Truly, the Force is driving this Car Wars story

by Wade Ozeroff on Tuesday, December 20th, 2016

“Underneath a cloak of secrecy was truly a force to be reckoned with: the Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition.”

Los Angeles, CA – The most eye-catching display at the just-passed LA auto show belonged to Nissan’s decked-out and thematically adorned pavilion, announcing a cosmic alliance with the Star Wars film franchise.

A huge Tie Fighter dominated the approach, and the cases of Star-Wars-abilia flanking the stage drew a steady stream of observers to a collection of props and costumes from earlier movies.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Aug. 22, 2016) — Lucasfilm announced today that it is teaming up with five of the world’s most well-known brands — Duracell, General Mills, Gillette, Nissan and Verizon — for the launch of an extensive global promotional campaign in support of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” opening on December 16.

 

 

It was all in aid of the company’s major cross-promotional effort, a joint venture with Lucasfilm timed for a tie-in with the latest edition of the gigantic sci-fi property. Underneath a cloak of secrecy was truly a force to be reckoned with – the Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition.

Viewers of the heavy-rotation Nissan TV ads will by now know that “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” opens this weekend.

I was captivated when the original films took to the theatres back in the day but I haven’t paid much attention to SW since, oh, the 1980s. Don’t worry, I enrolled in a Star Wars Sensitivity class so that I don’t mix up the franchises and make a ‘live long and prosper’ joke.

Nissan is delighted with the spacy partnership, explaining that it is highlighting the technology of their popular best-selling utility vehicle, and raising awareness of the latest redesign of the whole Rogue lineup. Plus, let’s not overlook the whole fun factor – I mean, how cool would it be to be associated with Star Wars?

The company enghanced the theme at an offsite party at the Edison in downtown LA, with a marked-up Rogue with an R2 unit mounted on top X-wing style flanked by costumed Stormtroopers.

Underneath the skin of the Limited Edition and its Star Wars badges is an SV-trim Rogue, available in either black or white exterior paint; all-wheel drive and configured as a five-seater.

Black accents abound, the D-pillar is adorned with Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire logos, ensuring that the special edition will be noticed, as will the Star Wars name on the rear bumper.

A charcoal grey interior is the only choice available, and the cockpit is likewise liberally decorated, with branded floormats, kickplate and cupholders.

Powertrain is Rogue-standard (2.5L four cylinder, 170 horsepower), but the final touch, the detail that may be all the enticement fans and collectors need to seal the deal is: it comes with a Death Trooper helmet.

Only 5,400 of the Rogue One will be sold (and of that, only 400 will be coming to Canada, early next year with a sticker price of $33,998). The premium with purchase, the prize-in-the-box lure, is the full size, numbered replica of the intimidating black helmet of the iconic film bad guys. I should warn you that the helmet is not ‘wearable’. Shoot, I was all excited imagining driving around with it on my head. Sadly, it is just a sculpture made for display.

That said; wearing it would probably ruin the collector value of the piece. Remember the big deal about how original Star Wars merch, the action figures etc., are much more valuable in the original packaging.

This tie-in serves to raise awareness of the entire line. There are now three generations of fans out there, and enthusiasm for George Lucas’ groundbreaking fictional world hasn’t waned.

If you are not one of the lucky 400, the unadorned SV trim comes pretty well equipped. It is the middle-of-the-pack trim level, between the base ‘S’ model and the more hoity-toity and leathery SL Platinum at the top end; providing a package of backup camera, remote start, keyless entry and push-button start balanced atop the standard seventeen-inch wheels.

The SV also adds a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat (which I found I like better than the seat in the more upscale Platinum) and when optioned with the available SV moonroof + Technology equipment group (which drives up by about twenty-seven hundred bucks) completes the safety suite with object-detection sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and an around-view monitor display.

The base Rogue starts at $27,248 and ends at $36,048 for the SL Platinum. An SV trim without options starts at $29,848

wade [dot] ozeroff [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca