Words About Things

The chances are you saw one of the videos created in support of Volkswagen’s The Fun Theory campaign posted online last year. Between them the videos, which were created by DDB Stockholm, notched up over 20 million Youtube views, going properly viral unlike most ‘viral’ videos. The most popular video asked the question can we make more people take the stairs by making it fun to do so? The answer seems to be yes, if you turn the stairs into a giant piano!

The Fun Theory was all about generating interest in Volkswagen’s Blue Motion technologies that deliver the same great car performance with reduced environmental impact, and to do this, they found an insight around how “fun” could change human behavior for the better, and this formed The Fun Theory, a campaign that spawned over 700 user generated Fun Theory initiatives. – Digital Buzz Blog

The campaign was created to draw attention to Volkswagen’s Bluemotion energy saving technology, hence the eco friendly theme. Bluemotion is about saving energy through innovation, for example the recuperation of energy normally lost when braking and efficient start – stop technology. VW are developing these techniques in order to include them in upcoming models including their range of vans.

As mentioned above the campaign inspired over 700 user submitted Fun Theory ideas. The best idea was judged to be ‘The Speed Camera Lottery‘ by Kevin Richardson who won €2500. Kevin wasn’t the only winner, DDB Stockholm won the Cyber Grand Prix award for the best digitally led integrated campaign at The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

Like most automotive companies Volkswagen are looking to the future and designing electric vehicles. Unlike most Volkswagen already have a design classic under their belts in the form of the iconic Beetle. The Volkswagen eUp! (complete with unessential punctuation) owes a debt to the Beetle in terms of style and ambition.

The eUp! aims to have widespread appeal in order to become “the Beetle of the 21st century”. This should come as a surprise from a company whose name translates as ‘the people’s car’.  By the time the eUp! comes out in 2013 there should be quite a lot of competition in the electric car market although it may have the stats to make it stand out:

The range is expected to be up to 130 kilometers (80 miles) on an overnight 230-volt charge for the five hours when electricity is cheapest while you’re asleep. Charged in this way, the E-Up! could be driven 100 kilometres for just two Euros in electricity costs (about 14 Euro cents per kWh). This would be the equivalent of driving 62 miles on $2.97 worth of electricity at $0.20 cents a kwh (McMansion Californian electric rates), or about like buying gas for $1.50 in a 31 mpg car.    – gas2.org

The eUp! is the smallest VW to date at only 3.19 meters long and 1.64 meters wide. Hopefully this vehicle will lead to Volkswagen creating other, larger electric vehicles across their range. With van emissions being clamped down upon we need more electronic vans for sale.

Sales of used Volkswagen campervans are booming in the UK thanks to the recession. The VW Transporter has been a cult classic since it was launched almost 60 years ago with used models in good condition often selling for big bucks. Now the camper van’s appeal appears to be widening with sales up 250% this summer.

It has been suggested that the rise of ‘staycations’ where people holiday in the UK to save money may be fueling the rise in sales. Consumer specialist Dominic Harrison of the Future Foundation belives that the recession is causing people to reconsider their work/life balance and consider taking time off work or working fewer hours.

“The recession is causing many to ask serious questions about their habits and work life.”

Applications to test drive new Volkswagen Van models have also risen by 200% according to a company spokesman.