HBO’s ‘The Penguin’ drives surge in demand for purple cars, Auto Trader reveals
The critically acclaimed HBO series ‘The Penguin’ has been long awaited by DC fans. Following the events of ‘The Batman’ (2022), the series explores the rise to power of Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot/The Penguin, in Gotham City. Oz can be seen driving a purple (plum) Maserati Quattroporte throughout the series.
Auto Trader, the UK’s largest automotive platform, has revealed that there has been a whopping 45% increase in searches online for purple Maserati’s following the release of ‘The Penguin’[1]. Similarly, Auto Trader found that searches for ‘purple car’ have received over 243k in the last month [1].
Many superheroes and villains have iconic cars associated with them, most notably the Batmobile. It’s no surprise that a Batman villain would be given a standout vehicle in his own TV show.
Maserati is a luxury car brand known for its exclusivity and craftsmanship. ‘The Penguin’ tells the story of Oswald’s rise to power in Gotham City. He is shown driving a purple Maserati from the first episode, symbolising Oz’s character and his deep desire to be seen as ‘royalty’ within Gotham. Driving a prestigious car throughout his rise to power reflects his desire to project status and success, despite being considered an underdog by his rivals.
The TV show has been a firm favourite among critics and viewers, with an average score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes [2]. The striking purple Maserati has led to searches for ‘The Penguin Car’ and 1,000 searches in the last month for ‘What car does The Penguin have”.
“Batman and his villains are some of the most iconic characters in comic book history. ‘The Penguin’ has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. It’s not surprising the demand for purple cars and Maseratis has piqued the interest of comic book fans and viewers, as search interest for ‘The Penguin Maserati’ has risen by 70%. Cultural zeitgeist goes hand in hand with influencing consumer behaviour. Over the last few years, bright coloured cars have gained popularity following cultural moments such as ‘Barbiecore’ cars and ‘Brat’ green cars. It’s exciting to see colourful cars begin to regain popularity as our roads have been devoid of colour in recent years.”
Drivers looking to stay up-to-date with the latest pop culture trends may find leasing a purple car an appealing option. Car leasing allows drivers to stay on top of the latest trends without the long-term commitment of owning a car and enables drivers to switch styles easily. To find out more about car leasing deals, visit Auto Trader’s website here.
[1] Google Trend Glimpse Data
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