Santa Monica, Calif., Sept. 12, 2011 - Honda will launch a fully integrated national advertising campaign on Sept. 12, starring actor Patrick Warburton ("Rules of Engagement," "Family Guy," "Seinfeld") and highlighting the company's long tradition of earning top industry accolades and recognition for safety, reliability, high quality and exceptional resale value. The extensive brand campaign, developed by Honda's longstanding agency of record, RPA, features a range of Honda's vehicles, including the Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Odyssey and Fit.
Honda - '83 - (2011) :30 (USA)
The "Good Reasons" campaign features a self-assured Warburton espousing the truth about car buying and advertising in over-the-top discussions ranging from legal disclaimers to whether sex can help sell cars. He employs a bevy of accolades from the powers-that-be in the automobile-influencer world, including, J.D. Power and Associates, Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com, to substantiate Honda's ability to deliver one of the top vehicle-owning experiences in America.
Honda - A man - (2011) :30 (USA)
"In this campaign, we took the values that are core to Honda's brand image-simple, smart and straightforward-and made them really engaging and fun," said RPA SVP/GCD Jason Sperling. "We created a layer of honesty that isn't seen from most car manufacturers. And we show Honda's many strengths in a way that cuts through the clichés and usual tactics and feels incredibly fresh."
The TV campaign will launch during high-traffic programming with a pair of 60-second spots, including "Disclaimers," which is representative of both the campaign's quirky ambassador and its overarching message. To make a point about how advertisers attempt to hide things in legal lines, Warburton declares himself the "best TV spokesman ever," as a slim disclaimer along the bottom of the screen reads, "Based on a study of one individual's opinion. Me." He then talks about a much more conclusive J.D. Power and Associates study where Honda received the awards for "Highest Ranked in Initial Quality: Sub-Compact Car, Compact Car, Compact Crossover/SUV, Midsize Car, Midsize Crossover/SUV, Midsize Pickup"*—more than any other automaker, a disclaimer Warburton goes through with a fine-tooth comb.
Honda - Pay Attention - (2011) :30 (USA)
A series of 30-second spots, including "Denier," "83" and "Pay Attention," follow the same themes of quality and levity with Warburton alternately cajoling, teasing and educating the viewer into carefully considering Honda vehicles.
At goodreasons.shophonda.com, Warburton leads users through six online tutorials summarizing Honda's core strengths while directing them to online shopping tools, vehicle information and dealer locations. In one video, "Competitive," Warburton references the ridiculous lengths some car companies are going to by offering a "... billion-mile, swear-on-their-mother's-grave, this-isn't-a-piece-of-junk worry-free agreement: a thick stack of paper filled with tiny little elf-lawyer writing that you probably wouldn't read. Even if you could." He then talks about making a good car-buying decision and points to actual media coverage detailing Honda's value and built-to-last attributes.
"Since 86 percent of our buyers go online as part of the vehicle-shopping process (according to Strategic Vision's new-vehicle buyer survey), these humorous online videos and the overall campaign will connect with existing and potential car shoppers and candidly shows how Honda is viewed through the lens of trusted top voices in the auto industry," said Jenny Howell, manager of Honda Regional Marketing for American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda - Disclaimer - (2011) :30 (USA)
On Honda's Facebook® page, users can have fun with the sex sells-themed Civic "Pay Attention" TV spot by watching several alternate endings, ranging from goofy to racy. Users can then vote on their favorite alternate ending; the ending with the most votes will be featured on TV in October. Also on Facebook, users can earn a "Stellar Comment Award" from Warburton. Every so often a commenter on one of Honda's Facebook pages will receive the shout-out award via a Honda Facebook post.
In early October, a YouTube homepage takeover featuring Warburton parodying the 15 million-hit eHarmony® video of an overly emotional cat lover will drive users to goodreasons.shophonda.com, where they will join the more than eight million monthly visitors to the shopping site.
Online display advertising is scheduled to run on the Web's 14 most popular auto-shopping sites, including kbb.com, Edmunds.com, Yahoo! and AutoTrader.com.
About RPA
RPA, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., is a leading independent advertising agency. RPA builds momentum for brands by offering its clients truly integrated campaigns that resonate throughout its disciplines, which include traditional advertising, interactive, and direct and event marketing. RPA's client list includes American Honda, both the Honda and Acura brands, California Department of Public Health, La-Z-Boy, Farmers Insurance Group and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. For more information, visit http://www.rpa.com.
*Honda Fit, Civic, Insight, Element, Accord, Accord Crosstour and Ridgeline received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among sub-compact cars, compact cars, compact crossover/SUVs, midsize cars, midsize crossover/SUVs and midsize pickups in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Initial Quality StudySM. Study based on responses from 73,790 new-vehicle owners, measuring 234 models and measures opinions after 90 days of ownership. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed in February-May 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
TV
Agency: RPA
EVP, ECD: Joe Baratelli
SVP, GCD: Jason Sperling
Senior Art Director: Hobart Birmingham
Art Director: Cheston Kwan
Art Director: Brian Farkas
Copywriter: Perrin Anderson
Copywriter: Tylynne McCauley
Jr. Copywriter: Josh Hill
SVP, Executive Producer: Gary Paticoff
Senior Producer: Isadora Chesler
Assistant Producer: Faye Armstrong
Live-action/Digital Prod Co.: Tool
Director: Evan Silver
DP: Scott Henriksen
EP(s): Brian Latt, Oliver Fuselier
EP Digital: Dustin Callif
Editorial: The Reel Thing
Editors: Sally Banta, Adam Parker
Executive Producer: Doug Klekner
Music: Mophonics
Telecine: MPC
Colorist: Mark Gethin
INTERACTIVE
EVP, ECD: Joe Baratelli
SVP, GCD: Jason Sperling
Senior Art Director: Hobart Birmingham
Art Director: Cheston Kwan
Art Director: Brian Farkas
Copywriter: Perrin Anderson
Copywriter: Tylynne McCauley
Jr. Copywriter: Josh Hill
SVP, Executive Producer: Gary Paticoff
Senior Producer: Isadora Chesler
Assistant Producer: Faye Armstrong
VP, Program Director: Dave Brezinski
Program Manager: Samira Poulos
Technology Manager: Bradley Stone
Flash Production: Chris Gomez
Live-action/Digital Prod Co.: Tool
Director: Evan Silver
DP: Julian Whatley
EP Digital: Dustin Callif
EP(s): Brian Latt, Oliver Fuselier
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I've always loved Honda! They got everything that you need and and more importantly you can rely on them! I am driving a 6 year old Accord and it still runs like brand new!
And another thing that interest me is the V-TEC though I do not fully understand what it means but I can feel it when I put my feet down.
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