Halo vehicle
A halo vehicle (or halo model) in automobile marketing is a car designed and marketed to showcase the talents and resources of the manufacturers and to promote sales of other vehicles within a marque.
Purpose
Car companies often design a special vehicle, usually a luxury or sports model, with the hope that customers will come to dealerships to see it, but will buy other more practical vehicles instead. Such models are intended to shine a positive light on the manufacturer, and generate a positive buzz in the press and among consumers.
Typical
Halo cars have traditionally been sports-oriented, especially in the United States. The models may also have a special body style, such as a convertible, or be a new product, or even an entire line of cars that have a cachet about them.
Disambiguation
The term can also be used to describe a vehicle that was designed to draw attention away from a manufacturer's plight and send a message that the manufacturer is undergoing a renaissance.
Opposite effect
In some cases, the attempt to create a halo model can backfire and result in bad publicity. (EXPAND)