The World’s Weirdest Car Advertisement: When Marketing Goes Off-Road

Weird ads

In the world of car advertisements, we’ve seen everything from heart-pounding action scenes to serene landscapes. But every now and then, a car commercial comes along that leaves viewers scratching their heads, laughing uncontrollably, or questioning what they just witnessed. One such example is the bizarre 1993 Japanese car ad for the Subaru Impreza WRX—an ad that has become a legend in the realm of strange marketing.

The Plot: A Car That Saves a Space Alien

The ad begins with a peaceful suburban scene, interrupted by the dramatic crash-landing of a spaceship. Out steps an alien—not the sleek, humanoid kind, but a gelatinous, green blob with googly eyes. Panic ensues as the alien fumbles around, unable to communicate with humans. Just as things spiral out of control, a hero emerges—not a person, but the Subaru Impreza WRX.

The car speeds into action, somehow "understanding" the alien’s distress. It tows the spaceship to a nearby garage, using advanced "alien repair technology" (which suspiciously looks like everyday tools). The alien hops back into its newly fixed ship, waves goodbye with one of its gooey appendages, and flies off into space. The tagline? “Subaru: Out of this world.”

What Makes It So Weird?

1. The Alien Design:

The alien’s cartoonish appearance feels like a fever dream rather than a high-budget marketing choice. It’s the kind of creature you’d expect to see in a parody, not a car ad.

2. Lack of Explanation:

At no point does the ad explain why the Subaru is equipped to help extraterrestrials. The premise feels less like a car commercial and more like the first draft of a sci-fi comedy.

3. The Message:

Instead of focusing on the car’s features—like horsepower, safety, or design—the ad leans into the absurd, suggesting the Subaru is the ultimate intergalactic vehicle.

Weirdness Across Brands

While Subaru's alien-saving adventure might take the crown, other brands have also dabbled in unusual advertising:

Toyota once ran an ad where a Corolla seemed to defy gravity, scaling walls like a superhero.

Honda created a Rube Goldberg-inspired ad that used its car parts to trigger a mesmerizing chain reaction.

Volkswagen featured a commercial where a Passat’s headlights scared off a pack of vampires.

Tesla has leaned into futuristic vibes with ads hinting at space travel, though not quite as literally as Subaru.

Why Do Weird Ads Work?

Weird car ads like this stand out because they’re so unexpected. In a sea of predictable commercials, something offbeat captures attention and sticks in memory. Even if viewers don’t remember the car’s specs, they remember the brand—sometimes that’s all a company needs.

So, the next time you see a car commercial featuring a laser-shooting unicorn or a time-traveling race car, don’t be too quick to dismiss it. It might just be t

he next legendary weird ad in the making.