2013 best brand for car ads | video

Several car brands turned out infectiously viral ads during 2013, starting with some standouts for the 2013 Super Bowl. The annual gridiron final is the most expensive advertising slot in the world, with brands splashing up to $3.7 million for a 30-second commercial. And with that kind of spend for the booking, you can bet they put some effort into the ad that will fill it.

But it was Korean brand Kia that consistently kept the viral pot simmering over the year, starting with its Hotbot ad that turned Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella into a glamorous but unforgiving robot that deals out punishment to a grubby-handed man pawing a show car. Created by Method Studios in Los Angeles, the ad showed Campanella’s real face, but digitised the rest of her body to create robotic parts.

Watch the Kia Hotbot Super Bowl ad

The Hotbot returned later in the year in a second commercial in which a guy is driving the robot home in a cosy interaction that hinted at man-machine intimacy -- or perhaps that should be interface. However the unsuspicious pointed out he might have been taking the Hotbot home to robovac his floors.

Watch the Kia Hotbot drive home ad

The concept was taken further with three animated versions that continued the Hotbot's role of 'protecting the tech' -- although her own seamlessly computer-generated tech was barely recognisable in the trendy graphic style of the cartoon versions.

Watch the Kia Hotbot 'Outdoor Garage' ad

Watch the Kia Hotbot 'Shade Tree' ad

Watch the Kia Hotbot 'Seagulls' ad

But the year also had room for the return of Kia's furry friends -- the Soul Hamsters. This time around, the hip-hop hamsters lose a lot of their bulk (with help from Lady Gaga) and suit up for the red carpet.

Watch the Kia Soul Hamsters get buff with Lady Gaga

For those who missed seeing the original Kia Hamsters in all their home boy glory --rapping and shuffling with the best of them -- check out the links below.

Watch the Kia Soul Hamsters Party Rock Anthem ad

Watch the Kia Soul Hamsters Black Sheep ad

Watch the Kia Soul Hamsters Fort Knox ad