Mercedes AMG GT with its 4.0L twin-turbo V8 powertrain producing in excess of 500 horsepower is one beast of a machine. It was one of the most crucial unveils of 2014, and definitely one of our favorites from last year. However, how does the German automaker chose to introduce the powerful sportscar at the Super Bowl? The marquee found the completely irrelevant Aesop’s classic fable of “The Tortoise and The Hare” as the best visual theme to let the world know about the tire-ripping 2-door. There might be sillier ways of introducing a sportscar that is priced at over $100,000; nevertheless, it’s a pathetic advertisement.
The advertisement begins with a computer-generated re-enactment of Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare” race and some trash talking. The hare gets off to a great start whilst a snail overtakes the tortoise. Plodding away, Mr. Tortoise stumbles upon the AMG factory and wanders in. he promptly steals and shoots off for the finish line. Having stolen the hare’s girlfriend, the tortoise ends the ad with one of the most lame-ass puchlines. “There is an expectation among consumers that Super Bowl advertising will be entertaining, that it is at least equal parts entertainment as sell if not slightly more entertaining than sell. They are mini pieces of cinema,” said Alex Gellert, the CEO of Merkley—the company that made the ad.