Automotive

British automaker Bentley Motors updated its vehicle offerings on the Sports Car Challenge application to include its Bentley Continental GT V8 that allows iPad users to virtually test drive the model.

Automakers such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin are tapping the growing luxury market in China by releasing new vehicles at the Auto China 2012 car show and relying on press hype and social media to create awareness.

British automaker Jaguar will bring two new forced-induction engines to the global market to expand its current line of vehicles, but experts are wondering whether less-powerful engines clash with its new mechanically-focused Alive campaign.

British automaker Land Rover is creating hype for its Range Rover Evoque model by marketing a car designed by model, singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham that the automaker has limited to 200 vehicles for sale worldwide.

German automaker Porsche is upping its mobile presence through the incorporation of QR codes on its print advertisements, bringing consumers to a video that allows the brand personality to shine.

Luxury marketers TAG Heuer and Jaguar stayed consistent in terms of Web site load time in the first quarter of this year likely due to increased image optimization and simplistic homepage design that keeps users engaged. However, a major German automaker fell behind.

Audi announced it will acquire Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati in a move that will likely result in an increase of cross-marketing efforts, but experts are unsure whether or not this addition to the Audi family will dilute or strengthen the brand message.

Marketers including Jaguar, Ritz-Carlton and Porsche took out advertisements in Private Clubs magazine for maximum exposure to a group with an average net worth of $2.2 million.

While Rolls-Royce will continue to hold the hands of its loyal, ultra-affluent customer base, the British automaker has set its sights on women buyers and a younger demographic as markets with great potential for owning an automobile attached to the Spirit of Ecstasy.

Italian fashion house Gucci is marketing its vehicle design collaboration with Fiat using five short films that were live-streamed on a microsite during an event.