AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

If you’re not into NFL football, Super Bowl parties or even Beyonce for that matter, Sunday’s big game might not be a highlight for you, but the multi-million dollar commercial advertisements might be!

You might have already seen a few ads here or there gearing up for the Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and San Fransisco 49ers and the record-breaking audience it will receive, including Beyonce’s Pepsi ad for her sponsored halftime show, but there are many more to come. From big household names like Toyota to smaller, but well-established products like Mio drinks, we are anticipating some of the biggest Super Bowl commercials ready to premiere this coming Sunday evening. Are you?

The 2012 Toyota Scion. AP Photo/Toyota

Consumer Reports’ annual auto reliability report came out this week, and Detroit-based Ford dropped in the rankings, while Japan-based Toyota brands claimed the top three spots. Meanwhile, General Motors’ brands also moved up the list.

The Toyota Scion was the top most reliable car, according to Consumer Reports, followed by the Toyota brand and Lexus. Mazda and Subaru rounded out the top five. Ford’s namesake brand dropped to the second worst reliable car, second only to Jaguar. Ford’s Lincoln brand was the next worst on the list.

In an interview with Bloomberg/BusinessWeek, Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports, said a lot of Ford’s problems were based on new technologies in the cars that just didn’t meet expectations, such as MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch Audio.

“They’re taking that system and putting it in more and more vehicles, so there’s really not an indication that even next year things are going to get better,” he also told Bloomberg/BusinessWeek. Additionally, some of the newer lines — the Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus — “came out of the gate with more problems than normal,” according to Consumer Reports.

This drop is new for Ford, which two years ago had 90 percent of its brands perform above average in terms of predicted reliability. Now, Consumer Reports said, 60 percent of its brands are below average.

This year, General Motors has the highest-ranking domestic brand, Cadillac, and its other brands—Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC—also rose. Jeep, which was the top domestic brand in 2011, dropped seven spots.

Consumer Reports noted this: “As is the case every year, there is much movement across the industry, underscoring the importance of not making assumptions simply based on brand reputation. Within a brand’s portfolio, there are models that are better than others.”

What auto brands do you trust? Do you agree with the rankings?

Image: Gawker.com

-The Federal Trade Commission says it’s considering rules that would require digital advertisers, third-party Web sites and social networks to ask parent for permission before collecting information about users ages 12 and younger. The existing Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which went into effect in 1998, didn’t anticipate the Web as we know it today. With apps now aimed at users as young as two, the FTC has decided to take another look at the regulation and has opened up the issue for public comment. Online privacy has been a hot-button topic as marketers try to use the immense amount of online activity as a source for market research.

-NBC’s ratings went through the roof on Tuesday night, with 38.7 million viewers tuning in to watch the U.S. women’s gymnastics team win gold at the London Olympics. Gabby Douglas is a favorite in the women’s all-around competition, taking place today. On the men’s side, Danell Leyva shocked us with these photos (!!) and with a bronze medal in the all-around competition. And in your morning LOL, London’s Mayor Boris Johnson got stuck on a zip line holding two British flags during a stunt in Victoria Park. Now it’s a hilarious meme. Thanks Internet!

-Toyota is recalling 760,000 RAV4 vehicles and 18,000 Lexus HS 250h hybrid cars because of a suspension problem. The models in question were made between 2006 and 2011. If you’ve got one of these cars, get it checked!

-Restaurants and retailers fear the new healthcare law will cost them big-time. The law requires that those business owners with 50 or more employees provide insurance. Franchisees, who typically don’t offer health insurance, will have to now if they reach that employee threshold. Franchisees from companies like Subway and McDonald’s met with lawmakers in Washington last week and industry trade organizations are pushing for a softening of the Affordable Care Act through more specificity.

-Twitter reaches 500 million users. (You can follow us @MadameNoireBiz.)

More on Madame Noire Business!

• Q&A: Monique Nelson Discusses Her Roots In The Marketing Business and Her Rise to the Top
• You Don’t Say? Jay-Z Invests In Duracell Powermat, Stars in New Ad
• Sticker Shock! Five Tips to Help You Pay for College
• Entrepreneur Spotlight: Meet The Women Behind The Groupon of Black Hair, The Fly Cut
• How to Tackle Office Enemies
• Small Business Spotlight: Sweet Treats You Don’t Have to Feel Guilty About

Maybe you’d be surprised to know that the world’s largest 11 corporations aren’t based in the United States, or maybe, actually, you already knew that. In any case, a peak into the world’s largest companies as compiled by Fortune magazine provides interesting insight into the global economy and the demand for oil. One thing’s for sure, after you see whose made the list, you’ll be surprised to see who’s number one.

We highlighted the top 11 from Fortune’s compilation of the top 500 companies. Check ‘em out.

11. Total, French Energy Company

Country: France

Profits ($ millions): 14,001

Employees: 92,855

(New York Times) – Toyota will introduce a new ad campaign next week, promoting its RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle to the African-American market.  Created by Burrell Communications, the campaign will be the first time Toyota has marketed this vehicle to African-Americans, though it has previously advertised many of its cars, including the Camry, Corolla, Avalon, Prius, Yaris, Matrix and Venza, to these consumers.  “The African-American market is looking for a vehicle that combines the utility of an S.U.V. with a more carlike ride,” features the RAV4 offers, said Bob Zeinstra, national manager for advertising and strategic planning for Toyota Motor Sales USA.

Read More…

There are a number of factors that make fuel-efficient cars an attractive option. Besides having to fill up on gas less, (thus cutting down on the amount of dollars you use at the pump) being eligible for a federal tax credit worth up to $3,400, and being good for the environment, fuel-efficient cars are becoming the go to choice if your looking to combine safety and saving some money. Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that small, fuel-efficient cars are becoming safer.

According to CNNMoney, for a vehicle to receive the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick Award, a vehicle must earn top scores for front and side impact, as well as rear-impact whiplash protection. The vehicle also needs to have electronic stability control available, and a high-tech system that helps drivers maintain control during abrupt maneuvers. Check out the 10 winners the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety selected, as compiled by CNNMoney.

Chevrolet Cruze ECO

Price: $18,425

Mileage: 28 City/42 Hwy

Equipped with 6-speed manual transmission, the Eco has a number of fuel saving features including aerodynamic body add-ons and super-efficient 5th and 6th gears.

(USA Today) — Toyota is proving to be the most popular brand with African Americans.  And that’s good, especially since the percentage increase of new car sales to blacks last year was a lot higher than the increase for whites, says research firm Polk.  African Americans registered 641,090 vehicles last year, an increase of 11.5% over 2009. Those registrations amounted to 7.4% of all new vehicle registrations in 2010.

Read More…

It’s been a tough decade for the auto industry. The recession threatened the big automakers of Motor City and government intervention was mandated in 2008 to save the big three companies from imploding. Two years later, the industry seems to be in much better shape. This year, automakers have sold over 9.6 million cars and trucks, which is an 11 percent improvement from last year. Here is a list of auto sales, based on purchases recorded through end of October, and collected by Forbes.

Hyundai Sonata: 166,628 sold

Chevrolet Malibu: 175,599 sold

(FinancialTimes.com) — Scores of lawyers are expected to converge on a courtroom in Santa Ana, California, on Thursday in the hope of persuading a US District Court judge to include them in the legal team that will spearhead a massive class-action lawsuit against Toyota. The Japanese carmaker faces 327 separate federal and state claims, based on a report filed with the court in late April. The claims, which total billions of dollars, are for deaths, injuries and economic damage that were allegedly caused by unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

Read More…

(NYTimes.com) — Toyota roared back to a profit in the fiscal year that just ended and forecast a further jump in earnings on Tuesday, shaking off the effects of a crippling global slowdown and a safety scandal that has threatened to ruin the Japanese automaker’s cherished reputation for quality. Toyota thwarted a third consecutive year in the red thanks partly to a strong performance in the three months through March — the period when the Japanese automaker recalled millions of cars and was under the intense scrutiny of consumers and governments around the world .

Read More…