CarGurus uncovered a perception shift over the past year, with consumers expressing greater enthusiasm for self-driving car development.

"Call BS early and often," Witherspoon advised. "You know what's right and wrong. Don't concede. We all have to push."

Nissan got ahead of the auto show, instead debuting its 2020 Versa at Tortuga Music Festival on Fort Lauderdale Beach this past weekend.

The campaign breaks in the fall under the "Built Ford Proud" banner. It is the first effort from new AOR BBDO, says Ford's Patterson.

"Social media engagement is all about quality over quantity," Crisp's Emma Monks tells "DriveTime."