Xavier Adam Blog

A what…

… a Lotus Evora. You will not be the first to have missed this attractive offering from Lotus. The Evora is a road car with a strong track influence. Using basic technology its performance is up there in supercar league. A mechanical stick based gearshift gives the car an old style racer feel and shouts Lotus. The 3.5 litre V6 comes from the Lexus. The product is good, but needs more marketing. The Lotus product range has excelled under the wing of Proton, who have been major stakeholders in the company since the mid-1990s.

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Manufacturing in the UK

As I write from a very hot Southern Europe, it always impresses me how many products are still designed, developed and built in the UK. The list is extensive. Much marginalised and with low public awareness, the current coalition government seems to be putting its words in action, albeit in possibly a too limited way.

I spent the summer touring the UK and its manufacturers, looking at processes and talking future trends in the transport sector. Starting with a Land Rover away day in the Yorkshire Dales, my trip then took me to the other end of the country, to Sunseeker luxury yachts, based in Poole, Dorset. Via a host of smaller players and tier one and two suppliers, I ended up at the new Aston Martin facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire. If ever a brand has managed to evolve and move with the times, while maintaining an image of desirability and quality, this has to be it!

Enjoy the photos above from Gaydon. The yellow V8 Vantage is the first example of the model, which first debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.

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Awesome

This is the absolutely fantastic creative work Reading Room did for last week’s GP Bullhound Media Momentum Awards 2010. The visuals around Sketch in London looked absolutely awesome! A great use of creativity and wall space.

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Six in the City

Now deal flow is picking up after what has been a single dip recession thusfar, I am spending a lot more time in the City again.

Last week meeting Prince Charles at the Guildhall, the reception thronged with City suited types and was a good demonstration the deals are back on.

Since the announcement of the General Election, the company founded by Stuart Wheeler in the 1970s, IG Index, has been running these simple but catchy and timely adverts. Placed around the Tube network at stations such as Southwark, a prime commuter interchange, and inserted in the relevant business and financial press.

Above is just one of IG Index’s latest adverts. As well as attracting potential employees and customers, it is an excellent campaign for general brand building.

The advert is taken from a series of around half a dozen on a similar General Election and current affairs strand.

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Metro Bank

I have been tracking Metro Bank for a while.

Modwenna Rees-Mogg of AngelNews recently invited me to an evening with Howard Flight and other City figures. Howard is involved in Metro Bank, and I have to say, the approach and branding so far are really interesting. A garish colour scheme and logo, shouts consumer and looks more akin to a supermarket than bank.

Metro Bank has been brave to break the norms and really think about its offering and target customer. This is reflected in its communications.

With low interest rates, in branch toilets and favourable opening hours, Metro Bank is certainly taking an alternative approach. Initially opening two branches in Central London, it aims to spread around the M25 area.

Is this a time to be launching a new bank? Has Metro Bank taken the right approach? Does Metro Bank look serious enough for a bank?

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Calling Major Tom

What is it? Looking like it has just arrived from space, it is actually the new i-MiEV from Mitsubishi. Currently manufactured in Japan, it goes on sale in the UK from late 2010.

Having driven one this week in Central London, I actually quite like it. Apart from the hefty price, nearly £ 40 000, it provides stress FREE motoring. Free Congestion Charge, free parking and almost free electricity on London and other city streets, if you can find a space.

There is no doubt, more and more alternatives to the internal combustion engine are going to accelerate (!) their move on the market.

The i-MiEV despite its odd external looks, cost and agricultural looking interior, is actually quite good.

It can carry four with luggage, is easy to drive, zippy and quite agile. It is a town and urban car.

Running for a published 80 miles on a single charge, range anxiety questions will be asked, but it is a good start, and good to see a major manufacturer investing in a pure electric vehicle.

What do you think? Is the future electric?

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Surprise News

We like a good pun here! Fortunately this is also a good headline. When someone called the other day from Land Rover, I had to quiz them on why sales were up? Is this just good PR?

Admittedly, like for like sales broken down by month, should show an uplift in 2010, as 2009 was generally a tough year across the motor sector. Government incentives in some regions did help particular manufacturers with their sales.

With the cost of purchase, high fuel prices and an unfair ‘Showroom Tax’ in the UK. There is no doubt a buyer in 2010 has to be a car fan.

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Peugeot Updates

This is the slightly updated Peugeot logo with new tag line. A somewhat under rated marque in the UK. This brand update reflects the sleek lines of the French makers’ cars. Definitely a hit.

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BMW what we expect

This was London Waterloo Station recently. BMW had wrapped a significant part of the station with its advertising; to brand build and demonstrate its precision engineering. Unlike the fun colour campaigns which follow. This is much more what we expect of the Munich based motor manufacturer.

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BMW has some fun

BMW usually runs very factual and teutonic style marketing. Talking about the vehicle and what it can do. In this fun press advert from last week, they offer different coloured badges for their cars. Based on the three main UK political parties. This is quite a diversion from their usual approach, and can maybe be tracked back to an equally fun and colourful marketing campaign for the BMW Z4.

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