BMW’s manual gear shift
Click on the image to see a larger picture.
Here’s a new ad from BBDP & Fils for BMW’s 7 Series.
The ad title is “The Inch” and the straplines reads, “We’ve replaced with gear shift with your thumb.”
I get the idea, but it’s a bit too phallic if you ask me. What do you reckon?
Update: 08 June 2009
I recently discovered that this post is partly responsible for people reaching my website by searching Google for “gear shift sex”. The other half of the equation is this post, “Sex, Lies and Photoshop“. I bet they’re delighted to arrive!
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14 appreciated comments on “BMW’s manual gear shift”
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Looks a bit too phallic to me too!
I quite like it, although the gear shift on the thumb looks a little bit off to me for some reason…
I’d prefer the strapline to read “We’ve just replaced the gear shift.” or something a little more creative.
Love the site design, in particular your logo!
Richard
I suppose you could say that all gear sticks are phallic looking. Then should BMW stay clear of stick shift advertising?
Perhaps if more of the hand was shown rather than it being cut-off it would be more effective.
At first glance, I like the clean layout, drawing the eye nicely to the thumb.
On second glance, Pinksy does have a point, sorry.
On third glance, and I’m not sure why I have this reaction, I’m filled with an urge to grab the thumb and probably hurt the hand shifting into 4th gear.
Other than that, it’s great.
I don’t see phallic but then again I am pure. :) I don’t understand the strapline. The phrasing is awkward. I don’t get the ad but then maybe because it is about cars? So, is it a “thumbs up” kinda thing?
Vectormonkey,
It’s reverse I’d be worried about, not fourth.
Beth Ellen,
BMW have added a thumb shift to their 7 Series. There’s no gear stick in the middle of the car. It’s a little button behind the steering wheel were your indicator or window wiper levers are, kind of like Formula One cars, except a lot slower and more comfortable.
I like the concept. I think it is a pretty neat idea.
On another note, we don’t get manual trans in the united states for the 7 series so it is interesting to see what the knob looks like.
Trev,
The knob doesn’t actually resemble a thumb, but I appreciate you stopping by.
I ‘m a big fan of you logo designs. Good quality work with a bunch of awesome ideas!
I’m a big fan of you logo designs. Good quality works with bunch of awesome ideas. Love it!!!
The poster has a huge amount of empty space. It seems very awkward. At first when I looked at it, I didn’t like it. Its very boring, its very bland. I feel as if there is not feeling coming from the poster. The top of the thumb shouldn’t be tilted, it should have been pressed on the surface. So it will be easier to see, and more comfortable for the eye.
At the first glance i thought it has some kind of a finger-print recognition system in it.
Pretty clean work.
It’s very weird that I found your blog searching for “gear shift sex”. I will definitely post about that BMW gear shift ad – it really looks like a sex toy :)