Sega's promotional Smart car displays not-so-smart marketing
by JC Fletcher 
{ May 19th 2009 at 9:00PM }
... at least, that's how Sega of France's thinking seems to have gone. A Sega fan spotted this Sonic Unleashed-branded Smart and sent a picture into Sega's Sonic blog. We suppose it's appropriate given the game it's advertising: it makes as much sense to pitch a game about running fast with a pokey, bulbous little car as it does to make half of that game about a stretchy-armed werehog. At least the car's mostly blue.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ignatius @ May 19th 2009 9:05PM
Well, at least you know they'll be crusin' in style when they back into a telephone pole and knock out the power for half the county.
manyquestions @ May 19th 2009 9:06PM
A collision with a telephone poll might tear a smart car in half . . . .
Cookie Monster @ May 19th 2009 9:07PM
Give Sega a break. In this economy, do you honestly think they can afford buying gas?
Mr Khan @ May 19th 2009 9:21PM
Not at the European rates, that's for damn sure
WINterfang @ May 20th 2009 12:00AM
Sega doesn't really care as Sonic Unleashed became SEGA's third best seller on 08, sell more than 2 million copies.
manyquestions @ May 19th 2009 9:09PM
What's that plastered over Sonic's face on the back?
Ignatius @ May 19th 2009 9:09PM
Quarantine stickers.
WiredKnight @ May 19th 2009 9:10PM
Tickets.
WiredKnight @ May 19th 2009 9:09PM
Silly, yes.
But to be fair, any car with Sonic on it is better than a car without Sonic on it.
manyquestions @ May 19th 2009 9:15PM
While I agree this is probably the best smart car there is,it's still a smart car.
Shagittarius @ May 19th 2009 9:25PM
I think the small car signifies the declining number of fans that still give a shit...
DangerMouse @ May 19th 2009 9:31PM
If only it screamed "SEGA" as it zoomed past.
Shaun @ May 19th 2009 9:37PM
@DangerMouse:
Well, thats a whole lotta "SEGAs" zoomin past pedestrians. haw haw.
Josh120 @ May 19th 2009 9:44PM
The steering wheel is a gold ring. Just fucking marvelous.
Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) @ May 19th 2009 10:08PM
good call, I didn't see that the first time.
Douche Bigalow @ May 19th 2009 9:59PM
Yeah, my favorite part of any Sonic game is when he's crushed by a semi, and his occupants are reduced to jelly.
Oh, wait ..
Ignatius @ May 19th 2009 10:24PM
Kind of like in SA2?
JaneWellsJr @ May 19th 2009 10:11PM
Nevermind shape, that car's a little too slow as well.
racingfreak92 @ May 19th 2009 11:00PM
Sonic runs super fast. A smart car goes 0-60 in 13 seconds
aggrazel @ May 20th 2009 9:36AM
Unless of course the smart car is equipped with "Blast Processing"
WREturns @ May 19th 2009 10:24PM
Mr. Khan, is that your car?
el serpiente @ May 19th 2009 10:53PM
Here he is, getting ready for an evening ride:
http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/sonic4.jpg
Kain @ May 19th 2009 10:36PM
Smart Cars are very popular in France judging from the 8 times i have been there , so I don't think your argument holds up.
Frank @ May 19th 2009 10:40PM
It could have the hayabusa engine in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM
DBuck_Eye @ May 19th 2009 10:46PM
I might buy this game if they just took some Enzos over the border and went to town on the Autobahn.
Raftman @ May 19th 2009 10:47PM
Does it turn into a Hummer at night?
required @ May 19th 2009 11:36PM
We all know how Sonic runs, this is simply what he drives when he wants to give his feet a rest.
WINterfang @ May 19th 2009 11:51PM
This car is awesome!!! I could make drifts on Italy and pretend I'm Sonic on Spagonia =D.
Azariel_z @ May 20th 2009 2:16AM
You need to agree the car looks like a Sonic on his "rolling" mode...
Kun Hitori @ May 20th 2009 7:43AM
Would the occupants of this car be referred to as Sonic Riders?
Ghen @ May 20th 2009 9:13AM
I would have gone with a ford mustang. Just sayin'
tenor77 @ May 20th 2009 9:48AM
I've seen these smart cars on the highway (not sega's mind you)
First thing I thought when I saw it "Where the rest of it?"
Anyone who's ever been in a wreck above 30 mph will tell you this car isn't that smart.
sorensilk @ May 20th 2009 10:25AM
Not to be a buzzkill but when you advertise on cars you pick a car that people notice, not that's associated with the brand. That's why so much car advertising was done on VW bugs and PT Cruisers when they first came out. It's all about getting noticed. Smart Cars are very noticeable.
Helicuor @ Jun 1st 2009 2:12AM
not in france
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ May 20th 2009 11:53AM
Actually this is amusing.