Hilarious Or Terrible? The Car Ads Of Super Bowl 50 Buckle Up

Aki Sugawara

Thanks to Volkswagen’s wildly popular “The Force” ad, teasing Super Bowl commercials before the big game has become the norm for automakers. This year is no different, and automakers have released ads prior to the Big Game in hopes of capturing that viral magic. Here are this year’s car-related ads, some of which won’t air until Super Bowl 50 kicks off:

Acura NSX

Aside from David Lee Roth yowling in the background and the red, white and blue hues hinting the NSX is made in Marysville, Ohio, it’s a straightforward spot highlighting the design features of Acura’s next-gen supercar.

Audi R8

From David Bowie’s “Starman” playing in the background to images evoking the space race, Audi loads up on nostalgia to sell its new R8.

Buick Cascada

Emily Ratajkowski teams up with New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to promote the Cascada, Buick’s all-new convertible. It’s the company’s first Super Bowl ad, and the teaser image suggests something more sedate than Blurred Lines.

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Honda Ridgeline

Talking animals doesn’t break new ground, but this sheepish ad highlights one of the new unique features of Honda’s latest truck.

Hyundai Elantra

A residential block full of Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds is an irresistible distraction.

Kia Optima

Lambasting beige has been done before, but not with a Walken closet.

Mini Clubman

This star-studded Clubman ad features Serena Williams, Tony Hawk, Abby Wambach and Harvey Keitel to say that Mini’s crossover defies labels. It seems Abby didn’t want viewers to “Forget Me” after all.

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Toyota Prius

For the launch of the all-new Prius, Toyota goes for full-on comedy rather than pushing the hybrid’s fuel efficiency. That the “Heck on Wheels” ad shows the Prius splashing a coal-rolling-ready pickup may be one of the bolder moves in any of these spots. The last time the company featured the hybrid for a Super Bowl was in 2005, for “Standstill.”

Notably absent from the list is Chrysler, which previously made acclaimed ads like “It’s Halftime in America,” and hasn’t announced any plans for this year’s game. Given that companies spend up to $5 million for a 30-second spot, the rising stakes make a viral fumble a costly affair.