cars news 10: Super Bowl Ads: Bowie Helps Sell Audi R8, Kia Enlists Christopher Walken

With Super Bowl 50 happening this weekend, automakers are releasing their new TV spots to build hype ahead of the big game. Audi and Kia have joined in, with ads featuring the new R8 and Optima, respectively.

Audi’s 60-second commercial will run during the first quarter of the game, and tells the story of a retired astronaut reflecting on his life before his son hands him the keys to the all-new Audi R8 V10 Plus, which reignites his passion for living. The emotional impact might be even bigger with the recently departed David Bowie’s “Starman” serving as the soundtrack. This commercial marks the eighth time Audi has been featured during the Super Bowl, and the second time the R8 has made the cut. While this commercial, titled “The Commander,” has a slightly more serious tone, Kia goes in a different direction.

Featuring Christopher Walken, Kia’s 60-second commercial will air during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. In it, Walken uses a sock puppet to show how the next-gen Optima stands out in the midsize segment. “No one is cooler or as instantly recognizable as Christopher Walken, and on advertising’s biggest stage Kia is out to show the world the all-new Optima delivers a level of refinement and sophistication unlike anything else in the midsize segment,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP of Kia Motors America, in a release.

Check out the new ads from Audi and Kia below.

Source: Audi, Kia