Honda has framed the CR-Z hybrid vehicle with
themes representing the joy of
driving and "values you can share". To sell the sporty
CR-Z, Honda is aiming to help drivers "Live Every Litre".
This approach differs from the usual fuel economy messages.
Instead of being preached at to drive more responsibly and baffle
drivers with renewable technology innovations, Honda's message asks
drivers to trust them with looking after the science of fuel
efficiency, so owners can get on with the important business of
enjoying the CR-Z driving experience. In February 2010, a CR-Z
vehicle was fitted with cameras, and drivers were recruited
through various social networking platforms. Successful applicants
were selected to drive the car around a part of Europe, followed by
a film crew headed by director Claudio von Planta. Individuals had
to audition for a chance to drive the car by stating where they
would go and what they would do with the vehicle - such as take a
loved one to Paris to propose, trace an ancestor, or take their
band to play a special gig.
The "Live Every Litre" website allowed users to
download widgets that would enable them to promote their
application to friends, family, colleagues and wider communities.
Applicants were selected by the project director, based on the most
highly rated auditions and the most popular applicants in the Live
Every Litre community.
Once applicants had been selected, the route, which
covered a sizeable part of Europe, was planned and the cameras
began to roll.
The resulting movie received a pan-European premier in a
simultaneous mixture of real events and online broadcast. The final
film focussed on the stories of five of the final cast and followed
burlesque artist "Agent Lynch" as she brings Paris to a stand-still
with the world's first guerrilla burlesque routine in the streets
of the capital; fun-loving trio "The Schoolboys" who attempted the
first recorded crossing of Lake Garda by bouncy castle and
interrupt an international sailing regatta at the same time;
"Bowman" a war veteran who has an emotional return to the site
where he landed during D-Day in 1944 and heavy metal enthusiast
Thomas, who drove from Madrid to Lisbon to realise his dream of
meeting his all-time favourite group, Metallica. These stories are
punctuated throughout with the tale of Sebastian, as he attempted
"100 things to do before you die" in tribute to his friend who died
in a tragic accident. Sebastian had already married a stranger in
Vegas and broken a Guinness World Record and his appearance in the
film is no less exciting as he gets his first tattoo in Amsterdam,
gate crashes a red carpet premiere and sky-dives naked!
More than 1000 applications were received from 28 countries
including Spain, Germany, Switzerland, UK and Romania. Filming took
place over 38 days, starting in the Netherlands, heading down
through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and
finishing at the infamous Nürburgring racing circuit in
Germany.