The Superbowl has come and gone again, and with it millions spent on some of the best ads of the year, including by car companies.
We have watched them all – and listed them here for your viewing pleasure.
Our picks? We think Audi’s effort is beautiful, but it probably gets beaten – just – by Kia’s effort with actor Christopher Walken.
Hyundai also deserves an honourable mention for having four ads in the biggest game of the year.
Audi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB8tgVqmKzw
Would you hand the keys to your new Audi R8 to an astronaut who has lost the will to live? Probably not. But some amazing direction and use of the David Bowie classic ‘Starman’ makes this our sentimental favourite of this year’s ads.
Buick (Holden)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYyWq_Vads8
Probably the weakest of the automotive efforts this year, model Emily Ratajkowski makes a football-catch on a wedding bouquet, while a bunch of guys suggest they can’t believe the Cascada convertible is a Buick. They are kind of right – it’s an Opel, or for us a Holden.
Hyundai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6n1HcJOio
Talking bears and a watch that starts your car? So much win from Hyundai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih4VYnbm6Sw
One for the ladies, actor Ryan Reynolds proves the benefits of autonomous braking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R_483zeVF8
Again with the clever watch apps. This time comedian Kevin Hart gets a little stalker-ish on his daughter’s first date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-A_A5sUoqA
It take a while to get the gist of this one, but Hyundai engineers are powered by little V8 engines, not hearts.
Honda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTaCT8ZmdJA
Yes, Honda builds a ute. And in a commercial that looks as if it could have been shot here in New Zealand, it gets a flock of sheep singing. Speakers in your ute tray? Who knew you needed such a thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSlPxMLDP-Q
Honda – well Acura – have been talking about the new NSX for years, but a redesign meant a big delay. They are finally back and ready to sell them. The latest effort is not as good as the original advert from the 2012 Super Bowl found HERE
Jeep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOiiPxb-Gbw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKn5K5V7tRo
Jeep is celebrating its 75th birthdays and put out two beautiful advertisements – definitely in the case of the first, which features just pictures, not film. But isn’t 4x4forever a little close to Land Rovers ‘4×4 by far’.
Kia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r0FrXXKeiA
Where can I buy a Walken closet? Take my money now.
“Punch it Richard, punch it.”
Mini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9XqYAzbmTI
Harvey Keitel selling Mini Clubmans? He leads a group of celebs and others as part of a campaign including eight teaser campaigns based on the idea of defying labels.
Toyota
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYeM-8hO3hM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxIIi6SVuII
Toyota pokes fun at the new Prius, and how not ‘bad-ass’ it is. Cheesy buy clever, particularly some of the subtle Prius-cliché gags. “Is that a farmer’s market?”
This one also features a nod to autonomous braking.
Oh, and a talking duck.
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