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Ford and Cadillac embroiled in ad war

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Time 5:19 pm, March 28, 2014

Screen shot 2014-03-28 at 17.09.26FORD has boldly reacted to a Cadillac advert that has sparked controversy among Americans.

Cadillac recently created an advert that focused on the theme of an owner enjoying the benefits of the high-life (such as owning a Cadillac) due to him working hard and not taking August off for a holiday.

Screen shot 2014-03-28 at 17.09.34In the film, actor Neil McDonough is a rich American who gives a monologue on why Americans are so successful in life. His character owns an expensive house and drives the new Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid.


They are ‘crazy-driven hard-working believers’, he says, and if ‘you work hard, you create your own luck and you’ve got to believe anything is possible.’ And as for owning things like a Cadillac, ‘that’s the bonus for only taking two weeks off in August. N’est-ce pas?’

Screen shot 2014-03-28 at 17.09.41But the advert sparked controversy for presenting a skewed view of the American work ethic. And now rival Ford has reacted by creating its own ‘work ethic’ ad that parodies Cadillac’s.

For its advert, the Blue Oval uses Pasho Murray, a real hardworker who created Detroit Dirt – a company that turns waste materials into useable compost for urban dwellers’ gardens.


Screen shot 2014-03-28 at 17.09.50In the ad, Murray talks to the camera in a similar way but with a different message. She says: ‘It’s pretty simple. You work hard, you believe that anything is possible, and you try to make the world better. You try. As for helping the city grow good, green, healthy vegetables? That’s the upside of giving a damn. N’est-ce pas?’

And the car she drives in the advert? A Ford C-Max Energi hybrid.

Take a look at the adverts below and let us know what you think by posting your views in our Car Dealer Forum.

James Batchelor's avatar

James – or Batch as he’s known – started at Car Dealer in 2010, first as the work experience boy, eventually becoming editor in 2013. He worked for Auto Express as editor-at-large and was the face of Carbuyer’s YouTube reviews. In 2020, he went freelance and now writes for a number of national titles and contributes regularly to Car Dealer. In October 2021 he became Car Dealer's associate editor.



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