Nissan Canada Mobilizing the Country's Creative Thinkers Through Social Media

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Mar 18 (MARKET WIRE) --
Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

Nissan Canada Inc. has launched 'Hypercube', a unique social media
campaign to promote its all new cube(R) vehicle. Hypercube celebrates,
recognizes and rewards 'social creativity' in Canada. The company behind
the newest example of modern mobility is offering an online stage for 500
creative thinkers and talented individuals from across the country to
demonstrate their social creativity and audition for a chance at driving
away in one of 50 new cubes.

Creative thinkers across Canada can get on stage with other talented
individuals at hypercube.ca and engage with the Nissan cube community on
Twitter @thehypercube or Facebook.

"In the spirit of creative thinking, we are taking a new approach to
launching the cube that is exclusive to the Canadian market. Rather than
relying on traditional advertising models, our entire campaign is being
built around social media to engage with the creative class across
Canada, whose members personify the cube brand," says Jeff Parent, VP
Sales and Marketing of Nissan Canada. "We will be rewarding original
thinkers who are fuelling our spirit with a new car that epitomizes
originality."

The call for entries is open to anyone who considers themselves creative,
hip, interesting or unique, including musicians, DJs, dancers,
programmers, designers, bloggers, podcasters, poets, writers,
storytellers and artists.

The concept of 'social creativity' comes from Tony Chapman, a passionate
promoter of creativity in Canada and CEO of Capital C, Nissan's creative
partner in the Hypercube campaign.

"I think the only way individuals can stand out in this crowded world is
through the 'socialization of creativity' - putting their self
expression, passion and creative soul out there to be evaluated,
commented on and ultimately appreciated," says Chapman. "It's what Johnny
Carson did for comics and Ed Sullivan did for musicians in the heyday of
television, and it's what Nissan will be doing through social media for
today's Net Generation. It's where brands as exciting as the cube should
play the role of curator, facilitator and multiplier of the collective
imagination of Canada."

Hypercube details

Call for Entries:

Entrants must register on the Hypercube website at hypercube.ca. They
will also complete a survey, expressing why they should be selected to
audition. Entrants are also encouraged to interact with the Hypercube
community on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thehypercube.

Auditions:

Survey entries will be scored and a maximum of 1,000 entrants will be
selected as initial finalists.

The top 500 scoring finalists from amongst this group will be selected to
audition. During the auditions, finalists express themselves through an
online 'canvas' that illustrates their talents, skills and
characteristics.

Judging:

A panel of independent judges (with input from online peer voting) will
select 50 creative thinkers from across Canada to receive a 2009 Nissan
cube. Auditions will be evaluated based on the following equally weighted
criteria: (a) Uniqueness, (b) Creativity, (c) Personality, (d)
Enthusiasm, (e) Survey Responses, (f) Peer Voting.

Key Dates

The call for entries will close on April 8, 2009 at 12:01pm ET.

Survey entries will be scored during the week of April 8, 2009.

Auditions begin on April 15, 2009.

Auditions must be completed by May 15, 2009.

Judging will begin on or about May 20, 2009.

Recipients of the 2009 Nissan cube will be announced by mid-June 2009.

Just the Facts

- Nissan Canada launches 'Hypercube', a unique social media campaign to
promote its all new cube(R)

- The launch provides an online stage for 500 creative thinkers across
Canada to demonstrate their social creativity and audition for a chance
at driving away in one of 50 new cubes

- Call for entries is open to anyone who considers themselves creative,
hip, interesting or unique

- Entrants must register on the Hypercube website hypercube.ca and
complete a survey

- Entrants are encouraged to interact with the Hypercube community on
Twitter and Facebook

- Survey entries will be scored and a maximum of 1,000 entrants will be
selected as initial finalists

- The top 500 scoring finalists will be selected to audition

- During the auditions, finalists will be given an opportunity to express
themselves through an online 'canvas' that illustrates their talents,
skills and characteristics

- A panel of independent judges will select 50 creative thinkers from
across Canada

- Auditions will be evaluated based on the following equally weighted
criteria: (a) Uniqueness, (b) Creativity, (c) Personality, (d)
Enthusiasm, (e) Survey Responses, (f) Peer Voting.

Quick Links

Hypercube Web Site: http://hypercube.ca

Nissan cube Social Media News Release (English): http://budurl.com/ENcube

Nissan cube Social Media News Release (French): http://budurl.com/FRcube

Nissan Cube home page (English):
http://www.nissan.ca/vehicles/ms/cube/en/#/en/home/

Nissan Cube home page (French):
http://www.nissan.ca/vehicles/ms/cube/fr/#/fr/home/

Audition FAQ (English): http://www.hypercube.ca/en/faq.html

Audition FAQ (French): http://www.hypercube.ca/fr/faq.html

Competition Rules (English):
http://www.hypercube.ca/en/rules_and_regs.html

Competition Rules (French): http://www.hypercube.ca/fr/rules_and_regs.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nissan-cube-Canada/40479021412

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thehypercube

Images: http://hypercube.ca/media/rear.jpg

External Links

Latest review of the all new Nissan Cube:
http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/518014

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Cube

About Nissan Canada Inc.

Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and
distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America,
Inc. With offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC),
NCI directly employs 250 full-time staff. There are 150 independent
Nissan dealerships and 29 Infiniti retailers across Canada. Nissan is
dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program
2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other
emissions and increasing recycling. More information about Nissan in
Canada and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found
online at www.nissan.ca and www.infiniti.ca.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the
following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20090317-cube800.jpg

Contacts:
Media contacts:
English: Echo Communications
Jodi Echakowitz
(905) 709-9600
Email: jodi@echo-communications.com

French:
Michelle Sullivan Communications
Michelle Sullivan
pour Echo Communications
(514) 995-4015
Email: ms@michellesullivan.ca

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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