OCTOBER 10, 2018

BBDO. Editor-in-Chief's Note: From the "Be Careful What You Wish For" File, Ford made its new global marketing plans official. BBDO is its new global creative advertising agency; Wieden + Kennedy will be "a creative and innovation partner" for specific projects; and WPP, the former lead agency, gets hosed, continuing to lead activation for Ford – including media planning, media buying, shopper and performance marketing, website development, customer relationship marketing, as well as multicultural and Tier 2 dealer advertising. The company says that this will yield more creativity, be more agile and efficient, while delivering a more compelling brand story and differentiated customer experiences (WPP will keep the Lincoln work). Oh and by the way, it will result in $150 million in annual efficiencies, which is one of two reasons behind this move. The other reason is that Ford's Grand Poobah of marketing - Jim "I'm a genius just ask me" Farley - has had it out for WPP for going on five years now and whatever Farley wants he gets, to the company's detriment, unfortunately. My message to BBDO - one of my former ad alma maters - is this: Be careful what you wish for, because getting sucked into the swirling maelstrom that is part and parcel of Ford marketing will suck the very life out of you in no time. And remember, whatever has been promised going in is a false fantasy. It will start out well and probably be okay for a while, but then the reality of dealing with Farley on a regular basis will sink in and you will rue the day you ever got involved. Normally I'd say "good luck, you'll need it" but luck has nothing to do with it, unfortunately. Instead, welcome to Life in Hell, ladies and gentlemen. -PMD

(Chevrolet)
Chevrolet is offering a 2.7-liter Turbo 4-cylinder delivering 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque in its all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The base curb weight of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado with the 2.7-liter Turbo is 380 pounds less than the current Silverado with the 4.3-liter V-6. Standard on LT and RST trims, the 2.7-liter engine offers 14 percent more torque and 13 percent better city fuel economy and it is more than a full second quicker to 60 mph than the 4.3-liter V-6 it replaces, reaching 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. Its max towing capacity is 7,200 pounds and there is a 2,280-pound max payload. It delivers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway in rear-wheel-drive configuration.