Volvo Trucks - The Chase

The scene is set for drama. Rhythmic music plays as a red-painted truck is chased by a herd of bulls down ancient cobble-stoned streets of Spain. This is the opening of the latest film in the series of Volvo Trucks’ spectacular tests. ‘The Chase’ premiers on YouTube today.

“Having bulls chase the truck through twisting alleys meant the new Volvo FL really had to prove itself. And it did,” says Lars Terling, Vice President Marketing Communications, Volvo Trucks.

In the new film ‘The Chase’ precision driver Rob Hunt, renowned for his part in major Hollywood productions, plays a starring role. His mission is to drive the Volvo FL distribution truck in a race in the medieval Spanish town – chased by several tonnes of bulls. The film also features traditional Spanish bull runners trying to catch the red truck to jump into safety from amongst the bulls.

The stunt is real. “The city is old, the streets are narrow and we drive on slippery cobblestones. To be chased by bulls on top of that is a real challenge,” says Rob Hunt. During the test he had to maintain a speed of at least 30 kilometres an hour just to keep out of the way of the bulls.

“The bulls maintained a consistently high speed and were really close sometimes, but the truck handled the corners very well so it was just a matter of driving,” says Rob Hunt.

#TheChase was shot on closed-off streets in Ciudad Rodrigo, the original city of the bull run, in north-western Spain, with the cooperation of the Mayor and the town’s citizens. It’s directed by Oscar-nominated Henry Alex Rubin, who together with a crew of 250 people and 28 cameras including an octocopter and a 360° camera captured the live event.

“The biggest risk was that we were in a town. It was live and we had to make sure that it was safe for both people and animals. With the big rear mirrors I had a good view of the bulls and the bull runners behind me so I could keep a good safe distance,” says Rob Hunt.

The safety of both people and animals was the top priority during the spectacular event. All necessary safety precautions were taken. ”We wanted to recreate an event inspired by Spanish tradition but in our very own way so no trucks, people or bulls come to any harm,” states Lars Terling.

The soon-to-be-famous bulls have now retired to a farm outside Guadalajara, where they will enjoy their retirement in peace and quiet.

Volvo Trucks, The Hamster Stunt (Live Test 2)

“I know it’s hard to believe a hamster could drive a truck, but Charlie the hamster did it. What you see in the film is the real thing’’ says Lars Terling, Vice President Marketing Communications, Volvo Trucks.

PRESS: Exactly a year after launching viral film ‘The Ballerina Stunt’, Volvo Trucks is back with a series of new stunts. Last week Volvo Trucks released teaser-video ‘The Hook’, which has already claimed over 2 million views on YouTube. Today premiers the next daring film: ‘The Hamster Stunt’.

The film features Charlie, a tiny hamster, steering a Volvo FMX construction truck up and out of a hazardous quarry – demonstrating how easy it is to manoeuvre the 15-tonne construction truck.

“We were highly sceptical to begin with, but at the same time we could see it was a fun way to show how easy it is to steer with Volvo Dynamic Steering’’ says Lars Terling.

Charlie was chosen in a careful casting procedure and had undergone several weeks of training prior to the test. The supporting role is played by precision driver Seon Rogers, who has his feet on the pedals and a carrot to keep Charlie from driving them over the edge.

“It was a big challenge. The driver had to hold the carrot in just the right way so he could lead the hamster. If he held it too high or too low Charlie would lose interest,” explains animal trainer Grace Dickinson

The film was shot in a closed-off quarry at Los Tres Cunados, Spain, and was directed by Jamie Rafn, known for his one-take spot ‘Walk’. #TheHamsterStunt is part of a live-test strategy to dramatise the technical innovations of Volvo Trucks.

Credits:
Client: Volvo Trucks
Creative Ad Agency: Forsman Bodenfors
Director: Jamie Rafn
Producer: Ray Leakey
Production company: Smuggler
Post production: The Mill
Sound design: 750
Music: Adelphoi
Animal handler: Grace Dickinson
Precision driver/Stunt coordinator: Seon Rogers

Volvo XC60 - Twitter Ad Campaign "FollowedByVolvo"

A Twitter ad campaign, developed by BBDO Belgium, to invite people to discover the new Volvo-model XC60 which is characterized with a revolutionary braking system.

View the case study video of how Volvo invited tweeps to discover the new XC60, see how @FollowedByVolvo was able to get some of the most influential Belgium Twitter's to follow them.



Credits:
Client: Volvo Cars BeLux
Sebastien De Valck: Creative Director
Frédéric Zouag: Art Director
Nicolas Gaspart: Copywriter
Wouter Has: Digital Project Leader
Tom Verdeyen: Account Manager
Inge Wertelaers: Account Executive
Bart Muskala: Head of Digital
Jelle Willaert: Social Writer & Publisher
Ellen Pottoms: Social Writer & Publisher

Volvo of Canada - Welcome To Candanavia

Welcome to Candanavia where Scandinavian luxury meets the Canadian thirst for adventure. Candanavia is born out of the similarities between Canada & Scandanavia and Arnold Canada is the agency to tell us One could say that cars designed in Sweden are also perfectly designed for Canadians due to a range of shared similarities and sensibilities.

Candanavia builds off of Volvo's larger philosophy "Designed Around You" as it's tailored for the Canadian consumer, providing for more interesting, relevant & engaging communications.

Credits:
Client: Volvo Cars of Canada
Agency: Arnold Canada
Production: Various Production Companies
Country: Canada
Executive Creative Director: jon freir
Senior Art Director: Jeremy Lenz
Senior Copywriter: Bill Schaefer
Account Director: Justin Xavier
Group Account Director: Ian Bryce-Buchanan
Agency Producer: Magda Czyz

How Many Truckers Fit In The New Volvo FH

How many elephants fit in a car? This question inspired choreographer Christian Vilppola from Cirkus Cirkör to squeeze a lot of truckers into the new Volvo FH.

Putting a new twist on this timeless question, the film was created to show the spacious cab in the new Volvo FH -- now one cubic metre bigger than before.

Credits:
Agency: Forsman & Bodenfors
Client: Volvo Trucks
Art Director: Anders Eklind, Sophia Lindholm
Copywriter: Martin Ringqvist, Björn Engström
Account Supervisor: Olle Victorin
Account Manager: Cilla Glenberg, Alison Arnold, Jenny Edvardsson
Agency Producer: Alexander Blidner
Designer: Jerry Wass
Planner: Tobias Nordström
Director: Patrik Gyllström
DoP: Christian Haag
Production Company: B-reel
Choreographer: Christian Vilppola
Sound Design: Plan8