Toyota selling a car you can never drive

I recently read an article on CNN.com about Toyota and their new "internet car model". The marketing tactic is quite innovative. Basically as CNN reports: "Toyota launched a redesigned Scion xB and a new model called the xD in Second Life -- an online community with 1.2 million "residents" -- and at the Chicago Auto Show Thursday, holding simultaneous press conferences in both the real and virtual worlds."

As I understand Second Life is a game that is played over the Internet. Users move around in a "virtual world" and buy / trade items and property. In this "virtual world" users use a currency called a Linden dollar. They can buy Linden dollars for real USD dollars. In late 2006, Business Week reported about a resident who became a real millionaire (in USD) as a result of this virtual world. They did this in two and half years starting with an investment of only $9.95 USD!

Toyota is really thinking outside of the box with this tactic. But with 1.2 million users and growing (who are probably very loyal) I think it is a very intelligent tactic, no different than Ford or Coca-Cola using product placement in your favourite shows.