Skip to main content

Babies, Alpacalypse, and Satanic Willem Dafoe: The 2013 Super Bowl car ads

2013 Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad CLA-Class screenshotThe Super Bowl may still be the “Big Game,” but the commercials that run between plays have become almost as big an attraction. So big, in fact, that many of them have already aired. If you don’t want to get distracted from watching the Ravens and 49ers on Sunday, check out these Super Bowl car ads, which are already racking up page views on the Interwebs.

Audi: “Prom”

The classic high school nightmare, not having a date for prom, is remedied (sort of) by the Audi A6. Nothing apparently gets a teenage male’s testosterone flowing like a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and LED headlights.

Recommended Videos

Hyundai: “Epic Playdate”

If you buy a Hyundai Santa Fe, the Flaming Lips will follow you around and provide a soundtrack to your life. So you’d better think of interesting things to do, like hanging out with a sabertooth tiger, getting chased by bikers, and Zorbing, to make the most of it. Hyundai will actually show four ads during the Big Game; others will highlight the Sonata Turbo and Genesis sedan.

Kia: “Space Babies”

Kia is pitching itself as the car of choice for creative parents. In this imaginative ad, a Sorento-driving dad tries to dodge the question of where babies come from with a fantastic story about a faraway baby planet. The part about rockets penetrating the atmosphere was amusing… Or maybe we’re reading too much into this.

Lincoln: “#SteerTheScript”

Lincoln decided to go all 21st century with its commercial. With the help of Jimmy Fallon and his many followers, Lincoln compiled thousands of tweets about epic road trips under the #SteerTheScript hashtag. Unlike some more impatient car companies, Lincoln won’t air the finished product until Sunday night. So far, its teaser involves movie aliens, a wedding, and something called the “Alpacalypse.”

That doesn’t have much to do with cars, though. Lincoln’s ad will feature the MKZ, the brand’s Ford Fusion-based midsize luxury sedan.

Mercedes-Benz: “Soul”

Would you make a deal with the devil (played by Willem Dafoe) for the new 2013 CLA-Class, Mercedes’ stylish new compact “four-door coupe?” We’d probably hold out for an SLS AMG Black Series. The main character thinks his soul is worth more too: he declines when learning of the CLA’s $29,900 base price. That probably doesn’t buy the ability to keep up with Formula 1 cars, as the Satanic CLA does in one scene.

Toyota: “Wish Granted”

If the Flaming Lips aren’t your thing, how about a genie with your new SUV? Kudos to Toyota for sneaking a mention of the 2013 RAV4’s more car-like styling into a joke about a balding father’s desire to have his “spare tire” disappear. The realistic take on a young girl’s wish to be a princess was a little too ironic, though.

Volkswagen: “Get In, Get Happy”

Apparently, a Beetle can transform white office workers into rastas. Volkswagen’s ad features a man from Minnesota talking in a Jamaican accent, thanks to his car’s power to impart good vibes to him and anyone who rides in it. It’s a slightly creepy take on one of the world’s most un-creepy cars.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more
Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut
Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.

Read more
Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics
archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Read more