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.

The 2012 VW Beetle: Not Your Mom’s Beetle

Let’s face it: women like a certain type of car and men often appeal to another. That’s just the way it is. The Volkswagen Beetle tends to fall into the “woman’s car” category. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But Volkswagen hopes that the Beetle’s 2012 model will widen its consumer base as a whole, drawing in both men and women buyers.

Women accounted for over 65 percent of U.S. buyers for the outgoing “New Beetle”. However, Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America's vice president of product marketing and strategy, predicts that only about half of those who purchase the 2012 Beetle will be women.

Part of the reason for this change of appeal is the Beetle’s new, more powerful engine choices. The base engine will remain a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, but this one comes new and improved. This new five-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, 20 horsepower more than its previous model.

And the 2012 Beetle comes in a 2.0T Turbo model which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This bad boy produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque to satisfy the male need for speed.

In addition to improved engine options, the design of the 2012 Beetle is also meant to draw in more testosterone. The 2012 model has been streamlined, with a more flat top and more erect windshield. The top has also been sloped back to create more headroom for the backseat. A longer, lower, and wider structure makes the 2012 Beetle tougher and more masculine than ever.

The interior of the 2012 Bug has also been overhauled, opting for a more linear, retro look. And with the available Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation package, 2012 Beetle owners can blast their favorite songs on a Fender-tuned stereo with a subwoofer and get directions on their integrated navigation system. No need to stop at the gas station guys.

A final masculine touch: the flower vase found in previous Beetle models has been eliminated.

Whether the Beetle’s new design is truly more masculine or not, Volkswagen still hopes to garner more popularity with the 2012 model. And even if 65 percent of 2012 Beetle sales are still chalked up to women, who cares? A sale is a sale, right?

The 2012 VW Beetle: Not Your Mom’s Beetle

The Volkswagen Beetle has traditionally been perceived as a bit of a woman’s car and it’s really no surprise. There’s a flower vase built into the dash for crying out loud. But Volkswagen hopes that its redesigned 2012 Beetle will appeal to a more masculine consumer base.

Women accounted for over 65 percent of U.S. buyers for the outgoing “New Beetle”. However, Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America's vice president of product marketing and strategy, predicts that only about half of those who purchase the 2012 Beetle will be women.

Part of the reason for this change of appeal is the Beetle’s new, more powerful engine choices. The base engine will remain a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, but this one comes new and improved. This new five-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, 20 horsepower more than its previous model.

And the 2012 Beetle comes in a 2.0T Turbo model which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This bad boy produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque to satisfy the male need for speed.

In addition to improved engine options, the design of the 2012 Beetle is also meant to draw in more testosterone. The 2012 model has been streamlined, with a more flat top and more erect windshield. The top has also been sloped back to create more headroom for the backseat. A longer, lower, and wider structure makes the 2012 Beetle tougher and more masculine than ever.

The interior of the 2012 Bug has also been overhauled, opting for a more linear, retro look. And with the available Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation package, 2012 Beetle owners can blast their favorite songs on a Fender-tuned stereo with a subwoofer and get directions on their integrated navigation system. No need to stop at the gas station guys.

A final masculine touch: the flower vase found in previous Beetle models has been eliminated.

While Volkswagen hopes the 2012 Beetle will bring in more male consumers, they also hope it will appeal to younger, more diverse buyers as well. Either way, it is clear that the Volkswagen Beetle will be flaunting a new image for the 2012 model year; it’s not just for women anymore.

Self Driving Cars May Be Closer Than You Think

For some time now, human beings have wished to control everyday devices via autonomous robotic technology. Whether it’s a Roomba® vacuum cleaner that automatically keeps your house neat or simply a DVR which, when programmed, will record your favorite shows, people seemingly clamor for technology that takes the work out of activities. Although dreamed about for years, until recently automated driving was a thing for science-fiction novels. It seems now, more than ever, the chances of owning a fully functional self-driving car have skyrocketed thanks to the nearly constant innovation from companies like Google and Volkswagen.

Über-company Google has been working on self-driving cars as side project for quite awhile and have now begun to use these cars in everyday situations. Though Google has been developing the technology in California, they have moved operations to nearby Nevada due to fact that the state has become the first to allow drivers to operate autonomous vehicles. After significant lobbying from Google, the bill passed with only a small portion of opposing votes.

In Mountain View, California, Google had taken the self-driving cars on 140,000 miles of robot-controlled test drives but decided to make the switch to Nevada based on the states physical geography and penchant for innovative business growth. Some like lobbyist David Goldwater, think that Google’s strategic move will be highly successful.

“Nevada offers very good geographic opportunities, and the pro-business environment both from a tax and regulatory standpoint offered an opportunity to show what autonomous vehicles can do,” stated Goldwater, who lobbied Google’s cause but says he is not a spokesman for the company.

While the search engine giant has been forging ahead of the game in self-driving vehicles, Google is certainly not the only company making strides to make our cars drive themselves. On June 21st, Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot or TAP system at the European Union’s research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport). Like the name states, TAP still requires vehicle operators to drive and is quite different than Google’s fully automated driving function. In an attempt to assist drivers when facing dangerous situations, Volkswagen has bundled lane-change-assist, adaptive cruise control, and other semi-automatic utilities into TAP to make driving safer.

For those paranoid about having a computer assist with driving operation, the system may be disabled at any time. Volkswagen claims that the purpose of the auto-pilot is to “prevent accidents due to driving errors by an inattentive, distracted driver. The German auto manufacturer says that the TAP system will be active when driving at speeds of up 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).

Based on the progress of both projects, it is not absurd to think that you may be sitting in an automated auto sooner rather than later. With safety and efficiency as top priorities innovators hope to change the driving experience for better.

Self Driving Cars May Be Closer Than You Think

For some time now, human beings have wished to control everyday devices via autonomous robotic technology. Whether it’s a Roomba® vacuum cleaner that automatically keeps your house neat or simply a DVR which, when programmed, will record your favorite shows, people seemingly clamor for technology that takes the work out of activities. Although dreamed about for years, until recently automated driving was a thing for science-fiction novels. It seems now, more than ever, the chances of owning a fully functional self-driving car have skyrocketed thanks to the nearly constant innovation from companies like Google and Volkswagen.

Über-company Google has been working on self-driving cars as side project for quite awhile and have now begun to use these cars in everyday situations. Though Google has been developing the technology in California, they have moved operations to nearby Nevada due to fact that the state has become the first to allow drivers to operate autonomous vehicles. After significant lobbying from Google, the bill passed with only a small portion of opposing votes.

In Mountain View, California, Google had taken the self-driving cars on 140,000 miles of robot-controlled test drives but decided to make the switch to Nevada based on the states physical geography and penchant for innovative business growth. Some like lobbyist David Goldwater, think that Google’s strategic move will be highly successful.

“Nevada offers very good geographic opportunities, and the pro-business environment both from a tax and regulatory standpoint offered an opportunity to show what autonomous vehicles can do,” stated Goldwater, who lobbied Google’s cause but says he is not a spokesman for the company.

While the search engine giant has been forging ahead of the game in self-driving vehicles, Google is certainly not the only company making strides to make our cars drive themselves. On June 21st, Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot or TAP system at the European Union’s research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport). Like the name states, TAP still requires vehicle operators to drive and is quite different than Google’s fully automated driving function. In an attempt to assist drivers when facing dangerous situations, Volkswagen has bundled lane-change-assist, adaptive cruise control, and other semi-automatic utilities into TAP to make driving safer.

For those paranoid about having a computer assist with driving operation, the system may be disabled at any time. Volkswagen claims that the purpose of the auto-pilot is to “prevent accidents due to driving errors by an inattentive, distracted driver. The German auto manufacturer says that the TAP system will be active when driving at speeds of up 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).

Based on the progress of both projects, it is not absurd to think that you may be sitting in an automated auto sooner rather than later. With safety and efficiency as top priorities innovators hope to change the driving experience for better.

Top Super Bowl Car Ads of 2011

The Super Bowl is watched as much for its commercials as it is the football game, making it one of the largest and most expensive advertising platforms. Through the years, automakers have launched some of the biggest and most anticipated campaigns during the big game, and 2011 did not disappoint. In fact, the number one commercial on our list topped almost every other list of top ads from Sunday, whether they were voted on by companies, consumers, or other advertisers. And, unlike ours, their lists weren’t even car-specific.

1. Volkswagen “Darth Vader”
Everyone seemed to immediately fall in love with this commercial for the VW Passat, thanks to its perfect mix of a cute kid, good looking car, and a cool feature of the vehicle that not only ties the ad together, but makes the viewer want to know even more about the Passat.

2. Chevy Camaro “Miss Evelyn”
This Chevy Camaro ad gave a comical look at what most guys would consider the perfect car commercial. In fact, there is a good chance that before it even premiered; somewhere out there a group of guys watching the game described this ad exactly.

3. Volkswagen “Black Beetle”
This commercial caught people’s attention, because although it gave no indication of exactly what was being advertised until the end, it had viewers questioning if this could be the first peek at the much-anticipated, all new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

4. Audi “Release the Hounds”
Audi was very creative in their attempt to show how their vehicles defy the confines of traditional luxury and are more progressive than their competition, and it paid off.

5. Chrysler “Imported from Detroit”
This ad for the Chrysler 200 effectively uses Eminem, a popular rapper and proud Detroit native, to show off the city where most “American Made” vehicles are built and to kick off Chrysler’s creative new tagline, “Imported from Detroit.”

Best Resale Value: 2011 Models

There are many factors to think about when purchasing a new car. Price, size, brand, and safety are all major considerations. Another factor consumers should think about when making this decision is the resale value of a vehicle. This is an important issue, as it not only estimates how much you can expect to get for the automobile if you decide to trade it in, but it is also an indicator of a high quality vehicle that is built to retain its value. Kelley Blue Book recently named the 2011 vehicles with the best resale value for each major category. And the winners are:

- Subcompact car: Honda Fit
- Compact Car: MINI Cooper
- Mid-Size Sedan: Honda Accord
- Full-Size Sedan: Ford Taurus
- Wagon: Subaru Outback
- Sports Car: Subaru Impreza WRX
- High-Performance Car: Ford Mustang GT
- Hybrid/Alt. Energy Car: Volkswagen Golf TDI
- Compact Utility Vehicle: Honda CR-V
- Mid-Size Utility Vehicle: Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Full-Size Utility Vehicle: GMC Acadia
- Van: Toyota Sienna
- Near-Luxury Car: Lexus IS
- Luxury Car: Audi A5
- Full-Size Pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty
- Luxury Utility Vehicle: BMW X5
- Hybrid/Alt. Energy Vehicle: BMW X5 xDrive 35d
- Mid-Size Pickup: Toyota Tacoma