The Oscars are this Sunday, and as the Academy prepares to select the Best Picture, it falls to us in the automotive community to select another equally fabulous award:The Automotive Oscar, aka "best movie use of cars." This most coveted award is sure to inspire great controversy, and it's up to you, the brave readers of this article, to decide who should take home the automotive gold. The Oscar 2012 movies are full of vehicular visuals, from country romps to high-speed car chases and even time travel. Let's take a look and see which sweet ride you think is worthy of taking home the trophy for "Best Movie Car."

Nominee One: "The Help." This Civil Rights centered film set in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi is a classic car candy store. In addition to a dream team of A-list actors, vintage vehicles play a starring role in the film. In fact, many classic car enthusiasts have applauded this movie's devout dedication to accurate vehicle depictions. And the nominee categories are:

Best Car Star: The Dark Blue 1962 Cadillac Convertible driven by title heroine, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan.

Best Vehicle Villain: The 1963 Ford Fairlane station wagon driven by the film's vile antagonist, Hilly Holbrook. Extra evil points for her abusive driving behavior, including flooring her car through dirt roads and even (gasp) using the backseat as her personal beer bottles trash can.

Best Car Cameo For Comedic Effect: The beater 1950 Chevrolet farm truck, complete with trailing plow discs, that Skeeter is forced to drive on a dinner date when her brother makes off with her Cadillac.

What the Critics Say: "My hat's off to the movie producers for their faithful depiction of all these cars," says Doane Yawger, reporter for the Merced Sun Star, "That's no small feat; all it takes is one late-model Camry to ruin the whole scene. Thankfully, that didn't happen here."

Fun Movie Trivia: The directors actually solicited antique car clubs to donate vehicles to increase the authenticity of the film, paying car-owners $125 a day for use of their vehicles. They hit the jackpot: 9 vehicles from local car clubs were donated for use in the film.

Nominee Two: Drive. Ok, so it only got one measly nomination for Sound Editing (cough, Ryan Gosling got robbed, cough) but it is an Oscar nominee and it is the ultimate car movie, so let's take a look at the categories.

Best Super-Hero Alter Ego: Just like Clark Kent and Superman, the 1973 Chevy Malibu driven by Gosling aka "The Driver" in this film serves as his perfect unassuming cover, his "by day" persona that provides great contrast to his moonlight persona as a daring getaway car driver. After all, who would suspect a guy driving a Chevy Malibu? And who would date 0ne? Answer below!

Best Automotive Meet-Cute: While one wouldn't expect such a gritty, violent movie to borrow from classic chick flick tropes, The Driver meets his lady love, Carrie Mulligan when-wait for it-her car breaks down. Gosling, a mechanic by day, comes to her rescue. The use of a late-model Toyota Camry is also perfect here; the dreary maroon vehicle serves as a perfect correlation for Mulligan's seemingly average girl persona.

Best Vehicle Villain: Depending on your moral worldview regarding getaway vehicles, a strong contender could be The Driver's black Ford Mustang 5.0 This sleek black ride brings out Gosling's dark side; he uses it to hightail bad guys out of heist after heist.

What the Critics Say: "Cars take little precedence in Drive, but each vehicle serves as a reflection of the people who drive them."-The Mojo Motors Blog

Fun Movie Trivia: Director Nicolas Winding Refn has said the movie is an homage to another great driving movie, Taxi Driver. Nominee Three: Midnight in Paris.

Best Use of Time Travel: There's really only one vehicle featured in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, but it's magic, so that definitely constitutes a nom. Owen Wilson's nostalgia-struck hero Gil Pender travels to the roaring 20's via a Peugeot Landaulet 184 dating from the same era. Although the film's couldn't be more different aesthetically, it's impossible to see a time-traveling vehicle and not recall the beloved Back To The Future Eldorado, possibly the greatest car star of all time.

What the Critics Say: "The mechanism by which Gil travels back (via vintage automobile at midnight) to his beloved era goes happily unexplained, thus eliminating the sci-fi wheels and pulleys that tend to suck up so much screen time in time-travel movies"-David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Fun Movie Trivia: The Peugeot apparently met director Woody Allen's requirements that the chosen vehicle have “a driver’s compartment with a convertible roof and a covered passenger compartment.” (Not the highest standards...but neither again neither were Gil Pender's when he got together will the shallow Inez-burn!)

That's all the coverage we have! Who's your favorite? Is there a dark horse favorite we didn't mention? Vote for your pick for Automotive Oscar in the comments below!

The Oscars are this Sunday, and as the Academy prepares to select the Best Picture, it falls to us in the automotive community to select another equally fabulous award:The Automotive Oscar, aka "best movie use of cars." This most coveted award is sure to inspire great controversy, and it's up to you, the brave readers of this article, to decide who should take home the automotive gold. The Oscar 2012 movies are full of vehicular visuals, from country romps to high-speed car chases and even time travel. Let's take a look and see which sweet ride you think is worthy of taking home the trophy for "Best Movie Car."

Nominee One: "The Help." This Civil Rights centered film set in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi is a classic car candy store. In addition to a dream team of A-list actors, vintage vehicles play a starring role in the film. In fact, many classic car enthusiasts have applauded this movie's devout dedication to accurate vehicle depictions. And the nominee categories are:

Best Car Star: The Dark Blue 1962 Cadillac Convertible driven by title heroine, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan.

Best Vehicle Villain: The 1963 Ford Fairlane station wagon driven by the film's vile antagonist, Hilly Holbrook. Extra evil points for her abusive driving behavior, including flooring her car through dirt roads and even (gasp) using the backseat as her personal beer bottles trash can.

Best Car Cameo For Comedic Effect: The beater 1950 Chevrolet farm truck, complete with trailing plow discs, that Skeeter is forced to drive on a dinner date when her brother makes off with her Cadillac.

What the Critics Say: "My hat's off to the movie producers for their faithful depiction of all these cars," says Doane Yawger, reporter for the Merced Sun Star, "That's no small feat; all it takes is one late-model Camry to ruin the whole scene. Thankfully, that didn't happen here."

Fun Movie Trivia: The directors actually solicited antique car clubs to donate vehicles to increase the authenticity of the film, paying car-owners $125 a day for use of their vehicles. They hit the jackpot: 9 vehicles from local car clubs were donated for use in the film.

Nominee Two: Drive. Ok, so it only got one measly nomination for Sound Editing (cough, Ryan Gosling got robbed, cough) but it is an Oscar nominee and it is the ultimate car movie, so let's take a look at the categories.

Best Super-Hero Alter Ego: Just like Clark Kent and Superman, the 1973 Chevy Malibu driven by Gosling aka "The Driver" in this film serves as his perfect unassuming cover, his "by day" persona that provides great contrast to his moonlight persona as a daring getaway car driver. After all, who would suspect a guy driving a Chevy Malibu? And who would date 0ne? Answer below!

Best Automotive Meet-Cute: While one wouldn't expect such a gritty, violent movie to borrow from classic chick flick tropes, The Driver meets his lady love, Carrie Mulligan when-wait for it-her car breaks down. Gosling, a mechanic by day, comes to her rescue. The use of a late-model Toyota Camry is also perfect here; the dreary maroon vehicle serves as a perfect correlation for Mulligan's seemingly average girl persona.

Best Vehicle Villain: Depending on your moral worldview regarding getaway vehicles, a strong contender could be The Driver's black Ford Mustang 5.0 This sleek black ride brings out Gosling's dark side; he uses it to hightail bad guys out of heist after heist.

What the Critics Say: "Cars take little precedence in Drive, but each vehicle serves as a reflection of the people who drive them."-The Mojo Motors Blog

Fun Movie Trivia: Director Nicolas Winding Refn has said the movie is an homage to another great driving movie, Taxi Driver. Nominee Three: Midnight in Paris.

Best Use of Time Travel: There's really only one vehicle featured in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, but it's magic, so that definitely constitutes a nom. Owen Wilson's nostalgia-struck hero Gil Pender travels to the roaring 20's via a Peugeot Landaulet 184 dating from the same era. Although the film's couldn't be more different aesthetically, it's impossible to see a time-traveling vehicle and not recall the beloved Back To The Future Eldorado, possibly the greatest car star of all time.

What the Critics Say: "The mechanism by which Gil travels back (via vintage automobile at midnight) to his beloved era goes happily unexplained, thus eliminating the sci-fi wheels and pulleys that tend to suck up so much screen time in time-travel movies"-David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Fun Movie Trivia: The Peugeot apparently met director Woody Allen's requirements that the chosen vehicle have “a driver’s compartment with a convertible roof and a covered passenger compartment.” (Not the highest standards...but neither again neither were Gil Pender's when he got together will the shallow Inez-burn!)

That's all the coverage we have! Who's your favorite? Is there a dark horse favorite we didn't mention? Vote for your pick for Automotive Oscar in the comments below!

A Car Dealer Call to Arms

Imagine a world where car dealers earned the same community respect as fire fighters, police officers and other local philanthropists. A world where little kids dream of being car dealers when they grow up, where you receive recognition in your local paper, where community members stop by your place of business just to chat. Maybe this is already happening at your dealership, but if so, you’re the exception rather than the rule. Why is that?

Will the Perception Catch Up with Positive Industry Changes?

After all, the industry has consistently marched in the right direction with a focus on professionalism, transparency and customer service.  With the advent of Monroney stickers, Regulation Z, and Certified Pre-owned vehicles, dealerships have certainly become more ethical than the days filled with stories of throwing a prospect’s keys on the roof if they wouldn’t buy a car. So why is the perception still there? Frankly, it’s because dealers are their own worst enemy.

What I’ve found in my 13 years in the automotive marketing industry is that car dealers are too often the ‘unsung heroes’ of their communities. They too plant trees, sponsor Little League teams, and participate in their local Rotary clubs. They do as much or more for the community as many other esteemed business leaders. However, due to a variety of self-defeating behavior, these good deeds aren’t imprinting themselves on the public consciousness they way they should be.

Dealer Social Media Channels Add High-Impact Personal Appeal

Many dealers have caught on that a personal touch may help build a rapport with customers; now it’s time to get savvy about using new channels to build your dealership’s public persona in the most optimal way. (Note: There was just a great Driving Sales post about building an emotional connection on Twitter-we agree 100% and wanted to speak a little more broadly about how to apply the same principles to your entire dealership social media strategy.) Instead of posting pictures of your dog and your softball team on your website (which could be a distraction to hot-on-the-trail customers eager to buy) dealers should instead transfer these reputation-building efforts to their social media channels. “This will allow you to stay in touch with clients who are still in the consideration phase-possibly torn between you and a competitor with similar inventory,” Muilenburg explains. ”Your ‘good guy/gal’ perception will then naturally pay off to tip the tides in your favor.” Here’s how to do it:

Must-Do’s for Making Your Dealership Social Media “Like”able

1. Post blog entries about your community involvement, include photos and videos
2. Share stories and information about your local area
3. Let your personality shine in your status updates
4. Show excitement about things important to your community, like the college football team, or the summer concert series, etc
5. Reward your fans

By instituting these five simple steps, you as a dealer can finally begin to gain recognition as the community hero that you truly are. If every dealer takes these actions to heart, we will finally be on our way to transforming the industry perception once and for all.

Matt Muilenburg, Vice President of Social Media at ADP Digital Marketing

Matt Muilenburg is Vice President of Social Media  for ADP Digital Marketing Solutions, where  he has been working closely with dealers and OEMs to identify new ways to improve automotive retailing and marketing effectiveness.  When not sitting in front of a gadget, you’ll find Matt volunteering at the YMCA, attending his kids academic, musical and athletic events, or releasing stress by working in his yard and garden. You can reach Matt at mattm@cobaltgroup.com or call him at 206-219-8259.

The Cobalt Group

www.cobalt.com
www.twitter.com/CobaltMarketing
www.facebook.com/CobaltTalent

A Car Dealer Call to Arms

Imagine a world where car dealers earned the same community respect as fire fighters, police officers and other local philanthropists. A world where little kids dream of being car dealers when they grow up, where you receive recognition in your local paper, where community members stop by your place of business just to chat. Maybe this is already happening at your dealership, but if so, you’re the exception rather than the rule. Why is that?

Will the Perception Catch Up with Positive Industry Changes?

After all, the industry has consistently marched in the right direction with a focus on professionalism, transparency and customer service.  With the advent of Monroney stickers, Regulation Z, and Certified Pre-owned vehicles, dealerships have certainly become more ethical than the days filled with stories of throwing a prospect’s keys on the roof if they wouldn’t buy a car. So why is the perception still there? Frankly, it’s because dealers are their own worst enemy.

What I’ve found in my 13 years in the automotive marketing industry is that car dealers are too often the ‘unsung heroes’ of their communities. They too plant trees, sponsor Little League teams, and participate in their local Rotary clubs. They do as much or more for the community as many other esteemed business leaders. However, due to a variety of self-defeating behavior, these good deeds aren’t imprinting themselves on the public consciousness they way they should be.

Dealer Social Media Channels Add High-Impact Personal Appeal

Many dealers have caught on that a personal touch may help build a rapport with customers; now it’s time to get savvy about using new channels to build your dealership’s public persona in the most optimal way. (Note: There was just a great Driving Sales post about building an emotional connection on Twitter-we agree 100% and wanted to speak a little more broadly about how to apply the same principles to your entire dealership social media strategy.) Instead of posting pictures of your dog and your softball team on your website (which could be a distraction to hot-on-the-trail customers eager to buy) dealers should instead transfer these reputation-building efforts to their social media channels. “This will allow you to stay in touch with clients who are still in the consideration phase-possibly torn between you and a competitor with similar inventory,” Muilenburg explains. ”Your ‘good guy/gal’ perception will then naturally pay off to tip the tides in your favor.” Here’s how to do it:

Must-Do’s for Making Your Dealership Social Media “Like”able

1. Post blog entries about your community involvement, include photos and videos
2. Share stories and information about your local area
3. Let your personality shine in your status updates
4. Show excitement about things important to your community, like the college football team, or the summer concert series, etc
5. Reward your fans

By instituting these five simple steps, you as a dealer can finally begin to gain recognition as the community hero that you truly are. If every dealer takes these actions to heart, we will finally be on our way to transforming the industry perception once and for all.

Matt Muilenburg, Vice President of Social Media at ADP Digital Marketing

Matt Muilenburg is Vice President of Social Media  for ADP Digital Marketing Solutions, where  he has been working closely with dealers and OEMs to identify new ways to improve automotive retailing and marketing effectiveness.  When not sitting in front of a gadget, you’ll find Matt volunteering at the YMCA, attending his kids academic, musical and athletic events, or releasing stress by working in his yard and garden. You can reach Matt at mattm@cobaltgroup.com or call him at 206-219-8259.

The Cobalt Group

www.cobalt.com
www.twitter.com/CobaltMarketing
www.facebook.com/CobaltTalent