Lots of cars in this! There are nine full page ads, one full page ad/article (it's kind of ambiguous) and a six page article about the 'comeback' of our very own daimler chrysler. The magazine is a very obvious appeal to traditional concepts of the masculine, but in a slightly more european.old money sense. All of the ads are for luxury products, primarily cars, expensive cigars and expensive liquor. The cars fit right in, with brands including jaguar and hummer. They appeal to the senses and the notion of luxury:
- the lincoln ad says 'prepare to be pampered in an extravagant new way', a clear appeal to the concepts of luxury and especially to the novelty that wealth can bring. it also refers to the senses of touch and sight, with 'soft leather and gleaming chrome'.
- the range rover ad says 'every sense is heightened', again appealing to the senses, and also appeals to luxury and luxurious novelty with 'every experience is unlike all those before it'.
- The cadillac ad is clearly targeted at wealth with the main tagline 'for different drummers, and their hedge fund managers'. This is a slightly different tack from the lincoln and the ranger rover, in that it implies this luxury shouldn't be a new experience for the purchaser. Instead, it appeals to the desire to be distinct while remaining within the clearly marked category of wealth.
- The jaguar ad actually mentions media as one of its desirable characteristics: 'bluetooth wireless phone connectivity'. instead of appealing to the senses or to wealth, the primary draw of this ad is performance with 'six decades of winning in its DNA' and 'four trans-am championships'. clearly, the reader is expected to know what the brand means already.
- The bmw page is actually a short write up for the magazine instead of an ad. It touts the ability to take or reject the iDrive system as well as the 'laser-guided active cruise control' that allows the car to automatically slow when it comes up on another car. It also discusses the exterior look and the shift from the previously 'cramped interior to a more spacious one, as well as the option to have a standard looking dashboard in lieu of a modern computerized one by sacrificing the DVD-Navigation system.
- The chevrolet ad appeals to power, touting '390 hoursepower' and 'a sport tuned suspension that's nothing short of ferocious'. the word american is also prominently featured in the ad.
- the chrysler ad aims to combine the two major themes above, luxury/beauty and power/performance with a question theme. it doesn't overtly appeal to the luxury market, but it clearly implies that both luxury and performance are inherent in the name. again, the reader is expected to know this.
- The ford ad alone appeals to the price conscious, touting its room, comfort and all wheel drive at a price considerably less than the implied other cars of similar characteristics. Honestly, it was surprisingly startling to see price put forth as the primary incentive, and in this context it makes the ad look both tacky and out of place.
- the hummer ad works with the brand image, appealing to the wealthy who think of themselves as rough by using the phrases 'off-road exotic vehicles' and 'strong like bull'. it does mention the 'quieter, refined interior', but the emphasis of the add is on appearance- clearly if you can buy a hummer you assume the interior will be up to your standards.
- The infiniti ad is the only one that really concentrates on media, touting its satellite radio and DVD entertainment system. It also appeals to the senses and to luxury with its mention of the 'seven leather-appointed seats'. it is a clear appeal to the metaphor 'car as home',using the phrases 'make yourself at home', 'recline comfortably' and 'home is really where the heart is' in reference to the car.
There appear to be two main themes here: luxury and power/performance. Most ads appeal to one or the other, depending on the brand image of the car. luxury implies concentration on the senses, either through interior materials and experience, or through the presence of media. power implies speed, ability to manouver, etc. The ad appealing to price is very out of place in the context of the magazine, and the ads that attempt to appeal to both power and luxury seem less effective- as though the brands are less established and thus must assume the reader doesn't associate them already with one or the other.