This is an embarrassing truth, but one that I’m not likely to ever break free of. It’s one of the reasons that I own a convertible to be sure, but it also explains my predilection for cold-as-hell late-night top-down motoring. See, I got my first car right around the time that Miami Vice ruled Friday nights on NBC. Going out after watching the show would invariably result in a dramatic, film-noir drive home—window down, soundtrack up.

Frankly, I’ve never really gotten over the magic of the late-night drive. The reflections, the lack of traffic, the clean night air, it all adds up to something that by itself can be quite exceptional.

Volkswagen UK is leveraging this feeling to some considerable effect in their new campaign, Night Driving. The accompanying microsite isn’t long on flashiness or information, but it is mesmerizing nonetheless. This is largely accomplished by way of really seamless video integration and a large palette of selectable camera angles.

Of course, it ain’t Crockett and Tubbs driving through Miami at three in the morning in a Ferrari Daytona Spyder with Phil Collins on the Alpine, but really now, what is?

Daniel Turman

PS—Compare the advertising to the original below.