Prius and Mini Cooper among "Products of the Decade"

The Toyota Prius and BMW Mini Cooper are two automobiles named among other Products of the Decade by industry publication Advertising Age.

Both cars are deemed by Advertising Age to have changed consumer behavior and how brands go to market, with the Prius pushing "other carmakers to dial up their green advertising" and the Mini relying on "more unconventional tactics to create buzz." Other Products of the Decade include Apple's iPod and the genre-defining Guitar Hero game.

The Toyota Prius was the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle in the world, prompting follow-ups from almost every major vehicle manufacturer. Despite this, it remains the most popular hybrid car on the market and successive models have been awarded multiple accolades for design and technology. After its US debut in 2000, the car became a hit in Hollywood, appearing in magazines with celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz behind the wheel. Since then, Toyota has steadily increased production and is planning a totally electric version of the car within two years.

BMW began production of the "new" Mini Cooper in 2001, revealing a redesigned, sportier hatchback that evoked memories of the fashion icon star of 1969 film  The Italian Job. Advertising Age praised the efforts of ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, which created a viral campaign around Mini counterfeits that was an instant online hit. Today's car adverts, which heavily use viral material, rich media and social networking sites trace their lineage partially back to the US launch of the Mini.

http://adage.com/article?article_id=141032