NASCAR "Advanced Fuel Economy Dodge"; Prius branded model coming soon!

[MetroMPG]

(OK, the Prius part is a joke.)

ExxonMobil Unveils No. 77 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Dodge | Catchfence

But I found it an ... odd ... marketing combination: a 4 MPG (US) race car trying to sell fuel economy.

I went to the article expecting to read about some technical advances in the Dodge itself. But it's really about branding, not actual fuel economy. The Dodge is sponsored by Mobil, which is trying to sell people on the idea of going with lighter weight, synthetic oil to save fuel.

It gets weirder:

Before this unique version of the No. 77 car takes to the track, the weekend will kick off with The Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy NASCAR Challenge, a special event to entertain Chicago sports fans and provide them with tips on saving fuel.


The Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy NASCAR Challenge will take place on July 10 at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago. Penske NASCAR stars Sam Hornish Jr., Kurt Busch, and David Stremme – along with media celebrities such as Dan Patrick and Chicago Bear Hall of Famer Dan Hampton – will drive fuel-efficient Mobil 1-branded Smart cars on a miniature road course.

Bizarre.