M400 "Wild Child" advert - podless!
M400 "Wild Child" advert - podless!
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AMG Merc

Original Poster:

11,955 posts

276 months

Sunday 14th August 2005
quotequote all
So has anyone else noticed that the M400 featured in Noble's "Wild Child" advert (today's Times Motoring section, page 21) does not have side pods fitted?!

joust

14,622 posts

282 months

Sunday 14th August 2005
quotequote all
I presume that's because it uses the stock shots of the 3R?

Have a look to see if the piccies are the same as the Noble press ones at www.nobletv.co.uk/Pictures/Factory%20Press%20Images/index.html ?

J

amg merc

Original Poster:

11,955 posts

276 months

Sunday 14th August 2005
quotequote all
joust said:
I presume that's because it uses the stock shots of the 3R?

Have a look to see if the piccies are the same as the Noble press ones at www.nobletv.co.uk/Pictures/Factory%20Press%20Images/index.html ?

J


Well yes, that's what I thought but the shot shows black wheels, no front splitter (and the Noble bonnet badge is located top centre) so it looks like an M400 to me. Maybe they just retouched a 3R photo but weren't skilled enough to "add" the pods?!

Mr Noble

6,538 posts

256 months

Sunday 14th August 2005
quotequote all
Roberto, Roberto.

What makes you think the wild child car has no pods?

The car in the ad in my copy of the times definatly has pods fitted but they are painted black.

I wish Noble would use some promo shots of a car with silver wheels and bodycoloured pods. Far more appealing to the mass audience IMO.

G

amg merc

Original Poster:

11,955 posts

276 months

Sunday 14th August 2005
quotequote all
Mr Noble said:
Roberto, Roberto.

What makes you think the wild child car has no pods?

The car in the ad in my copy of the times definatly has pods fitted but they are painted black.

I wish Noble would use some promo shots of a car with silver wheels and bodycoloured pods. Far more appealing to the mass audience IMO.

G


WOT - BLACK AND THE CAR IS LIGHT COLOURED?! I need to fish my copy out of the bin, I swear there was nothing showing on the nearside flank in my copy - will report back later after I've washed my hands?!

joust

14,622 posts

282 months

Sunday 14th August 2005
quotequote all
You can see the M14, in the same company as a Saleen, Spyker and Gumpert on the main website.

www.mphshow.co.uk/

Rather a glowing endorsement to put the M14 in those car's company!

J

micknall

826 posts

272 months

Monday 15th August 2005
quotequote all
It does have side pods, as all M400s do. The car in the shot was the first M400 and wore black pods, which do not show at all well in the ad.

Simon

DanH

12,287 posts

283 months

Monday 15th August 2005
quotequote all
micknall said:
It does have side pods, as all M400s do. The car in the shot was the first M400 and wore black pods, which do not show at all well in the ad.

Simon


Always wondered why you used that pic of the m400. Perhaps its just me, but it doesn't seem that flattering?

Still, I hope it sells you a few cars regardless of my unrequested opinion

Mr Noble

6,538 posts

256 months

Tuesday 16th August 2005
quotequote all
DanH said:

micknall said:
It does have side pods, as all M400s do. The car in the shot was the first M400 and wore black pods, which do not show at all well in the ad.

Simon



Always wondered why you used that pic of the m400. Perhaps its just me, but it doesn't seem that flattering?

Still, I hope it sells you a few cars regardless of my unrequested opinion


I agree. Press shots IMO would look far better and appeal to more people with silver wheels. Black wheels make it look more like a track car.

GN

m12_nathan

5,138 posts

282 months

Tuesday 16th August 2005
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Er, it is a track biased car?

Mr Noble

6,538 posts

256 months

Tuesday 16th August 2005
quotequote all
By advertising the car in that manner Noble are seriously reducing the amount of interest generated by the ads.

Your average city banker looking for a new toy thats a bit different would be less likely to spend his cash on a track biased car if it were promoted it that way.

If, however it was promoted as a wonderful everyday driving machine that is equally at home on a track, the prospective buyers in this and other market segments IMO would be mork likely to have a second look.

Noble had been around for 2 whole years with the M12 before I even noticed them, and I am a total petrol head. (obvioulsy not that much of one if it took me 2 yrs to notice Noble!!)

All in my opinion of course. (never did get to use my marketing degree properly )

GN

micknall

826 posts

272 months

Wednesday 17th August 2005
quotequote all
The M400 was designed from the outset to be cosmetically - as well as dynamically - different to the 3R. Wheels play a big part in a car's appearance, so we opted for black ones in an effort to make the car look even more driver/enthusiast focused.

We also needed to change tack a little: the M12, in very guises, had been around for three and a half years prior to the M400's launch, so it was important to add a quite different variant into the range.

In the last year, buyers have had the choice of either the 3R or M400, and the M400 has outsold the 3R by some margin.

In terms of press placement, we use two M400s, since we regard these as being the pinnacle of M12 evolution. They are presented as road cars, not track racers, and if I can orchestrate a day's testing, it always involves a serious amount of time spent on public roads, as well as the inevitable 'Mad Hour' at Bruntingthorpe.

If you look at almost any of our press cuttings from the last year (and there are hundreds and hundreds) there is always mention of the car's performance on the road. In fact, the most recent was James May's Land's End to John 'O Groats story in last Saturday's Telegraph, in which he drove 1600 miles in the M400 and complimented the car for its comfort and usability.

As far as ad photography goes, I agree that some of our images do not transfer well to a mono-ad format (like in the Sunday Times last weekend), but we will not be re-shooting the car for the time being.

And at the end of the day, if some City boys are frightened off by the fact the car has black rims, then perhaps the Noble isn't for them in the first place.

Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.

m12_nathan

5,138 posts

282 months

Wednesday 17th August 2005
quotequote all
micknall said:
And at the end of the day, if some City boys are frightened off by the fact the car has black rims, then perhaps the Noble isn't for them in the first place.


Amen to that. It's the no nonsense approach to marketing

amg merc

Original Poster:

11,955 posts

276 months

Wednesday 17th August 2005
quotequote all
m12_nathan said:

micknall said:
And at the end of the day, if some City boys are frightened off by the fact the car has black rims, then perhaps the Noble isn't for them in the first place.



Amen to that. It's the no nonsense approach to marketing


Yeh, I liked that retort too!

Mr Noble

6,538 posts

256 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
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Understood and Agreed Simon.......

I'll get my coat.

Greg