The first pre-launch of a car using Twitter

Twitter is only just taking off in Argentina, and Wunderman Buenos Aires managed to convince Ford to run the pre-launch on Twitter, with great success.

The idea was to give the most followed twitterer in Argentina the one and only new Ford Fiesta available in the country, with the condition that he drive it for 5 straight days, tweeting about his experience. That alone is not new, but the twist was smart. Some of the most famous TV stars jumped in the car and tweeted mini interviews while being driven around in the new Fiesta.

After just 5 days, the campaign had reached over 200,000 people. That is 50% of all Twitter users in Argentina.

Why this pre-launch mechanic works

It turns product access into a live narrative. One car. One highly followed driver. A fixed time window. That constraint creates focus and makes the story easy to follow in real time.

The celebrity ride-alongs add a second layer. They keep the feed fresh, they pull in adjacent audiences, and they make the tweets feel like “content” rather than a running spec sheet.

What to borrow for your next social launch

  • Give someone real access. Scarcity is a stronger signal than claims.
  • Put a clock on it. A defined window creates urgency and repeat checking.
  • Add format variety. Mini interviews change the rhythm and widen appeal.

A few fast answers before you act

What made this a “pre-launch” on Twitter?
The story unfolded through live tweets before broad availability, anchored by one high-profile driver and one car.

What was the core execution?
Argentina’s most followed twitterer drove the country’s only new Ford Fiesta for 5 straight days and tweeted the experience.

What was the twist beyond a standard influencer test drive?
TV stars joined the ride and tweeted mini interviews while being driven around.

What result is highlighted?
Over 200,000 people reached in 5 days, described as 50% of Argentina’s Twitter users.

What is the main takeaway?
Make the launch feel like an event, not an announcement. Access plus a live format beats static messaging.