The Super Bowl buzz window before Sunday's Big Game isn't closed yet! Among those bellying up with sneak peeks at their full SB46 commercials today include Century 21's official spot (above) with Donald Trump, Deion Sanders and Apolo Anton Ohno.

Pepsi also revealed its much-hyped ad starring Elton John and X Factor winner Melanie Amaro, who only wants some Pepsi — and uses her award-winning pipes to get some from a reluctant King John:Continue reading...

Gasoline prices are still pushing an average of $3.50 a gallon across the United States, so they remain top of mind among American consumers who are buying new vehicles. That's why auto brands continue to find ways to create "Eco" positioning and even sub-brands for their vehicles and powertrains. Chevrolet is the latest, with its new Ecologic environmental labels that highlight environmental features of new vehicles.

Ford remains not only a pioneer but arguably the best practitioner of eco-positioning of its vehicles. The company has focused more on improving its traditional gasoline engines than developing and pushing new hybrids or EVs the last few years. And with a combinaton of techniques including turbocharging and direct injection, Ford has been able to boost the performance of a family of engines, both in fuel economy and power, to significant new levels, making a traditional four-cylinder powerplant perform like a six-cylinder and a six-cylinder like an eight-cylinder — while providing much better mileage.

Those are the EcoBoost engines that Ford keeps selling, keeps introducing on new models, and keeps talking about. The automaker just announced that it will offer EcoBoost engines on 11 models this year, up from seven in 2011, and triple production capacity for EcoBoost power trains.Continue reading...

AMR CEO defends job cuts at American Airlines.

AOL doubles down with investment in Huffington Post streaming TV network.

Apple dealt legal setback against Motorola, expands patent fight with Samsung.

Amazon could burn through its cash.

AstraZeneca plans to cut another 7,300 jobs.

Banana Republic brings back Mad Men collection with AMC.

Chipotle holds the line on pricing.

Chrysler re-launches in U.K. with Super Bowl spot on Sky.

Coca-Cola ties effort encouraging teens to Black History Month.Continue reading...

General Electric isn't exactly countercultural, or contrarian. But with its two ads planned for the Super Bowl on Sunday, GE might actually benefit by being different from the rest of the pack.

You see, GE doesn't plan to use humor, unlike just about every other major brand. One of America's largest industrial conglomerates plans to pull at our heartstrings instead.

GE's commercials feature its plants in Schenectady, N.Y., and Louisville, and speak to the pride GE workers feel being engaged in manufacturing — and manufacturing in America.

The spot set in the New York power-turbines plant, at top, ends with a GE worker saying to a guy in a bar, "We make the power that makes the beer," in an interesting sort of co-branding exercise with Budweiser — which the guy in a bar is drinking. It's an ode to the significance of manufacturing — and a nod to Bud Light, the official beer of the NFL.Continue reading...

Just when it seemed that almost every Super Bowl ad already had been revealed or teased, brand marketers' buzz machines continue revving up. GM is promoting their Super Bowl XLVI spots on Chevy's YouTube channel — including talking insects on a Chevy Sonic and Volt-enchanted aliens, which you can watch below — with YouTube-only clips with Rainn Wilson encouraging fans to share, engage and vote for their favorite spots.Continue reading...

American Airlines parent AMR plans to cut 13,000 jobs and pensions.

Apple's iPhone 5 may be coming in June.

Benetton family plans to take retailer private.

Deutsche Bank profit tumbles on European debt crisis.

Facebook sets stage for historic IPO as valuation game begins.

GM cancels half of upfront ad commitments in cost-cutting move.

Google responds to Microsoft criticism of privacy policies.Continue reading...

Kraft brand executives didn't believe their new BelVita Breakfast Biscuits were quite worth investing $3.5 million or more for a TV ad during the Super Bowl. The next best thing: introduce this healthful slow release breakfast concept to America during a pre-game ad — and then really hit launch marketing hard on the next day, February 6th.

Like most other Game Day spots, the commercial uses humor to make its point: that BelVita is a new breakfast brand and concept that deserves a chance.Continue reading...

Century 21 brand executives understand better than anyone the continuing deep doldrums being experienced by the American real estate market. And they realize that neither the gloomy mood — nor the depressing underlying realities — can be zapped away by any Super Bowl commercial, no matter how effective or entertaining.

Yet even in the midst of one of the worst home-sales slumps in American history, Century 21 CMO Bev Thorne says there will still be about 4.5 million home-sale transactions taking place in the United States this year. Considering both sides of each transaction, that means there will be about 9 million households affected by home-sale transactions this year.

"We're speaking to those consuemrs who will be involved in those transactions," Thorne told brandchannel about the brand's upcoming Super Bowl debut, during the third quarter. "We're not using our Super Bowl ad to say, 'Have you thought about buying a new house? Maybe you should think about it tomorrow.' This is not some day-to-day purchase where you can really influence someone to do it anyway, unlike in other businesses."

"Those personal factors that influence where you are in life — no one is going to impact those with any type of commercial."Continue reading...