GM Launches 'Off-color' Photo Contest For A Saturn Astra

Photo of Noel Sheppard.

In a sign of our degrading times, General Motors last week announced an online photo contest surrounding its new car the Saturn Astra.

As some readers might be a tad offended by the obvious off-color reference in this advertising stunt, the potentially sensitive details will come below the fold.

With that in mind, the following is from a July 17 GM press release (h/t Instapundit, picture courtesy Saturn):

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

Saturn today launched the “Kiss My Astra” national photo contest, offering Saturn fans an opportunity to show just how much they would love to win a new Saturn Astra.

Contestants can kiss their own Astra, a friend’s Astra or drop by any Saturn retailer and kiss their Astra, and then upload a photo of the kiss at www.ImSaturn.com. The contestant with the funniest, most creative photo – as selected by the online Saturn community – will win a 2008 Saturn XR 5-door.

Has to be a joke, right? Well, here's the information from the Saturn website:

Its time to show a little love for the Saturn Astra with ImSaturn’s Kiss My Astra photo contest!

Starting Monday, July 14, upload a photo of yourself kissing an Astra to the special section of ImSaturn.com. In September, an elite group of Astra-ologists will select 20 finalists. Visitors and members of ImSaturn will then vote for the winner.

Full rules are available here. And here is the entry form with pictures of "Recent Astra Kissers."

Finally, here's a picture of GM's Bob Lutz demonstrating how one properly kisses an Astra:

Which reminds me: in the late '70s, Dodge had a car called an Aspen. In one of the first television advertisements, an off-camera announcer asked owners, "How'd you come to pick your Aspen?"

As I recall, this ad campaign didn't last long.

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.


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NS

Are you certain this vehicle is an Astra?

From all of the smooch marks, I thought it was an Obama, after having been swarmed by the MsM. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

J, ROFL.

That was great.

The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz

What would YOU do for an

What would YOU do for an Astra?

 

i bet 10 bucks this guy

i bet 10 bucks this guy wasn't raised mooslim:)

Why, was the car not

Why, was the car not wearing a burka?

 

car sex is banned in

car sex is banned in Islam

the car would be...be-headed - most likely

TM

TM,

Unless you're REALLY drunk...oh, that's right. They ban that, TOO! ns

→ Kiss my Astra

Reminds me of the terrorist who tried to blow up a school bus.

Burned his lips on the tailpipe.

ba-dump (come on, you all laughed at that joke back in the day)

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

CA

CA,

I don't get it. :-) ns

→ NS

I'm just surprised I remember anything from "back in the day".

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

CA

CA,

I must say that's a new phrase I've never uttered, and shan't. :-) ns

→ It gets worse Noel

After all your contemporaries kick over, you're left with "back in my day"

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

"Liberalism"

This ad campaign and the nomination of Barry Obama are just the latest examples of our nation's slide into ignorance and immaturity. Modern "liberalism" at its worst.

NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"

the main thing that offends

the main thing that offends nowadays is any positive mention of Jesus:)

whereas a pornographically gay-themed "kiss my astra" could easily be a disney ride in this day and age

NBers

NBers,

Honestly, does anybody for a second believe that the winner isn't going to be some gorgeous, scantily clad young woman with huge...tracts of land?!? ns

→ Ya Think?

Above the fruited plain, I'd wager.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

Judging by the short shorts

Judging by the short shorts worn by the young girl in the "Up Your Arsenal" T-shirt that I currently see in the advertisment here on Newsbusters, I would have to say that would likely be the case.

Tell me again the difference between a "Kiss My Astra" ad campaign and selling T-shirts that say "Up Your Arsenal"

who says there's a

who says there's a difference...:)?

I would say there is no

I would say there is no difference.

No, no, no, no, no. Wait a second. The "Kiss my Astra" bit. You know, the "off-color reference" that shows "a sign of our degrading times". That wasn't shown until after the fold.

On the other hand, the chic in the "Up Your Arsenal" ad is viewable the instant you arrive at newsbusters.org.

OK then - if it brings you

OK then - if it brings you joy - mazeltov to ya:)!

→ Only the audience, cureby

Sorry you didn't get screened for age eligibility before joining NB.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

ok...so NB is not quite

ok...so NB is not quite the MSM

but other than that - THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE DARN IT

You're right. The instant I

You're right. The instant I hear about General Motors Advertising Department. The first words that come to my mind are: Mainstream Media.

which means there may

which means there may indeed be hope for you:)

G-MAD . . . Not

Actually, there is no "General Motors Advertising Department" that dreams up these things.  The Detroit ad agency Campbell-Ewald has had the GM account forever and a day.   So complain to them about it.  Of course, the GM biggies had to sign off on it . . .

Now, now. Don't get all

Now, now. Don't get all like that. She seems like an accomplished and intelligent 19 year old who undoubtedly agrees with the conservative cause.

I'm just saying. Shouldn't we be chastising the folks who made that ad because they seem to be just as guilty of supplying us another "sign of our degrading times"

But seeing's how the folks who ran that ad help pay the bills...That probably won't fly.

you cant' be

you cant' be serious:)

you nut!

→ None cureboy

I remember an airline TV commercial featuring stewardesses in hotpants.  "We move our tails for you" was the line at the end of the commercial as the tail of the plane turned onto the runway.

The market, and the Women's Movement decided  that one.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

a couple decades too

a couple decades too early:(

although the hooters airline shoulda been a big hit - what gives there?

CB

CB,

I'm surprised that ad is still here to tell you the truth. That said, I have control over what I write, and not over the ads. It was my belief that some readers might be put off by the off-color nature of this contest, and felt it appropriate to place a disclaimer. ns

I like the tv shirt girls Noel

Looks like you guys are getting more and more big name advertisers. I saw State Farm Insurance yesterday,  Lunesta today and of course our very own Mr Shy. Does not matter who it is as long as it keeps NB running right?  Might I suggest Hooters next? :-)

Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it

i know sarc would be on

i know sarc would be on board!

Oh I won't argue with you

Oh I won't argue with you there. They are free to solicit whoever they want and run whatever ads will help bring in the dough. Sex sells, no doubt about it.

But to then turn around and say the mindset behind those ads is wrong and immoral and corrupts society and so forth...Just seems kind of unseemly to me.

with saturn involved i'm

with saturn involved i'm afraid it will most likely be some butch lesbo newlyweds french kissing the car with a "Just Married Our Car" sign visible in the back window

noel, ...huge...tracts of land?

LOL-Was that another Monty Python show I missed?

Honestly, I really don't find this offensive at all. In fact, I chuckled at the sight of 'ol Bob Lutz planting one squarely on the behind of that car.

As for the winner, I bet it'll be a gay guy.  :-) 

The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz

"Honestly, does anybody for

"Honestly, does anybody for a second believe that the winner isn't going
to be some gorgeous, scantily clad young woman with huge...tracts of
land?!? ns"

Let's hope so, though huge tracts of land aren't necessary. A couple of medium sized melons will be fine. :o

*ears perk up*  

*ears perk up*

 

Hussein

Name is Obambi and the lame stream media will cover it with kisses and suck the tail pipe clean daily.

 

Old, Retired and glad of it.

→ Yep Scrap

And if I remember correctly, that tailpipe was chrome plated yesterday

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

the best looking "Astra" wins?

"..might be a tad offended by the “Kiss My Astra” ??

Well, I was going to suggest that it might depend on the condition on the Astra..

..but you're on to it - they aleady think that their Astra is really cute - so someone with an even better looking Astra (and those spacious "tracts of land..") will have to be the winner. (;~> gh

Gary

Gary,

I wonder if one of the options available is a racing suspension so that you could get a Tight Astra? ns

gay guys have an unfair

gay guys have an unfair advantage here regarding what can be done with an Astra

well, if Truth be known TruthMonger..

well, if Truth be known TruthMonger.. I'm a happily married man to a wonderful woman with family, and so is Noel ... the gay thing surely was a generic unrelated thing about others .. suddenly, I'm looking over my shoulder...

(;~> gary

well ya see Gary, saturn is

well ya see Gary, saturn is the GLBT auto of choice - I thought that was common knowledge - sorry:)

GLBT?

OK you can tell me - I don't want to look it up. And I was just teasing you (um - not in a manly way.. or anything like that). gary

Grease, Lettuce, Bacon and

Grease, Lettuce, Bacon and Tomato - stuffed between a couple of sesame seed "buns"

or maybe beaten in a burlap sack, summers in rangoon - pretty standard really

 

From what I understand,

From what I understand, females like to have things done with Astra as well.

Good thing they did not focus on the interior, the slogan would have been.

"How would you like to get inside my Astra"

Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it

At the risk of getting railed

I really don't see anything about this, it seems pretty harmless, but then again I am a "GM" faithful. :-)

"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."

"Manufacturing With The Mek", Travel Channel

I was once unfortunate enough to own a Saturn SL-2, and I don't find this is even remotely amusing, GM.

Total POS. If the Mek Tribe began building Saturns in New Guinea, they'd have better QC.

"Oogba, can I borrow your stick? I must adjust the valve lash." 

I'm sure I'm in the minority here....

but I think the campaign they got going is actually pretty creative.

Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it

the complaint here is the

the complaint here is the unsavory play on words

even perverts can be said to be "creative" once in a while

This is how it starts,

This is how it starts, people! First it's a "Kiss My Astra" contest, next they'll want to marry their sisters and screw their pets!!!

bal

bal,

Please elaborate. So, as a result of this ad, folks will marry their sisters BUT have sex with their pets?

Is this a statement about how attractive the PETS are, or how unattractive the sisters? Please advise. ns

It's the slippery slope,

It's the slippery slope, Noel! My God, the slippery slope! Saturn, a car company named after a planet named after a false idol, is leading us down the primrose path to utter moral destruction! You're next! You're next! You're next!

bal

bal,

The slippery slope? This is an ad for the Saturn Astra, not Astroglide!!!

Now THAT'S a Freudian slip!!! :-) ns

In protest, I'm having

In protest, I'm having someone crack a paddle over my Astra while I say "Thank you sir, may I have another!" while sitting in the front seat.

its a nice image:)

its a nice image:)

drilling in Anwar now

drilling in Anwar

now THERE'S a slippery slope

my garsh it could lead to utter caribou destruction

even bal's on board! how

even bal's on board!

how bad is that:)?

hi bal! we know coarse language is not a big deal to you

unless the word "Jesus" is referenced positively:)

eh

I'm surprised it's taken them this long to do it. Where I work at I hear profanity and dirty jokes nonstop, from the time I walk in until I leave, so I've become somewhat callous to it now.

I always thought the "Up Your Arsenal" girl was annoying, but I'm in the minority here.

Uranus

Could be worse.  They could have picked another planet for their brand name.  Then people might have had to kiss Uranus.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

I don't mean to point

I don't mean to point fingers here, but - I look to the right of this article and see an ad for "ThoseShirts.com."  The ad features a very sexy lady being very sexy, wearing a shirt which says "Up Your Arsenal."

Does this not seem ironically hypocritical?

I wouldn't go that far

Since NB has little control over such ad content. But it's certainly funny that because of "ThoseShirts.com" models this site has continually featured hotter women on average than even "HowardStern.com." Not that I'm complaining! :) I enjoy the girls, and to pay for hosting a site with traffic like this NB certainly needs to run ads.
JMR

The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.