New Brand Logos Reflect Shift at G.M.; Opel & Vauxhall Receive Updates

[Perian]

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/bu...se&oref=slogin

New Brand Logos Reflect Shift at G.M.

By ERIC PFANNER - Published: July 29, 2008

WHEN the Insignia, a new car from the General Motors brands Opel and Vauxhall, was introduced last week at the British International Motor Show in London, it came, fittingly, with some new insignias.

During a publicity event last week at a park near Tower Bridge in London, the new Insignia from General Motors was lowered rapidly from a crane that had held the car about 150 feet high.

Opel, General Motors’ biggest-selling division in Continental Europe, and Vauxhall, its equivalent in Britain, are getting new logos as the company aims to “send a message that something is happening with these brands,” said Alain Visser, chief marketing officer for GM Europe.

The new Vauxhall badge shows the brand’s longtime mascot, a griffin, in a bigger, bolder way, zooming in on its upper body. The mythical beast, which joins the head and wings of an eagle to the body of a lion, appears more three-dimensional; previous versions of the griffin were flat.

The Opel logo, a stylized lightning bolt, also gets more depth in the redesign, though the general shape is unchanged.

With these updates, General Motors joins other automakers, including Volvo, Fiat, Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, that have recently refreshed or redesigned their logos, seeking an edge in a difficult market.



Full article (and photo) at link.

[xPUMPx]

ok...

[jkennedy293]

Why spend money on developing fuel-efficient engines and quality interiors, when you can have a 3-D logo instead?

[FierySolstice]

We already knew this already..

[Ambalanche]

This is news.....why?

[CBECK]

I've seen claims that stickers and graphics add like 30hp. So I can see how these logos might create better mpg's. This is so awesome. Such engineering is so news worthy!!!!

haaahahaha.

[windvale]

Originally Posted by CBECK

I've seen claims that stickers and graphics add like 30hp. So I can see how these logos might create better mpg's. This is so awesome. Such engineering is so news worthy!!!!

haaahahaha.

ROFL !

[CaptainDan]

I'd be more interested in a logo delete option.

[prototype66]

don't like the new Vauxhall logo
not at all.
looks cheap and cartoonish

[nadepalma]

The fact that they got new logos isn't new-news --- we've known about it for awhile.

But the article itself and the idea of logos and emblems being updated to good affect is a good read.

Some car brands out there (like Mercury and others) should take note of this when it comes to overall image, marketing, and perception.

Of course, the product must come first - but how you get the attention of the public ties into the success of a product.

Good find Perian.

[PRO_USA1776]

I suppose they could have changed the logos to a Red H, that would have added about 150HP!

[Markld74]

Updating brand logos/image is very important. He helps to keep the public perception of a brand as new, fresh and current. GM needs to do this with the GM logo along with Chevy's, Pontiac's and GMC's.

It is the same thing with vehicles and vehicle names. If you stay the course you will sink.

[jkennedy293]

Originally Posted by CBECK

I've seen claims that stickers and graphics add like 30hp. So I can see how these logos might create better mpg's. This is so awesome. Such engineering is so news worthy!!!!

haaahahaha.

That explains all the riced out Civics I see.

[Kheiron]

Thats neat, I was unaware of this. Thanks for posting, did I just miss the prior threads on this subject?

[the_smurf2008]

"Ahh..yeah..well...hhhmmmmm"

The idea that anyone outside of this forum and other interested parties give a rip as to the insignias on the side of the cars, is just plain silly. How old is the Ferrari prancing horse, the Audi linked rings, the BMW blue and white propeller, need I go on?
It's the car, period, that people care about. It is the long history of the quality and performance of the car that then makes the badge on it meaningful.
Until GM leadership gets that through their heads we will contenue to watch the firm bleed.