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Weekly Recap: Matthew McConaughey's star shines brightly for Lincoln

The commercials were a little strange at first, but the ensuing spoofs were hilarious. And all jokes aside, Matthew McConaughey has made a difference for Lincoln. Advertisements starring the Oscar winner launched in September, and the results have been impressive. The number of customers clicking on Lincoln.com to check out the MKC – the crossover McConaughey pitched – has tripled since the ads began airing, a spokesman told Autoblog. They also generated 4.4 million views on YouTube and spawned parodies by Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O'Brien, South Park and Jim Carrey on Saturday Night Live, which racked up another 15 million views. Most importantly, Lincoln's sales have increased 15 percent through November, helped significantly by the strong launch of the MKC. Without the addition of the MKC, Lincoln's sales would have been essentially flat last year. The MKC has received solid reviews from consumers and the press, though it has had several recalls. "The overwhelming response to the MKC campaign sparked truly great awareness for Lincoln," Andrew Frick, Lincoln group marketing manager, said in a statement. Now Lincoln has launched another round of spots, which kicked off New Year's Day during college football bowl games. This time, McConaughey is hawking the MKZ sedan and its hybrid sibling. The spots, called Diner and Balance, use the same artistic formula as the earlier ads, with McConaughey intoning seriously about the cars in dramatic settings. They were shot over two days in Los Angeles and were directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, a Danish filmmaker who directed the 2011 move, Drive. The ads continue Lincoln's multiyear deal with McConaughey, who has said he's been long been interested in the brand. He starred in the 2011 thriller, The Lincoln Lawyer, as a defense attorney who worked out of a Town Car, though that was before his deal with Lincoln. In one of the earlier ads, McConaughey claims: "I've been driving a Lincoln since long before anybody paid me to drive one. I didn't do it to be cool. I didn't to it to make a statement. I just liked it." That sentiment appears to have worked for the MKC's launch, and with this new advertising blitz, Lincoln hopes it carries over to the MKZ. Other News And Notes Infiniti Q30 spied in winter testing Infiniti is continuing development work on the Q30 small crossover, and we've recently captured it during winter testing.

Nissan recalling 151,000 CUVs over ABS issues

Nissan will be recalling over 151,000 vehicles due to issues with the anti-lock braking systems. On rough roads, light braking in the Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti JX35 and QX60 could trigger a problem in the brake pressure output software that might lead to longer stopping distances than expected relative to the brake inputs. Needless to say, unpredictable stopping distances on rough roads is not a desirable trait in a three-row, family friendly CUV.
The recall covers all 2013 and 2014 Nissan Pathfinders built between April 18, 2012 and September 20, 2013, some 100,682 vehicles. Another 52,629 2013 to 2014 Infiniti JX35/QX60s built between September 15, 2011 and September 20, 2013 are also part of the notice.
Nissan will request that owners of affected vehicles report to dealers for a free software update to address the problem. Scroll down for the official notification from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Driver Lets Infiniti Do The Driving For Him

Self-driving cars seem like the way of the future, but some can't stand the wait. Like this guy, driving down Germany's famous Autobahn in an Infiniti Q50 with Active Lane Control. To test how active the Active Lane Control feature really is, he moves from the driver's seat to the back seat and lets the car's suite of safety systems take control. Active Lane Control debuted in 2013 as part of the Lane Departure Prevention system. It helps Q50's driver use fewer steering inputs by compensating for road conditions. It works with the LDP to keep the vehicle in its intended lane. Used with cruise control, the car maintains its position fairly well on the road. Active Lane Control is only there to help however, not drive for you. While the technology is impressive, it certainly isn't up to the task of navigating the road full time. This driver/passenger is putting his life and the lives of everyone around him in serious danger. We suggest other Infiniti owners wait for the real deal. The future is closer than you think. Related Gallery New Tech Means Self-Driving Cars Are Already Among Us Infiniti Safety Technology Gadgets