This is why I am shocked it handled so well. It seems like not only have the sweater-vest types over at Land Rover managed to create a great inner city haul, but an honest off road legends, that should feel no shame in wearing the Land Rover badge.

I guess the truth is that for every one Land Rover sold with the intention of conquering the great outdoors, 10 more are purchased to conquer the mall parking lot, soccer practice and yoga classes. This might be the unfortunate truth that force the bean countered in Britain to produce this little number.

In a time when many great automotive maker have forgotten what makes them great, leave it to the British to remind you that the sun may have finally set, but it is always darkest before the dawn.

Let’s start with Honda – In an economy that is all of a sudden starting to hear hints of the “buy american” buy that pulled us out of the last depression, Honda went out of their way to remind us they are not America. What red blooded american would bastardize one of the all time great 80′s movies. Plus there is probably an entire generation of kids who will not understand these references. The car was one of the most iconic parts of that movie. Lets be honest, if they think a CR-V is a Ferrari, they are more delusional than I thought.

Moving on, VW. I thought the whole commercial was funny and catchy. It is something that gives you that warm smile you get when you realize something is both whole some and funny. As far as referencing the Star Wars things from last year, bad move. That commercial was great … LAST YEAR. This year it feels like a solicited plug for Lucas’ lasted act of prostitution (in theaters in just a couple weeks).

The most exciting part of the Lexus commercial was the car. I’d say 364 days a year that is a good call. You want the product to be front and center. But this is the SUPERBOWL. This is a bit of a weak showing in my opinion. I will say, faced with a strong counter argument, this is one of the commercials I might shift on.

Thanks to Audi, I may have found that strong argument. ” At least it wasn’t the audi commercial”. The super bowl is a time for two types of commercials. Ones that make you laugh and ones that feel iconic. The reality is this wasn’t a commercial for slim jims or the F150. This is an Audi for christ’s sake, a luxury leader. Where is the refinement? Let’s leave alone that your commercial concept for 2012 revolves around your headlights. We’ll chalk that one up to brand recognition and call it a win. Still, you went for the cheap joke? I think that monday morning, when the ballots have been counted, someones not going to have a job.

The Acura commercial was arguably my favorite. It new its audience, it went for the inside joke and has once again proved that even Jerry can run out of money. Like Honda’s faux-pas, this commercial went for jokes who date were quite relevant. Unlike Honda, what they ended up with was a fine wine, not just bad grape juice and a bitter taste. The NSX is a car that Acura fans, and car fans in general, know and love. The car itself looks out of this world. Knowing what big petrol heads both Jerry and Jay are only makes this better. All around a win.

You were 100% right about Suzuki. That commercial is by all other standards run of the mill. The joke it there from the beginning, yet still you find you self laughing because, as you said, the fat asian man looks truly happy. Eskimo’s (due to their Asian like faces) always look funny when fat. FACT.

Finally Hyundai. When this commercial was described to me I thought it sounded really funny. Still, after seeing it, not so much. I think that was what exactly happened here. It was story boarded and sounds great. Then it was excited and they never bother to really look at the final product.

People under estimate a commercial. The right commercial at the right time can change the very fabric of what we know as “Americana”. I think in this unstable yet growing economy, automakers are having a hard enough time, without completely missing their target audience. All and all, I was hoping for one truly soul stirring commercial that made my spine shiver and the hair on my arms stand up. I have to say …. still waiting.

Further more, one must ask themselves, if any of these ham fisted, beer guzzling burger aficionados have ever actually driven a true “super car”. In the real world, how many of us have really gotten to spend the day making short work of local highways in a MC4-12C or a SLS. When the Duke boys jumped into that car in your imagination, they perfectly handled 60 degree high speed turns and jumping over 10 ft broken bridges with the utmost confidence and ease.

Maybe then, that is the true hero. The car that lets you feel like the hero. If I (your average everyday driver) can get behind the wheel of this monster and feel like I was accomplishing feats that were once reserved for the likes of stunt drivers and europeans, well then I think this is car I can’t help but fall in love with.