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SNL pokes fun at EVs with this Mercedes AA-Class parody ad

Saturday Night Live is at its best when it’s making fun of someone, but for its most recent episode, the comedy program set its sights on an entire industry.

The show aired a parody television ad for the Mercedes-Benz AA-Class this Saturday, which featured host Julia Louis-Dreyfus acting as a spokesperson for an all-new electric car that does things a little bit differently. Instead of the same old lithium-ion setup we’re used to today, the AA-Class is powered by 9,648 removable AA batteries, which completely removes the need for plugs, generators, or charging stations. Hey, why didn’t we think of that?

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Dreyfus’ delivery is perfectly earnest as an EV ambassador, as she deadpans her way through the cars impressive features — a top speed of 52 mph, an energy monitor that tracks each battery individually, and a “ribbon release auto dump” system (also known as Magic Energy Control) that allows the driver to jettison the vehicle’s battery supply and start fresh. Those batteries, of course, are sold separately.

Saturday Night Live doesn’t parody the car world all that often, but when it does, its team of writers does a bang-up job. Jim Carrey expertly imitated Matthew McConaughey’s Lincoln advertisement in late 2014, but if we go back a bit further, you’ll find the late great Phil Hartman attempting to promote a 1993 Chameleon XLE — a high-end luxury car disguised as a rusted out Pontiac to fool thieves. 1992’s “Jiffy Pop Airbag” skit was another high point, as the safety device aimed to protect drivers from crash damage while also providing a tasty low-calorie treat. Yum.

You can find all of SNL’s car-themed commercials right here, but for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ take on EVs, check out the video below.

Andrew Hard
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
We need more 7-passenger EVs, but the 2023 Mercedes EQS SUV has room to improve
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

Mercedes-Benz is continuing to expand its EV lineup, this time with a model aimed at (wealthy) families.
As the name states, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is an SUV derivative of the EQS sedan. With the EQS sedan positioned as the electric analog to the Mercedes S-Class, the EQS SUV is the electric version of the GLS-Class. And like that vehicle, the EQS SUV is available with up to seven seats across three rows.
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Design and interior
A defining feature of Mercedes’ EQ lineup is aerodynamic bodywork aimed at maximizing range. The typical SUV is not aerodynamically ideal, but Mercedes managed to achieve an impressively low drag coefficient for an SUV — at 0.26, it’s close to the Toyota Prius. But function clearly took precedence over form. Mercedes deserves credit for not going in the polarizing direction BMW did with its two-row iX SUV, but the EQS SUV looks like a melting scoop of ice cream.
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The EQS SUV looks like a melting scoop of ice cream.

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Front three quarter view of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan.

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Design and interior
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Front view of the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX.

It may have the familiar three-pointed star on its hood, but the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX is like no other car Mercedes — or any other automaker — has ever built.

The Vision EQXX is an electric concept car that debuted at CES 2022 earlier this year. But where many concept cars can’t even move under their own power, the Vision EQXX spent the months after its Las Vegas reveal setting range records with a pair of epic trans-European road trips. Because while most concepts focus solely on design, the Vision EQXX pushes the envelope in all areas, from the shape of its body to the code in its software.

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