When Advertising Went Off-Road
Some car ads follow logic: smooth driving, catchy music, and a clear pitch. Others abandon reason entirely, leaving audiences baffled yet fascinated. Over the decades, automakers have poured millions into commercials that make viewers question their sanity. Still, each one achieved the impossible—being unforgettable. So fasten your seatbelt and prepare to revisit the 20 most bizarre car commercials ever made.
1. Peugeot 206 “Sculptor” (2003)
Few ads have blended storytelling and culture quite like Peugeot’s 2003 “Sculptor.” It followed an Indian teen reshaping a Hindustan Ambassador into his dream Peugeot 206. The ad even swept Cannes Lions.
Peugeot 206 commercial - India byAndrea Franzel
2. Toyota “Human Touch” (2006)
Toyota’s “Human Touch” ad from 2006 stood out for its surreal concept. It began with people softly touching polished car surfaces, then shifted into a bizarre scene where humans merged with machines. The ad didn’t rely on music or slogans; its haunting visuals made it unforgettable.
Toyota: The Human Touch by Claudio Capo
3. Honda Element “Crab Ad” (2003)
No one expected a crab to sell cars, yet Honda made it happen. The 2003 campaign for the Element targeted adventurous youth with humor and attitude. When the feisty crustacean shouted, “I pinch!”, it stuck so well that the line entered pop culture overnight.
Honda Element Commercial - No Pinch by video1040
4. Fiat 500 Abarth “Seduction” (2012)
Fiat needed a bold move to reintroduce the Abarth in America. The 2012 pre-Super Bowl ad delivered just that. Model Catrinel Menghia portrayed the car as a seductive figure, grabbing attention with a mix of surprise and humor. The ad sparked conversation instantly and stayed in the spotlight long after its debut.
Official FIAT 500 Abarth 2012 Super Bowl Commercial by EliteCommercial
5. Kia Soul “Hamster Rave” (2010)
Back in 2010, Kia started a cultural moment. The Soul’s “Hamster Rave” ad released hip-hop-loving rodents onto the dance floor to The Choice Is Yours. Viewers went wild, and those furry mascots became permanent faces of the brand.
New 2010 Kia Soul Hamster Commercial - Music Fort Knox by GoldFish by Donald Hoperich
6. Ford SportKa “Evil Cat” (2003)
Ford’s attempt at edgy humor in 2003 turned dark fast. The SportKa’s “evil twin” image was shown when a sunroof trapped a cat mid-curiosity. Viewers were horrified, complaints flooded in, and the ad vanished—but its infamy only made it more talked about.
Kieran White from Manchester, England on Wikimedia
7. Citroën C4 “Transformer Robot” (2004)
Citroën didn’t just showcase a car—it made one dance. In 2004, the C4 ad stunned audiences when the vehicle transformed into a breakdancing robot. Playful and ahead of its time, it showed just how far imagination could drive automotive creativity.
8. Skoda Fabia “Cake Car” (2007)
Advertising got deliciously weird in 2007. Skoda’s team of bakers built a full-sized Fabia out of cake and candy for Fallon London’s now-legendary spot. The sugary masterpiece perfectly symbolized the brand’s tagline, “full of lovely stuff,” and proved that sweetness sells as well as speed.
9. BMW “The Hire: Ambush” (2001)
BMW took advertising somewhere no one expected—into full-blown Hollywood. “The Hire: Ambush” played like a gritty action short, complete with gunfire, mystery, and Clive Owen as a nameless driver-for-hire. Viewers realized halfway through that it wasn’t a movie trailer but a car ad, making it both brilliant and bizarre.
10. Isuzu Gemini “Dancing In Traffic” (1980s)
In the ’80s, Isuzu turned the daily commute into a full-blown performance. The Gemini’s “Dancing in Traffic” campaign showed cars gliding through intersections in perfect sync. Urban chaos became choreography, and the blend of humor with precision left viewers completely charmed.
11. Suzuki “Giant Suzuki” (1985)
Bigger wasn’t just better—it was bizarre. Suzuki’s 1985 commercial transformed its tiny Swift into a skyscraper-sized giant towering over city streets. The goofy visual twist flipped expectations and made the small car unforgettable, and turned Suzuki’s ad into one of the decade’s strangest delights.
It's a Giant Suzuki (1985) by Suzuki Auto Nederland
12. Dodge Dart “Registry” (2013)
Crowdfunding met car shopping in 2013, thanks to the Dodge Dart “Registry” campaign. Buyers could personalize their car online and invite friends to fund specific parts. Equal parts creative stunt and smart marketing, it redefined how connection and customization could drive a purchase.
Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada on Wikimedia
13. Saab “Born From Jets” (2005)
Only Saab would try to sell cars by pretending they could fly. The 2005 “Born From Jets” campaign fused roaring fighter jets with sleek sedans, blurring airspace and highway in the strangest way possible. It felt half military recruitment, half car ad—and completely unforgettable.
14. Audi 100 CS Quattro “Ski Jump” (1986)
In 1986, Audi shocked viewers with a car climbing a snow-covered ski jump. Most assumed it was a visual trick, but the quattro system made the stunt real. The ad blurred the line between engineering and spectacle, and earned its place as a legend.
Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands on Wikimedia
15. Chevrolet Corvette C4 “Launch Ad” (1984)
Chevy’s 1984 Corvette ad felt like a sci-fi fever dream. Flashing grids, neon lights, and synth-heavy music made it look more like an ’80s arcade game than a car commercial. It was futuristic, loud, and gloriously weird—just like the Corvette it introduced.
16. Mercedes-Benz “Chicken Magic Body Control” (2013)
Who knew chickens could sell cars? In 2013, Mercedes-Benz used synchronized birds to demonstrate Magic Body Control. Set to elegant music, the chickens’ graceful moves symbolized stability. The quirky idea went viral, proving humor and engineering balance can hatch a marketing masterpiece.
Mercedes-Benz “Chicken” MAGIC BODY CONTROL TV commercial by Mercedes-Benz Group
17. Audi RS7 “Duel” (2016)
Audi flipped filmmaking on its head in 2016. The “Duel” ad ran completely in reverse, which turned a valet dispute into a high-speed chase that played like a presidential satire. Sleek, smart, and perfectly absurd, it made performance and politics collide with cinematic flair.
"Duel" Audi RS7 Ad Spot 2016 Presidential Debate ["normal time"] by Adam Ottke
18. Toyota Hilux “Bugger” (1999)
A single word made Toyota’s 1999 Hilux ad unforgettable. Each time the truck survived another impossible test, a farmer muttered “bugger.” The humor and controversy—especially after a brief ban—made that one-liner into New Zealand’s most quoted piece of automotive advertising ever.
Toyota Hilux Bugger 1999, New Zealand by ImagineMySurprise
19. Nissan Maxima “Pigeons” (1997)
In this quirky 1997 ad, TBWA\Chiat\Day imagined pigeons as elite pilots on a mission to soil shiny cars. But every time they tried to hit the Nissan Maxima, it sped away just in time. The bizarre concept turned bird droppings into a high-stakes chase—and made the Maxima look untouchable.
20. Suzuki Vitara “Giant Kick” (1992)
Leave it to Japan to make car ads this strange. Suzuki’s 1992 “Giant Kick” featured an enormous foot launching the Vitara across land. The ad’s bizarre concept gave the Vitara a permanent place in automotive pop culture.
