This is disgustingly impressive...

[Maestro]

Duh! I just found the web page address in the booklet. Did anyone else notice all the other BS books for sale (crop circles, loch ness monster, area 51, etc.). While I agree that the video of the robot stopping the Land Rover is probably a fake, the technology for such a robot is totally plausible. Using NASA-level engineering, someone could easily build a robot of this stature and complexity (but probably not out of Mini Cooper parts).

 

[epj3]

Mini always has crazy marketing strategies.

 

[ThinkingBMW]

Like i said, impressive cg (computer graphics)

Of course its not real!!!! if it were you would have heard about it on tv, and it wouldnt have a gas burning engine in it.

Pretty sure it's not a working robot. But it looks like it might be one impressive sculpture! In either case, it's a very creative joke.

 

[Dinan55]

I read part of that excerpt from that Men of Metal, it's pretty dull and common. I stopped reading after the part where the guy leaves in the range rover. Ok, if you were so sure you were about to die, and two seconds later you don't, what would be the first thing you do after your little adventure? Bright lights, aliens, abominable snowmen, I honestly don't give a damn, I know that the first thing I'm going to do sure as hell isn't take out my camera, which was conveniently placed near me, and take a picture of some random hand-type thing. I'd probably just sit there for a few hours thinking how lucky I am. Who reads this shit?

 

[jezmez68]

In RS, too.

I guess you guys have been talking about this for a while. Just read through the "Men of Metal" deal that was in my Rolling Stone. WTF? I'm thinking that if this is an excerpt, there must not be much else to the story.

Sure enough, the book's not on Amazon and you can't find anything but this message board that talks about it. Must be a farce.

 

[chockenberry]

Oh Yeah

OK, I just spent about an hour researching this. A couple of key points I need to make to show this is fake. One it claims in the booklet that this all took place in 2003, and that he found the website with the sketches in 2003, yet, Icann shows that the r50rd site, along with the publishing company site, and the linked yahoo site were all registered in January of this year. The book is not listed on any published upcoming release list, and none of the other books on the publishing site are listed either. Last, remember that the mini was purchased by BMW, who did the whole bmw films contest. I wonder if this is a new contest like last years.

 

[Jake2929]

Men Of Metal - Ad

I just thought I'd write in response to the "Men Of Metal" Advertisment that you've been discussing. For those of you who aren't aware that this is an advert - get a grip. For those hoping for a Transformer like vehicle - get a grip. For those who are criticizing the "novel" approach (pun intended) - get a grip.

Mini has created quite a stir in their advertising appraoches. This is just one more method to their madness. I see from the thread that it is working.

As for the mechanical and technical aspects of such a vehicle - if they were possible - what function would they serve other than an attraction at a Monster Truck Rally? Ask yourself, "What purpose would this kind of creation serve?"

Anyone got a response?

 

[Jeep]

Elaborate Advert. I loved it!

I read this when I received a copy in an outdoor mag. Nice little story, but when I finished it I didn't wonder if it was real or not, I simply wanted to rush out and get a Mini.

This is possibly the best advertising campaign of our era. Who ever came up with this is a friggin' genius!

 

[Xyrium]

Hrmm, the site is registered to David Mayhew, the email address for contacting the individual in the videos is colinmayhewphd@yahoo.co.uk


Someone should write to him!