Iacocca, Snoop Dogg pair up in Chrysler ad

Former Chrysler Corp. chairman Lee Iacocca and Snoop Dogg appear together in Chrysler Group’s latest ads for its employee-pricing program, a duo guaranteed to raise some eyebrows.

The 80-year-old Iacocca and Snoop Dogg, who made his name rapping about sex and marijuana, appear as golf buddies in the ad, scheduled to begin airing Saturday. Snoop Dogg wears an argyle sweater vest, while Iacocca dons a pastel plaid hat.

At the end of the TV spot, Snoop Dogg says: “If the ride is more fly, then you must buy.” Iacocca responds: “That’s what I hear.”

Chrysler spokeswoman Suraya DaSante said the pairing isn’t as odd as it seems. Snoop Dogg is a bona fide Chrysler fan who called company President and CEO Dieter Zetsche last year asking for a Chrysler 300C sedan.

“They’re both total car guys,” DaSante said.

Iacocca has filmed three other ads as part of the $75 million campaign, including one ad featuring former “Seinfeld” co-star Jason Alexander.

Iacocca is donating his fee to the Iacocca Foundation, which fights diabetes. Chrysler also agreed to become a sponsor of JoinLeeNow, a diabetes fund-raising effort.

Snoop Dogg also has a charity, the Snoop Youth Football League, but DaSante said she didn’t know if he was donating his fee. A message was left with a spokeswoman for the rapper.

Chrysler said this week that it is indefinitely extending its incentive program, which lets consumers pay the employee price for most 2005 vehicles. The program, which began last month, had been scheduled to end Monday, but Chrysler extended it after seeing its sales jump 32 percent in July.

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