Modified Cars on UK TV Adverts?

Does anyone know if theres a reason why adverts on TV that, for any specifc reason involve a car, tend to have the car modified so as not to look like a current model. For example a few adverts that I can think of are :


Direct Line .. where the bricks fall on the car .. this looks like a hybrid of a BMW and SAAB.


DVLA TAX Licence .. Where the car is crushed when he attempts to open the door, this again looks like to different models that have been debadged and chopped together.


Ford Mondeo or Fiesta .. where all the cars are attached to balloons .. all these cars are unrecognisible





Would this be copyright or would the manufacturers insists on payments if their products are used in other adverts ... any ideas ?
Modified Cars on UK TV Adverts?
It is so that they don't unfairly disparage another car.


In car adverts, the disguised cars are usually older models from the same brand - in the Mondeo advert, some of the cars hung from balloons are recognisably modified Fords such as late Sierra, MkV Escort and MkI Focus, while in the Nissan Qashqai advert there are a number of US-market Nissans in the car park. The disguising means (to most people) they aren't harming the image of any particular car, while using their own models means no other brand can claim damages.
Modified Cars on UK TV Adverts?
Yeah you're totally right - its probably so they don't get sued for implying that other people's cars aren't as good as theirs!





What i wanna know is - on the car tax advert you're on about - why the lad and his girlfriend - walking back to his car - BOTH go round to the drivers side of the car? Where the hell was she intending on sitting i wonder?!
Reply:Maybe they ask the car manufacturers for sponsorship (aka money) and if they don;t give it to them they make the car look a bit different?
Reply:is so to not discredit the manufacturer and or coopyright problems, manufacturers do not like to have their cars smashed up on the tele!
Reply:They're advertising their product, not endorsing the car.