Hyundai’s controversial Santa Fe advertisement returns to Australian TV screens, albeit in modified form, after being voluntarily removed by the manufacturer earlier in the year following advice from the Advertising Standard Board (ASB).

The revised ad features two nappy clad babies, with one toddler surfing while his 'girlfriend' looks on from the Santa Fe on the beach. The modified version has removed all footage involving the driving sequences that caused such a stir in the original. These scenes will apparently be replaced by footage promoting two new Santa Fe engine variants – the 3.3 V6 and the CRDi turbo diesel. If you missed the original ad the first time around, here it is, in its entirety.

According to Oliver Mann, General Manager of Marketing at Hyundai, bringing the ad back to life was in large part due to the warm reception it received the first time around.

“The Santa Fe baby advert received so much support earlier in the year with people sending in letters to newspaper editors and leaving messages on blogs commenting how heartwarming they found the ad. We’re confident the revised version of the ad will again be warmly received by viewers and further increase interest in the popular Santa Fe SUV.”

Apparently the ad is a favourite of the Today Show's Richard Wilkins. I would have thought that should be reason enough to go with an all new concept!

Incidentally, the 'baby' ad may not be the first Hyundai advertising campaign to get the company in hot water. The following ad allegedly caused quite a stir over in France.

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