Bolstered by Volkswagen's clever presence of a young child dressed in a Darth Vader outfit, automakers made a big comeback last year in Super Bowl advertising. And carmakers will combine in this year's extravaganza as the largest-spending industry.
Volkswagen will return different Darth Vadar and Star Wars' takes this year. Acura, Audi, Chrysler, Kia, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus and Toyota, among other auto-related companies, will also advertise and will be among the sold out 70 commercial spots in the Feb. 5 game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.
Commercial positions for this year's Super Bowl were already taken by late last November, with one slot reportedly selling for $4 million.
Ad sales during the Super Bowl, according to industry analysts, could generate more than $250 million in revenue.
General Motors via its Chevy brand will run seven TV commercials before, during and after the game. Hyundai has three different commercials.
One difference this year: Many, if not all of the carmakers, have already released their respective Super Bowl commercials via YouTube, Facebook and in other social media formats.
Here are six of the Super Bowl commercials set to have broadcast debuts during this year's Super Bowl. All of the commercials below are also posted on YouTube and Facebook.
It will be interesting to see if the early Social Media debuts will have an impact on the usual game day buzz for the Super Bowl commercials.
JERRY SEINFELD, JAY LENO BATTLE FOR ACURA SUPREMACY
HONDA, MATTHEW BRODERICK TEAM FOR FERRIS BUELLER HOMAGE
SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS: FANGS, BLOOD, EXPLODING VAMPIRES SHOWCASE AUDI S7
SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS: DOGS EXCHANGE SLED FOR HIP ICE TRIP IN SUZUKI KIZASHI
VOLKSWAGEN GOES TO THE DOGS IN STAR WARS HOMAGE
HYUNDAI GENESIS HELPS SAVE LIFE IN SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL
Article Last Updated: February 1, 2012.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
Jerry Seinfeld is great, but I still believe a rock band will always sell more!. He is funny, but music is so much more up beat and always gets a crowd rocking.