FROM OUR SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE OCTOBER 2004
The Sunday Times: The wonder fuels that don’t deliver
“In February this year the Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints against the claims Shell was making in its adverts, including that Optimax gives “an extra burst of power just when you need it”.
By Dave Pollard of The Sunday Times
October 03, 2004
The ads claim they are wonder fuels but our test was less than impressive
It is, according to Shell, petrol “with a dash of Ferrari”. Or as BP prefers to put it, fuel with “extra oomph”. Both oil giants are piling massive marketing budgets into their premium fuels — Shell’s Optimax and BP’s Ultimate. The fuels are on sale at the same pumps as ordinary unleaded, but cost about 20p per gallon more. The companies are keen to convince you to pay.