A fun April Fool’s joke by BMW New Zealand’s team went viral after it was cunningly planted in the news media. The story went like this:
An official BMW press release publicized the latest innovation from BMW. A premium baby cot that embodied the spirit of The Ultimate Drive by simulating the noises and g-forces of a road journey – all in the comfort of the nursery.
The BMW ZZZ Series Cot was the ultimate solution to ‘new parents facing the age-old struggle of getting their infants to sleep.’
Nina Englert joined in on the prank saying, “BMW New Zealand is excited to be putting parents back into the driving seat with the launch of the all-new BMW ZZZ Series Cot. It was developed in response to the plight of millions of parents around the world who spend hours behind the wheel driving around the block in an effort to get their upset infants to sleep – and we look forward to making their lives easier with this latest addition to our family. This is another example of how BMW is committed to reducing fuel use and negating carbon emissions.’
The press release went on to itemise the extraordinary features of the BMW ZZZ Series Cot.
‘Within its lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic moulding is a fusion of German engineering and technology to help ensure infants sleep better, for longer, and in safety and comfort. The versatility and functionality of the ZZZ Series Cot is extensive with features such as four custom Ultimate Sleep Drive-Motion settings; Customised Engine Sound Selector allowing access to engine sounds of the entire BMW range; and the BMW ZZZ Series Smart Device App featuring in-situ Cot-Cam for remote viewing, Integrated Climate Control and Moisture Detection Sensor.’
The media lapped it up – in New Zealand on TV and radio and websites from all over the world, including the Telegraph in the UK and Thailand’s Bangkok Post.
It also made Yahoo’s ‘Best April Fools’ list and was a hit on social media too, with lots of comments on forums like Bimmersport and of course Facebook.
However there was a grain of truth behind the trickery. BMW has spent an immense amount of effort creating the ideal vehicle for people with young families. It must be spacious enough to swallow all the paraphernalia children require, while also being supremely quiet, comfortable and enjoyable to drive both on errands around town and on long journeys to visit relatives in distant places. The result is the brilliant new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, which is being launched in New Zealand later this year. If you have a young family, or need a compact stylish vehicle that’s capable of filling a variety of roles to perfection, register your interest here to get more information.
