Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. No matter what other car ads debut during Super Bowl XLVII, this cautionary tale from Mercedes-Benz is a lock for the best automotive big game ad of 2013, and we’d even throw it into the mix as a candidate for the best of all time.
We had no idea where Mercedes was going when it announced that Kate Upton would pitch the new CLA sedan in its prime-time ad. We knew that Usher was in the mix, too, but we never saw Willem Dafoe coming.
Expensive cast aside, the video is sheer cinematic genius, and our hats are off to Mercedes-Benz for pulling this off. We tend to favor cafes like the one in the video, and this clip reminds us of two things: be wary of strangers (especially those with sinister jewelry and pointed fingernails), and be careful what you wish for.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA compact luxury sedan will hit dealers in September of 2013, priced from just $29,900 (excluding destination charge, we assume). It won’t make you a rock star and it won’t land you a date with Kate Upton, but we’ll bet it looks good in your driveway.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
