The other day I was driving around and I saw the "Nissan Xterra Storm Trooper Edition" and couldn't believe my eyes. It was too good to be true. I am a nerd yes, but this was great, two things I love! A solid 4wd vehicle and Star Wars! I had to look into it more. I did some research and just as I thought, there really isn't a Storm Trooper Edition, rather some people took the look of a white Xterra with the black tubing and the predominate features and thought that it looked like a Storm Trooper (and they're right, it really does!). Someone made up some stickers to sell online that looked like the Nissan font and boom, you have a Storm Trooper Edition.
After I thought more about it it would be an amazing co-brand. Think about some of the co-branding that goes on with cars. I wrote earlier about the Jeep Call of Duty Black Ops Edition
(here). Ford has the Expedition Eddie Bauer package, the Harley Davidson package for the F-150, there is the L.L. Bean Outback. Anyway, the list goes on and on. This makes total sense from a brand essence point of view. The Xterra has prided itself on being a rough and tough do anything SUV that is very capable offroad. It has developed a great following due to the price point and reliability. The image and essence that Nissan wanted to put out was to compete with the 4Runner and Cherokee but do it in a more adventurous and sophisticated sort of way. The imagery for some of the campaigns was great. There were guys repelling into holes and using the Xterra as an anchor, skiing, outdoors etc... all of it was to establish the car as the all in one outdoor adventure car.
Now a Storm Trooper. They were/are (depending how you look at it) the all in one soldier. The empire when they were the republic used them for everything. They were clones but they were given the best traits of the Fett family. (I'm totally nerding out but bear with my for a moment). As diverse soldiers they were sent to fight in all kinds of terrain. They were well equipped and adaptable. They had a no nonsense look to them and the only way they distinguished rank was by some coloring (same as the military now days with ribbons medals etc...). These guys were the Xterras of their day. They did what they were told, they adapted and they weren't the most expensive but you certainly got your moneys worth out of them.
What a cool idea if Nissan could pull it off with Lucas Arts and the entire franchise. They might sell a boat load of them and I for one would be the first to buy it. Much like the Jeep Call of Duty Black Ops Edition it would have to meet the demands of both sides. Do Star Wars lovers like the outdoors and driving 4wd vehicles? Is it the same market... well, it's not as good as Jeep's and COD. It would be a little far fetched. You would need an eclectic person to appreciate what was being done but hey, I would buy one (What does that say about me?)
Some of the later Xterra campaigns in print:
No comments:
Post a Comment