Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year!

We would like to wish all our readers, clients, supporters, friends & fans a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

(Opel photos borrowed here: Martin van Duijn)

Google+ Communities

"Google+ Communities" is the new kid on the block. And although a lot of people think Google+ is dead, we think it's worth a try. As of shortly Google's tools felt clunky and geeky, but in the meantime that has changed. The web-interface is smart, and the new mobile app is a killer. No more fiddling with different apps, just one intuitive and snappy client.

Beside from that the quality of communications quality on G+ is very high. Which is perfect for our intention, as we aren't interested in just another blinged and artistically-filtered food porn flash in the pan. Our intention is much more to create cultural (Think: Motorkultur!), long-tailed storytelling.

You wanna join the party? Follow this link!

2012 Suzuki Nine Knights

Epic.

Suzuki Nine Knights MTB via Dirk "The Pixeleye" Behlau.

Chromjuwelen Motor Öl: Print

ramg Magazin 2012

Wallpaper Magazine 2012

Elle Dezember 2012

Edition – Das Werte Magazin (Nummer 3, 2012)

auto revue 2012

Street Magazine (November 2012)

PowerGlide Magazine 2012

Eigen Huis & Interieur (November 2012)

Volkswagen Fleet MagazineWhen we thought first about "Chromjuwelen Products", our intention was create products which embody a certain type of lifestyle. The mixture of Chromjuwelen Motor Öl in print — auto revue, Edition, Elle, Eigen Huis & Interieur, Fleet Magazine, PowerGlide, ramp, Street Magazine, Wallpaper Magazine — shows we reached that target. Yeah!

Chromjuwelen Motor Öl can be ordered here. If you are looking for some further information about Chromjuwelen Motor Öl, follow this link.

Dear Auto Industry, It's time To Roll Up Your Sleeves And Get To Work

Our friends from Amy & Pink just posted this Rammstein video of "Mein Herz brennt". There's one sentence in Amy & Pink's article, which made me laugh:

"Etwas, das dein großer Bruder, der jetzt um die 40 ist, hört, wenn er an seine Exfreundin denkt, die ihn wegen Torsten, dem stellvertretenden Filialleiter des lokalen Tengelmanns verlassen hat." (Rough: "Something your 40 years old brother is listening to, when he thinks of his ex-girlfriend — who left him for Torsten, the manager of the local supermarket.")

A moment later the laugh sticked in my throat.

For some time past we are asking different automotive industriy, marketing and media decision makers about the average age of their readers and clients. And without the ability of attesting it — the average age seems to be something between 35 and 50 years. If not even higher. Once again, this is just a gut feeling. But it seems car enthusiasts are at the least 40+.

So – compared to Amy & Pink's article – are (we) car enthusiasts just as the above mentioned old (fashioned) brother? Recapitulating the majority of our meetings we had with the German Auto(motive) Industry recently, I would go so far to say: Yes, we are.

Here are some more interesting details. Sorry for linking to German articles, but I am sure — if you ask a search engine — you'll find similar articles written in your language as well:

• Adolescents prefer smartphones/communities to driving licenses.
• (Maintenance) costs for automobiles are way too expensive.
• Media usage behavior is changing dramatically and irretrievably. Which means: Ads and offers don't reach younger people.
• Brand values are in danger to age (and to die) — as they aren't connected to younger, inspiring (lifestyle) scenes.
• It seems more than a few decision makers don't understand the opportunity of converting a brand into a sender. Which is crucial at the moment.
• Journalists/bloggers mutated into rat racing SEO-bots. But will search engines reach a younger – and much more skeptical – target group?
• ...

Ok, there is one (courageous) star in the (media) sky which gives hope, because he is doing a lot of things properly. But what about the rest? And what about the auto industry suppliers? If the trends will prove to be true — will any younger person ever be interested again in the product differences of tires, dampers, wheels? The risk of being buried in oblivion is high.

Dear Auto Industry: Awake – Dein Herz brennt. It's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Bethink yourself of your core (brand) values and start communicating — but be aware of all the filters that are installed to avoid annoying advertisement. Please start surpriseing us again — like Tesla does, like Car2Go does. But stop acting that stony. 

If you need any help, let us know.

BMW E24

Note to self: Get a BMW. As long as they are still affordable.

With love from Russia via Gera39.

Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary

"Buick Grand National was sort of the complete black sheep of the family. [...] This vehicle was essentially the uninvited guest – the kid waering a black leather jacket at the highschool graduation picture ceremony."

I love it. Have to get the DVD.

Black Air (Store) via Dean's Garage.