Offbeat actor Joe Mantegna ("Body of Evidence," "Homicide") provides the streetwise voice-over in four TV spots that agency Lowe & Partners/SMS, New York, says are meant to make Mercedes-Benz more "approachable" as a brand.
The new campaign that includes print support later this year is part of Mercedes' push to use more direct and integrated marketing in 1995, a move away from product-oriented advertising.
"We want to be more relevant ... to bring a more diverse customer group into our franchise," said Andrew Goldberg, general manager of integrated marketing communications for Mercedes-Benz.