Putting your competitor in a bad light isn't very frowned upon in the US, apparently, even if you do it in a not very direct way.
Most non-car people who will watch the following Mercedes-Benz promotion video will probably never suspect that it's actually a poke against BMWs and their lack of a certain technology that was implemented about two years ago on the Mercedes-Benz SL (R231).
Called Magic Vision Control, the system is basically folding the wipers and windshield washing systems into one, as a duct system takes the water directly to the wiper blades instead of keeping it separate.
In the first few seconds, when the narrator is talking about “conventional washers and how sucky they are”, the images are actually depicting a BMW Z4 roadster. The fact is made clear when the washers are filmed from the inside, despite the BMW badge on the steering wheel being removed.
Obviously, the BMW Z4 was used on purpose, despite the Mercedes-Benz SLK (which doesn't have Magic Vision Control) being the Bavarian's true competitor instead of the big SL.
Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project. Full profile
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