It shows a man dressed in combat gear getting into a Polo and driving to a restaurant. Sitting in his car he opens his jacket, revealing a bomb strapped to his chest. He presses a detonator, but the Polo contains the explosion. The VW badge appears with the slogan: "Polo. Small but tough."
Volkswagen issued a statement denying any involvement. It appears that it was the work of viral marketing specialists known only as Lee and Dan. They have told reporters that they never intended the ad for public viewing.
Commenting to Brand Republic's newsletter Digital Bulletin, Dan said: "We think the spot reflects what people see in the news everyday, and in this instance the car is the hero that protects innocent people from someone with very bad intentions. We're sorry if the ad has caused any offence."
According to the New York Post, Volkswagen is planning legal action.