Super Bowl LV: The best car commercials of 2021

The annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the USA – known as the Super Bowl – hosts the most expensive advertising slots in television, and, every year, the world's biggest vehicle manufacturers flock to the event to promote products. Here are the best car ads from 2021.

Starring renowned comedians Will Ferrell, Kenan Thompson, and Awkwafina, this ad pitches General Motors's new modular Ultium platform as the future of electric vehicles in the United States.

The automotive Goliath recently pledged to phase out (almost) all internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, and is looking to launch 30 all-new electric models by the end of this decade.

According to the ad, this undertaking will help launch the USA to the forefront of EV uptake, overtaking per capita leader Norway in the process.

This ad stars legendary musician and blue-collar icon Bruce Springsteen, who has famously declined to take part in ad campaigns in the past. In fact, in the mid-1980s, he reportedly turned down a contract worth more than US$12 million (AU$15.6M) allowing Chrysler to use his song Born in the USA for promotional content.

A well-known ambassador for progressive politics, the now 71-year-old singer makes an appeal to "the middle," "common ground," and "national unity" – however, the only vehicle to actually appear in the ad is Mr Springsteen's own privately-owned 1980 Jeep CJ-5.

The Boss's extensive car collection is known to feature several significant American classics, including a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette C1, 1963 Chevrolet Impala, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, 1970 Ford F-100 Pick-Up Truck, 1982 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro, and a 2018 Jeep Cherokee.

Parodying the classic 1990 Tim Burton film Edward Scissorhands, this ad promotes the autonomous functions of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq EV.

Edgar Scissorhands – as he is known in this parallel universe – constantly struggles with his lack of dexterity and destructive serrated fingertips, however the Lyriq's "hands-free super cruise" setting proves to be his saving grace.

The all-electric SUV will be underpinned by GM's Ultium platform (as discussed above), and is expected to undercut the Tesla Model X on price. An Australian launch has not been ruled out, but remains unlikely.

This surrealist ad gives us a glimpse into the life and struggles of United States 23-time Paralympic medal winner Jessica Long.

The swimmer – who was born in Siberia and adopted by American parents – lost her legs when she was 18 months old due to a condition known as fibular hemimelia.

Toyota is a partner of the USA Olympic and Paralympic teams, which are slated to compete later this year in Tokyo – however, the fate of the upcoming games remains unclear.

Narrated by Breaking Bad actor Brian Cranston, this ad makes an appeal for the United States to "finish strong" in the fight against COVID-19.

As with the Jeep and Toyota campaigns discussed above, there is no specific vehicle or technology being promoted here – rather, Ford is targeting the heartstrings of a country devastated by the ongoing pandemic.

At the time of publishing more than 462,000 Americans have died as a result of the coronavirus, however, as the ad infers, the roll out of newly-authorised vaccines could restore some level of normality in the coming months.

Tell us which one was your favourite in the comments below.

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