Ford Mustang “RAGE” sees ASA BAN advert

A cinema advert for the Ford Mustang, encouraging people to live life to the full, has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK.

We’ve had several instances in recent years of the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK (ASA) banning car adverts after a single complaint, so the banning of a Ford advert for the Mustang after 12 complaints shouldn’t be a surprise.

The first part of the advert shows scenes of workers’ frustrations during a normal day, and the sound track is a recital of Dylan Thomas’s “Do not go gentle into that good night”, perhaps Thomas’s best know poem, famous for its “Rage, rage against the dying of the light” line.

But it seems the 12 complainants, and the ASA, have interpreted that as encouraging drivers to take out their rage on the road in a Mustang, instead of the real meaning of the poem which is to seize the day, wherever you are in life.

The ASA took particular offence at the Mustang driving down a car park ramp, accelerating on to the road from the exit, and to the Mustang’s ‘Roar’.

Ford, in its defence, pointed out that the V8’s soundtrack wasn’t enhanced in any way, and at no time in the advert was the Mustang travelling at more than 15mph.

But it fell on deaf ears and the ASA have banned the advert. The Nanny State rules.

Don’t Go Quietly New Ford Mustang Ford UK Video