2022 Super Bowl LVI Pre-Game Commercial Roundup

What’s more American than football? Marketing, gluttony, and consumerism have to rank quite highly, I’d imagine. Thankfully, we have a bacchanalia this upcoming weekend that celebrates all four and then some.

That’s right, for those outside the big cities of Los Angeles and, um, Cincinnati who have been caught unaware, the LVI-th edition of the Super Bowl will be played this Sunday, February 13th. As always, marketers will pay for access to those millions of eyeballs, thus the Super Bowl Commercial as its own genre of big-budget short film.

As in years past, this will be a two-part series for TTAC. Today, I’ll post the automotive and automotive-adjacent commercials that have been shared to YouTube. Some of these are the full commercials, while some are teasers. On Sunday evening, come back here for a live-ish blog where I post every automotive and automotive-adjacent commercial as it airs. Stay tuned, as I’ll be posting from a recliner very near to my fridge and liquor cabinet. Once we get into the third quarter there’s a decent chance I’ll make a few humorous typos.

First, we have Nissan, with a spot featuring a former car salesman who turns into something of an action hero when encountering a Z. You think you like the Z now..wait until you drive it!

Next up, Toyota highlights its work with paralympic athletes. Your vintage car-loving vintage author especially appreciates the old Celica and Pickup making cameos.

Kia brings a heartwarming tale of a robotic dog who falls in love with the new EV6. Just like Kia to put your heart in a blender.

BMW leans on both star power and god power by casting Arnold Schwarzenegger and Salma Hayek to feature their new line of EVs.

General Motors banks on the star power of Mike Meyers and others to rehash the Austin Powers film franchise..atop the Ren Cen.

Polestar teases a spot, minimally.

And now for the automotive-adjacent commercials.

First, used car marketplace Vroom talks about the pains of selling a used car. Bonus points for a nice vintage Bronco in the background.

Next, used car marketplace Carvana talks about the theoretical joys of buying a used car. Demerits for using an actor with an annoying voice, but I suppose that’s the point.

Next up, floor mat juggernaut Weathertech implies that it is difficult to install floor mats, and thus a ninja team of floor mat installing experts clad in Nomex need to appear from the ether to manage the work.

Finally, I’ll grant that the connection to the auto industry is incredibly tenuous with this Samuel Adams commercial, but since they’re highlighting the robotic dogs from Boston Dynamics (owned by Hyundai) I’ll share it.

That’s all I have for now. Let us know which is your favorite so far, and come back Sunday evening to join the conversation. Think of it as an excuse to not talk to the people at your Super Bowl party.

[Main image: Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com]