autoevolution
 

Phteven the Dog Does a Volkswagen Diesel Car Commercial

Knowing many negative rumors surround diesel fuel, Volkswagen USA has launched a series of commercial featuring old ladies who debunk old wives tales. We've already shown you a couple of them in which Tanner Foust is involved, but the latest features an internet celebrity of a totally different kind.
Phteven the Dog Does a Volkswagen Diesel Car Commercial - Video 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Of course, everybody with an internet affinity knows about Phteven. That's the nickname given to Tuna, a chihuahua-dachsund mix with a prominent overbite and lower jaw problem.

He became famous after his owner launched an Instagram feed in November 2011 and now has his own line of merchandise, including shirts, mugs and phone covers. The dog belongs to Courtney Dasher, who donates part of her proceeds to the ASPCA, as well as the rescuer who originally found Tuna.

Anyway, there's something undeniably funny about this weird pooch, so he's idea for a car commercial with a bunch of old ladies who freely talk about "marinated camel crap". Do dogs really smell like diesel fumes?

The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel is one of the more expensive models in the range, starting at $21,640 without including the destination charge. The compact sedan may look as boring as a cardboard box, but the 2-liter TDI is a brand new EA288 unit and produces 150 horsepower and noticeably more torque than its petrol equivalents.

While it's down 20 hp on the Jetta 1.8T, fuel economy is far better. On the highway, it's supposed to get up 46 mpg, compared to just 37 for the 1.8. It's almost as efficient as the Jetta Hybrid, but costs $6,000 less. Think of all the dog clothes you could buy with that money.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories