Volkswagen Teases 2013 Super Bowl Ad Featuring YouTube Sad Cases

HERNDON, Virginia — Volkswagen on Thursday released its 2013 Super Bowl teaser advertisement, which features reggae star Jimmy Cliff and a cast of YouTube sad cases.

The teaser is dubbed "Sunny Side" and showcases Cliff singing a new cover of the Partridge Family's theme song, "C'mon, Get Happy." Interestingly, the teaser does not highlight a car, but focuses on Internet and YouTube sad cases, including a crazy "cat lady" and a Green Bay Packers fan who is upset by a loss. Cliff brings them all together for some hand holding in a sunny pasture.

"The campaign is designed to bring a jolt of happiness to consumers' daily lives," said Volkswagen of America in a statement.

Volkswagen's 2013 Super Bowl effort has been the most anticipated of all the automakers, since it set the standard two years ago with "The Force," which starred a pint-sized Darth Vader and a Volkswagen Passat.

Edmunds on Tuesday named "The Force" as the best Super Bowl car commercial of all time.

"The 30-second spot, which debuted in Super Bowl XLV, captured America's heart with a six-year-old dressed as the Star Wars villain miraculously starting the vehicle with his Jedi mind (and a little remote assistance from his father," Edmunds said. "The ad was so popular that it received 8 million YouTube views in the days before the ad aired on television."

Automakers are jumping on the Super Bowl teaser bandwagon. Earlier this week, Mercedes-Benz debuted a controversial teaser featuring supermodel Kate Upton.

Edmunds says: Volkswagen goes for the feel-good approach with its 2013 Super Bowl teaser advertisement.