MotoramicEvery 2012 Super Bowl car ad: Watch them all here
This year's Super Bowl commercial haul may represent a new high for automotive marketers, with nearly a dozen different automakers set to run spots in front of an audience of 110 million people. But getting the most for their money means releasing them early; here's our running list of the ones already online. UPDATED Tuesday with Acura and Lexus.
It only makes sense for automakers to push their Super Bowl ads online; they've already spent millions creating a spot, and every year there's a chance of winding up with an ad slot in the fourth quarter of a 35-0 blowout. All the ones released so far are gathered below; we'll update this page over the next week with new entries.
Lexus: 2013 Lexus GS Lexus' new luxury sedan has met with decent reviews except for its new grille, which is shot here in a menacing, "Aliens"-like setting that seems appropriate for something that looks like a Predator.
Acura: "Transactions" The Jerry Seinfeld-Jay Leno spot for the yet-to-be built Acura NSX plays as the most successful of the big-budget commercials to date -- but it's only Tuesday:
Cadillac: "Green Hell." Strange to say, but of all the ads we've seen, this is the most macho, braggadocious spot to emerge so far -- a sign of just how militant Cadillac plans to get when putting the Cadillac ATS against the new BMW 3-Series:
Toyota: It's Reinvented. Like the new Toyota Camry, this ad is straightforward, well-built and executed to a fine point. If you hate Camrys as the essence of everything dull in modern vehicles this won't change your mind, but it could stick with everyone else.
Chevrolet: Sonic Anthem. A collection of eye-catching stunts featuring the Chevy Sonic parachuting, bungee-jumping and hey what's OK Go doing here?
Hyundai: Think Fast. One of three spots Hyundai will fill chip-and-pee runs during the Super Bowl with, this sticks with the standard comedy formula honed by Budweiser and Miller Lite over many years.
Hyundai: All For One. Most car spots focus tightly on selling specific cars to pay back the $3.5 million that 30 seconds of Super Bowl time costs. Hyundai will spread its bets with two ads for cars and one for the entire company -- this "Rocky" spot that, as corporate flackery goes, makes an impact.
Hyundai: Cheetah. It's a desert race between a Hyundai Veloster Turbo and a cheetah. Only the cheetah has other ideas.
Volkswagen: Dog Teaser. We're expecting to see the full ad before the game, but it's clear with this teaser VW is heading for the same dimension as last year's runaway success of li'l Vader.
Honda: Matthew's Day Off. The title says it all: This is less a Ferris Bueller revival than a trip with Matthew Broderick down memory lane, with a Honda CR-V instead of a Ferrari. Would you clean the CR-V with only a diaper?
Kia: Adriana Lima. Something something Adriana Lima something something Kia something obvious ad is obvious.
Audi: Vampire Party. Who knew "Twilight"-like vampires preferred Audis, or that they'd not check out the lumens and color temperature from their LED headlamps before buying?
Suzuki: Sled. Suzuki's Super Bowl ads always serve as a welcome reminder to millions of Americans that Suzuki still builds cars. Also, pets seem to be a theme this year:
Chevrolet: Happy Grad. Among the first out of the gate this year, and still one of the better selections.
