Volkswagen removes billboards from 3 cities after complaints

[cincygoblue]

Volkswagen removes billboards from 3 cities after complaints
ADRIAN SAINZ
Associated Press

MIAMI - Volkswagen said Friday it will remove billboards in New York, Los Angeles and Miami after receiving complaints that a word used in an advertisement was offensive to Hispanics.

The ad for the new GTI 2006 had a photo of the sports car accompanied by the words "Turbo-Cojones." Cojones, which means testicles in Spanish, has become a casually used term for boldness or guts in English but has never lost its more vulgar connotations in its native language.

A billboard in the Miami neighborhood of Little Havana generated complaints, and the company decided to remove it Wednesday, said Steve Keyes, a Volkswagen spokesman. Volkswagen AG has received no complaints for its billboards in New York and Los Angeles but decided to pull them anyway.
Ana Roca, a professor of Spanish and linguistics at Florida International University, said the English usage of the word "doesn't have the same power it has in Spanish."

"People who are reading it in a Spanish neighborhood, it will have a different effect for them ... because they realize the real connotation," Roca said.
Keyes said the original billboard was not intended to offend anyone. Instead, it was an attempt to convey that the GTI is a "high-performance sports car," he said.

The billboards will be replaced with two ads, with one saying "Here today, gone tamale" and the other "Kick a little gracias."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14125781.htm

How dumb can VW be? OK. First they do the Speedy Gonzales thing, which might be great in some neighborhoods, but in others and overall, probably not a good idea. Then they go out and put phrases on billboards that don't make sense (at least in a hispanic neighborhood). Just as appropriate to some would be, "Turbo-scrotums". Nice visual.

Maybe "Huevos Grandes" would have worked better? Now their going out there with "Here today, gone food" and "Kick a little Thank you"??? OK, maybe good for your average American who knows 10-20 Spanish words, but for Little Havana Miami? I think most of the people there will "get it", but it won't be thought as clever. Kick some gracias. Ha!!! Not sure who they're trying to pull into their showrooms with this stuff.

[CarShark]

Not as good as their commercials, I have to say.

[TaHoE]

"Turbo-Testicles"...haha. That's great. :lol:

[rmodys]

Haha

[RamJet502]

We live in a world of complaining pansies.

[Sal Collaziano]

Somebody at Volkswagen is a dumb as their new cars look...

[86fleet]

You'd think they would have recognized that. But nothing makes me want to buy a VW more than the phrase "Turbo-Testicles"

[actionjack]

LMFAO


That is hilarious! VW has some 'turbo cojones' to post that. I love it!

[SuperSS27]

Originally Posted by cincygoblue

How dumb can VW be? OK. First they do the Speedy Gonzales thing, which might be great in some neighborhoods, but in others and overall, probably not a good idea. Then they go out and put phrases on billboards that don't make sense (at least in a hispanic neighborhood). Just as appropriate to some would be, "Turbo-scrotums". Nice visual.

Maybe "Huevos Grandes" would have worked better? Now their going out there with "Here today, gone food" and "Kick a little Thank you"??? OK, maybe good for your average American who knows 10-20 Spanish words, but for Little Havana Miami? I think most of the people there will "get it", but it won't be thought as clever. Kick some gracias. Ha!!! Not sure who they're trying to pull into their showrooms with this stuff.

How many Latino's/Latina's do you see driving new VW's?.....exactly. Take it for what it is, ***** Funny. Stupid people(people complaining) need to keep their mouth shut sometimes.

[GM_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by TaHoE

"Turbo-Testicles"...haha. That's great. :lol:

Their "unpimp dein auto" commercials are hilarious, although I can't say the same for their twisted demented "speed" commercials. I also enjoy their "Auf Weidersehn Sucka" print ads. I love it!

Originally Posted by SuperSS27

How many Latino's/Latina's do you see driving new VW's?.....exactly. Take it for what it is, ***** Funny. Stupid people(people complaining) need to keep their mouth shut sometimes.

In some respects I agree with you. The whole "political correctness" has gotten out of control. But I also think it is immature and close minded to ignore other cultures. How would you explain to your 7-8 year old son/daughter if they asked why that billboard says "turbo testicles"? Maybe that wouldn't be a problem for you, I dunno, but many people don't appreciate inappropriate material being shown to their young children.

I laugh at VW's inability to connect with varies cultures.

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by SuperSS27

How many Latino's/Latina's do you see driving new VW's?.....exactly. Take it for what it is, ***** Funny. Stupid people(people complaining) need to keep their mouth shut sometimes.

You seem not to get the thing. It's not only that they will feel (mildly, perhaps) offended, it's that it makes VW feel stupid. Just look at people laughing at the thought of "turbo testicles". Remember the (not entirely true) Chevy Nova story? That's what VW is trying to avoid.

[camaroman22]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Remember the (not entirely true) Chevy Nova story?

...no, please educate me (preferably in the form of a PM).

[BobLikesBunnies]

People just like to complain thats all there is to it

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by RamJet502

We live in a world of complaining pansies.

Yes, wow the ad uses a vulger word for testicles in a forigen language. WHO CARES, you choose to speak Spanish here it's not my problem if you are offended by that word. Stuff like this makes me want to vomit.

[JBsZ06]

I'm digging the new "UNPIMP YOUR RIDE " TV commercials..

HUGE HIT in my opinion..

Unpimp your ride commericals crack me up..