The magazine, The eclair, The bagel - Dacia | Clapboard Ad Archive

Dacia's 2016 campaign The Magazine, The Éclair, The Bagel, developed by Publicis for the French market, encapsulates a bold shift in automotive communication by recasting the value proposition of its models through an everyday, instantly relatable lens. Rather than leaning on aspirational tropes or technical minutiae, the work deploys a distinctly playful and disruptive creative device—one that sits squarely within Clapboard's FORMAT#9—Symbolize the Benefit, as it transforms common items like magazines, éclairs, and bagels into metaphorical stand-ins for the car itself at the €3-a-day lease price point. Each film and supporting asset centers on characters who invest these affordable objects with outsized excitement, humorously dramatizing the idea that driving a new Dacia can and should feel as accessible as picking up a snack or a periodical. This approach smartly sidesteps industry conventions, foregrounding the brand’s mission to democratize automotive ownership while allowing Publicis to inject a mischievous, down-to-earth attitude consistent with Dacia's brand DNA. The campaign's cross-platform execution—extending from television comedies to print, radio, digital, and social media—builds a cohesive, memorable narrative arc around price equivalence, with executions like the Valentine’s Day social activation further reinforcing the message that a new Dacia is as affordable as a token gesture of affection. In creative terms, this work challenges the expectations of the automotive category, demonstrating how symbolic juxtaposition and a single-minded focus on accessibility can punch through category clutter and deepen emotional resonance. The illustrations and comedic tone ensure broad audience engagement, but it’s the simplicity and universality of the core metaphor that powers recall and shifts perception. The campaign earns 64/100 in Clapboard’s global creative archive. Dacia’s provocative use of everyday metaphor in this campaign signals both a confident brand willing to reject industry clichés and a market that increasingly responds to clarity, wit, and genuine value.