Volvo Car Corporation's global online hunt for sunken treasure -- $50,000 in gold and a key to new XC90 -- launches May 4 at www.volvocanada.com/thehunt
(IRVINE, Calif., May 3, 2007) -- Volvo Car Corporation today announced the online search for a sunken treasure chest containing $50,000 in gold pieces and the keys to a new Volvo XC90 luxury SUV will begin May 4 and the company is challenging Canadians and registrants from 21 other countries to find it. The competition is in connection with the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End which opens in theatres on May 25.
The online hunt is the second in Volvo's partnership with Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise and it's the first time the competition has been open to Canadians. Last year's program was limited to residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain and Austria. The 2007 hunt begins worldwide May 4 and will conclude with a global online ‘head to head' June 2 between top performers representing each of the 22 participating countries.
To join The Hunt, participants 18 years of age and older must visit a Volvo retailer to pick up a special pirate chart and register at www.volvocanada.com/thehunt any time between May 4 and May 29.
Once registered online, participants set sail on a virtual high seas adventure and receive clues as they solve a series of challenging and fun online puzzles. People can join The Hunt at any time through May 29, and can catch up with other participants if they correctly answer the puzzles posted online. As the contest progresses, the puzzles will become increasingly harder to solve.
On June 2, the first person from each of the 22 participating countries to finish the online hunt will compete against one another in one final online challenge. To participate in the global head to head, players will be required to present an original pirate chart upon conclusion of The Hunt.
The first of those 22 individuals to solve the final puzzle will be named the winner and, should it be a Canadian, receive a trip to the burial location to retrieve the chest filled with $50,000 in pirate gold and a key to a new Volvo XC90 luxury SUV.
"Last summer, we held a treasure hunt to find a buried Volvo XC90 V8 to tie in with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and were blown away by the success - more than 100,000 participants from around the world joined in," said Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager for Volvo Cars of North America. "This year, with more countries, more booty and all the early interest, we're really excited to ‘set sail.' So, come join The Hunt!"
In addition to Canada, other countries participating in The Hunt include the United States, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Participants in The Hunt are encouraged to visit http://thehunt07.spaces.live.com, Volvo's treasure hunt blog and message board, to learn more and discuss the Hunt's developments.
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 44 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company's product range includes the elegant C70 hardtop convertible, the versatile V70 wagon, the S60 sport sedan, the compact and sporty S40 and V50, and an XC-line of vehicles that includes the rugged XC70 and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. For 2007, the company is introducing two new models: the second-generation S80 luxury flagship sedan and the stylish and sporty C30.
- 30 -
Video footage available at: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/volvo
Volvo treasure hunt blog: http://thehunt07.spaces.live.com
Volvo Canada media Web site: http://www.volvocars-pr.ca
The Hunt registration page: http://www.volvocanada.com/thehunt
Media contact:
Chad Heard
Marshall Fenn Communications
416-962-3366 x267
chadh@marshall-fenn.com
Kim McMartin
Haberman & Associates
612-372-6464
kim@habermaninc.com
