s1000r

Latest

  • BMW uses bright lights, subliminal messages to sell motorcycles (video)

    by 
    Tim Stevens
    Tim Stevens
    12.16.2010

    The BMW S1000R is fast enough and sexy enough (other than that one lazy eye) to sell itself, and you'd think a commercial showing World Superbike rider Ruben Xaus flogging one around the track would be quite enough to get people inclined to buy the things. Not enough for BMW. The company used the optical illusion of afterimage to temporarily imprint "BMW" onto the retinas of theater-goers. Behind the screen was a giant cut-out backed by an even bigger light (a Profoto Pro-7B, we're told). It flashed for an instant during the commercial and, while all the spectators noticed was a quick pop, when they were asked to close their eyes they saw the logo hovering in their vision. Subliminal? Possibly. Illegal? Maybe. Ingenious? Absolutely.