Heritage

VW bids farewell to the Beetle on ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020’

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Dec 31, 2019, 3:17 pm

The Beetle says goodbye tonight during New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

The Beetle has been synonymous with the Volkswagen brand practically since the beginning. Despite there being other memorable models in the VW lineup over the last 70 years, the Beetle remains an icon.

Tonight, on New Year's Eve, Volkswagen is bidding a fond "auf wiedersehen" to the car with a short film, to be played during "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020" on ABC. Titled "The Last Mile", the film is an animated take on a the story of a boy whose life has been influenced by the Beetle.

Beetle The Last Mile "The Last Mile" captures the emotions surrounding a life well lived with the Beetle by a man's side.Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

"The Beetle is easily one of the most recognizable cars in the history of automobiles," said Saad Chehab, senior vice president, brand marketing, Volkswagen. "Honoring it properly required a medium with just as much versatility and universal appeal as the car itself. While we chose the classic Beetle as the star of the animation, additional campaign components in Times Square honor the latter two generations of cars and their place and presence in American culture. We are proud of our past but our eye is on the future – hence our choice of New Year's Eve to hint at our upcoming long-range EV and the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport."

Eagled eyed watchers will see numerous pop culture references throughout the film including cameos from Kevin Bacon's character in "Footloose", an astronaut, and artist Andy Warhol. There's a sign proclaiming that its "Not a Lemon" and a cameo from Bravo TV host Andy Cohen in the 90-second spot.

You may want to grab the tissues.

The advertisement ends with the Beetle flying into the heavens and a new vision of the next generation of Volkswagen vehicles appearing.

If you don't want to wait until it airs on TV, you can view it here.

The Last Mile | Beetle Video courtesy of YouTube

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Advertising

John Mayer, Land Rover Defender went into the woods and made a film

John Mayer has been a Land Rover Defender enthusiast for more than a decade.

Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson, courtesy of Land Rover

Instagram users are familiar with seeing musician John Mayer inside his home, broadcasting on Live in his "Current Mood" series. Now, they can head to his IGTV channel to see "John Mayer Goes Outside", a new advertising campaign from Atlantic Re:think and Land Rover.

The video features Mayer journeying into the forests of Northern California including Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park while behind the wheel of the 2020 Land Rover Defender. The film was show over three days in March, just before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the conversation. The collaboration includes behind-the-scenes images and videos from the shoot.

John Mayer, Land Rover Defender Goes Outside Mayer journey's to one of America's most beloved state parks.Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson, courtesy of Land Rover

Speaking of his time adventuring in the woods, Mayer said, "I don't think you can come out here and get any other message from yourself other than, 'You're alright. You're okay.'"

The shoot marked Mayer's first time in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and first time driving the new Land Rover Defender, a vehicle Mayer has history with as he has been a Defender enthusiast and vintage model owner for more than a decade.

"We wanted to capture the experience of being outdoors, in a way that didn't feel forced or scripted. In other words, get John Mayer in his favorite car and show him a good time in the wilderness," says Jeremy Elias, executive creative director of Atlantic Re:think. "The trip has taken on new meaning in the months since we filmed, and so has the brand's message of embracing the power and beauty of the great outdoors."

John Mayer, Land Rover Defender Goes Outside The film includes plenty of Redwood trees.Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson, courtesy of Land Rover

"John Mayer, in addition to being an incredibly accomplished musician, is a gear aficionado with a passion for all things mechanical," said Stuart Schorr, Vice President of Communications, Jaguar Land Rover North America. "He has been watching the development of the new Defender, and we have been keenly aware of his Defender collection as well as frankly being fans of his music. We are so proud he's one of the first people in the United States to get in a Defender, and that he was able to share his poetic take on exploring America's national parks."

Click here to visit John Mayer's Instagram feed and view the film.

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New App

New MyDucati app keeps the Ducati universe close at hand

A new app allows Ducati ethusiasts to be connected to the company in a variety of ways.

Photo courtesy of Ducati

Ducati's new mobile app allows fans to stay connected to one of their favorite brands at all times. Designed to be a one-stop shop for everything Ducati offers, the app is custom-made and even has unique event opportunities for members.

The motorcycle manufacturer has designed the app to include a Garage section where customers consult the documentation of their motorcycles at any time. This area of the application also keeps record of customers' MyDucati Card, the official Ducatista document. It also allows users to configure the Ducati of their dreams, save it and share it with friends and dealers.

MyDucati App The MyDucati App is available now.Photo courtesy of Ducati

Some customization of the app is available. For instance, users can upload a picture of their own Ducati to use in the Garage section. Additionally, MyDucati offers a system of badges that are unlocked upon completion of the various sections. By achieving goals, subscribers can access promotions and personalized services based on the interests and preferences they have expressed within the application.

The Ducati Dealers area of the app allows users to locate the closest dealer based on geo-localization, consult the services available, and save it as a favourite to contact it or make an appointment for a test ride with a click.

The app's News section gives enthusiasts access to fresh information on new services and events organized by Ducati around the world, with a notification system that will always keep them updated on the most important news.

Another area of the product is the Desmo Owners Club (DOC) community, where club members can share their passion for Ducati and take advantage of all the initiatives and benefits reserved for them.

The MyDucati app is available for iOS and Android. It can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store and Play Store. Users already registered with MyDucati can quickly access the app with the same credentials they use on the web.

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