A true Fender double bass like you've never seen ....

[uwe]

Go here first:

http://www.ford.co.uk/ns7/focmca/-/-/focmca_micro/-/-/-/#

Then hit "visit the new Focus "beautifully arranged" microsite (flash)" in blue lettering on the right hand side of what you see.

Wait for the animation to assemble the car. Eventually a violin key will appear at the right headlight of the car. Hit it and voilà you have a fender double bass! With the options shown above it you can even hear it play in a small orchestra of instruments made from other auto parts with each instrument's volume separately adjustable.

I first (see the next para for my revelatory experience though!) had no idea whether Ford's design department actually built those instruments and recorded them - the music sounds pretty much wood instruments to me. But I find the design of the Fender Double Bass quite stunning, sort of like the Bongo designers from BMW helped out plus some alien intelligence inspiration.

There is an advertisement campain in Germany (that is how I got to this) where a double bass player is pictured besides the Focus car playing the above "Fender double bass". Only in the advert the "Fender double bass" doesn't look as computer animated as on the above microsite but like something they actually built, maybe only as a (non-playable) prop for the photo shooting I thought. So I started searching and if you hit "media" and "videos" on the above Focus microsite, you actually do see a luthier building an electric guitar from the car parts and playing it, so its not just props either! Right down to an interview with the composer of the classical piece and its recording at Capitol Studios. The last vid features the orchestra playing all that stuff and its available on youtube:

(Fender double bass featured at 0.12/0.13)

"Fender double bass" -man those advertisement guys actually had humor.  And a lovingly executed idea.

Blame it on my morning coffee and maybe its all one giant PR hoax, but I like it    (though the Focus car looks pretty unspectacular if you ask me).

Uwe

[Barklessdog]

So elaborate and bizarre for a little economy car. Is this an Europe only campaign?

[uwe]

Is the Focus even available for you guys? I thought you only drive HUM-Vs and SUVs?

[the mojo hobo]

We have had the Focus for quite some time, but I think it's a completely different car.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focus/

Although the new Focus on the Ford site looks pretty spiffy, the Focuses seen on American roads are just unremarkable compact cars.

[Dave W]

What do you call a Ford Focus owner with 50,000 miles on his car?

Lucky. 

[chromium]

I thought you only drive HUM-Vs and SUVs?

Only if they're "green".  Just look how happy young Buford is with his new hybrid-electric PowerWagon!

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

That is some very creative marketing indeed! Luvvit!

Too bad it's for such a small unworthy car tho' for sure.

[Barklessdog]

Not a fender but a Maytag!

[nofi]

' any idiot with a major appliance '. i like it

[PhilT]

More carparts music and some background to the ad.

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/features/article3451468.ece

[uwe]

Still amazed how good and natural this all sounds. Next thing they will built a car from basses.

[Barklessdog]

You mean the Fender or the freezer kick drum???

[Chris P.]

This campaign is shown in Holland too. And I asked myself the same questions as Uwe. Are they real instruments or not. I think they aren't, but they could be!

[uwe]

By now I believe that they are actual instruments, it would be too expensive a marketing hoax otherwise. The instruments will probably end in some modern art/design museum or be auctioned off for charity.

[Dave W]

From what I can see, they do seem to be real.