this Volkswagen Passat ad featuring a mini Star Wars fan and the iconic tune of The Imperial March was a must for this listicle. The ad premiered during the 2011 Super Bowl in the US to a massive crowd and captured the nation and the world’s hearts with the mini Darth Vader trying to use the force on objects around the house, including the washing machine, clothes dryer, the family dog and a doll. After he is unsuccessful in those attempts, he is startled to discover that he can start the car.
Find your own intergalactic Volkswagen Passat on carsales
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