SuperBowl Commercials Cost BIG Car Companies BIG Money

Commercial spots for the 2012 SuperBowl sold out around Thanksgiving, and auto companies are leading the list of this year’s buyers.

It’s that time of year again, holiday decorations are being put back into storage and New Year’s resolutions have been set. College Football Bowl games are wrapping up and the NFL playoffs are set to begin…which can only mean one thing…..SuperBowl commercials are only a couple of weeks away.

Companies large and small are putting the final touches on their SuperBowl commercials that run a cool $3.5 million for 30 seconds of ad space. NBC has stated that the ad space for commercials during the 2012 SuperBowl sold out around Thanksgiving.

As usual there are a wide variety of companies showing their stuff during the game, but the auto industry has bought up more time and space in the 2012 SuperBowl than any other industry. Major auto companies that will be airing commercials during the 2012 SuperBowl include; Volkswagen, Kia, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Toyota, and Hyundai.

Volkswagen will try to repeat the success of their award winning “Force” commercial from the 2011 SuperBowl. According to Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer at Volkswagen, they have purchased a 60-second spot in the 3^rd quarter for a commercial that will feature the 2012 Beetle.

GM is also going to be making a big splash in the 2012 SuperBowl, the company has purchased 5 spots for ads. They will be running 1 Cadillac ad and 4 Chevy ads, and have talked with other SuperBowl advertisers to get product placement in their commercials. Additionally, Chevrolet has been running a contest where internet users can vote for 1 ad that will air during the 2012 SuperBowl with their route66 campaign.

Auto companies know how to market their product and there is no bigger marketing stage than the SuperBowl. Car companies are preparing funny, happy, and emotional commercials to make you fall in love with their car brands.

New Cadillac Protection Program Unveiled

Cadillac will begin 2011 by providing every new Cadillac owner a sense of reassurance. What they will be getting is the best protection on their car that isn't provided by any other luxury brand. The “Cadillac Shield” gives luxury owners everything they will need while owning a Cadillac.

The shield includes Premium Care Maintenance, Warranty Protection, and Diagnostics by OnStar, Connections by OnStar, Emergency by OnStar, Security by OnStar, Navigation by OnStar, Roadside Assistance, and Courtesy Transportation. OnStar is standard on all Cadillac models for 1 year with the option of renewing after that. The OnStar MyLink mobile app will send monthly emails about the status of key operating systems on your Cadillac. OnStar also allows the driver to use hands free calling capabilities, sends alerts to emergency services in case of an accident, and uses GPS technology to help authorities recover your Cadillac if it is stolen.

The Premium care maintenance part of the package is a maintenance program that covers selected required maintenance services during the first 4 years or 50,000 miles; the Warranty Protection also offers a Bumper-To-Bumper Limited Warranty which will cover repairs on your entire vehicle, including parts and labor to correct problems in materials and workmanship for 4-years or 50,000 miles. This warranty protection is the best in the luxury car industry.

Courtesy transportation provides alternate transportation or reimbursement of transportation expenses if your Cadillac requires warranty repairs. Standard 5-year roadside assistance is also offered which will provide lock-out service, towing, and re-fueling or Dealer Technician roadside service.

Most Safe Cars in 2011

Many factors weigh in to determine Forbes’ list of Safest Cars for 2011. First, all cars had to be chosen as a 2011 “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Second, in order to create a list exclusively made up of cars, all trucks, vans, SUVs, and crossovers were removed. Then, any models that did not receive a perfect score of “good” on every IIHS crash test were removed.

The four crash tests include; front-, side-, and rear-crash tests as well as a rollover test. The front test includes a 40-mph frontal offset crash that measures how well the car’s restraint system controlled the dummy’s movement during the crash. The side tests are based on crashes where the side of the vehicle is hit by an object moving at 31 mph. The rear-crash test measures the dummy’s neck pressure when they are hit from behind by an object moving at 20 mph. The rollover test, tests the strength of the roof when a metal plate is pushed against the roof at a rate of 0.2 inches per second. To get a “good” rating on the rollover test, the roof must withstand a force four times greater than the vehicles weight before reaching five inches of crush.

After all the tests had been completed and the numbers were calculated, Forbes’ named these vehicles as the safest cars in 2011:

• BMW 5-Series
• Buick LaCrosse
• Cadillac CTS Sedan
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Lincoln MKS
• Mercedes C-Class
• Mercedes E-Class Sedan
• Subaru Legacy
• Subaru Outback

Popular Cars by Region

What determines which type of car you drive? Most people would say style, individual needs, and budget are the three main factors that influence their purchase decision when buying a new car. However, where you live is apparently a major factor too.

This makes sense, when you consider that people who live in different areas of the country generally live different lifestyles, and therefore have different wants and needs. A recent study has confirmed this, by naming the top five best selling cars in each of the four major regions of the United States (Northeast, Midwest, South, and Western regions).

So, what are people driving in your part of the country? Do you fit the list, or do you break the mold?

Northeast Region
1. Nissan Rogue
2. Mercedes E-Class Sedan
3. Honda CR-V
4. Chevrolet Malibu
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Midwest/Central Region
1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2. Ford F-150
3. Cadillac SRX
4. Toyota Camry
5. Chevrolet Impala

Southern Region
1. Chevrolet Camaro
2. Ford F-150
3. Toyota Tundra
4. Lexus ES350
5. Dodge Ram 1500

Western Region
1. Toyota Prius
2. Lexus IS Sedan
3. Honda Fit
4. Audi A4/S4
5. BMW 3 Series Sedan