Prestin Persson really drives men wild in Ford's "Speed Dating" prank for the Mustang.
Persson, a leading stunt car driver, was hired by the automaker for a prank video from Team Detroit and production house The Work. The guys in the clip, all aspiring actors, believe they're auditioning for a new dating show starring Persson, and are unaware of her skills behind the wheel. After meeting in a bistro for supposed "chemistry checks," Persson takes each for a spin in her red Mustang GT, which is fitted with hidden cameras, naturally.
At first, the dudes act all macho. One brags that he's "a very adventurous guy." Another, bizarrely, describes himself as a "ninja." (She should've smacked him.) Yet another offers to drive so he can show Persson "what this thing can do."
Ultimately, she shows them, in an empty parking lot, with some crazy-ass, high-speed driving straight out of an action movie. Brakes screech! Rubber burns! The reactions are predictable but amusing. One dude barely manages to croak out "Why are we going so fast?" as he grips the armrest for dear life. Another laughs spasmodically, as if he'll never stop. A couple of guys get into the spirit of things, shouting, "That's what I'm talkin' about!" and "Yeah, baby!"
When the gag is revealed at the end, all the men seem like good sports. Ford exec Andrea Zuehlk assured USA Today that the unsuspecting guy had fun, "but a lot of things hit the cutting room floor." (Perhaps some bits of lunch hit the Mustang's floor? Maybe we'll find out in a behind-the-scenes clip someday.)
The vibe is similar to Jeff Gordon's "Test Drive" pranks for PepsiMAX. And like those viral smashes, Ford's effort is tearing up the fast lane, with almost 10 million YouTube views since its launch a week before Valentine's Day.
CREDITS
Client: Ford
Agency: Team Detroit
Director: The Work
