Best 10 April Fools’ Pranks From Car Manufacturers

Last year BMW tried to make us all believe they were debuting a BMW-inspired mouthguard, designed by ‘Head of Product Fabrication’, Dr Uwe Gotobekidin and the idea was pitched to us by Rugby Union player, Chris Robshaw. As you can see from the video, this April Fools’ joke was very well put together and certainly fooled a few in our office!

The HR-V selfie edition uses 10 hands-free cameras dotted all around the vehicle to take the ultimate selfies without causing the driver any distractions from the road ahead. Truly inspired safety technology.

Just last year, ‘Essex Today’ reported about a local farmer who had decided to show his respect to the Ford Mustang by putting 35,000 miniature shrubs into the shape of the Mustang logo across his field. The field was planted with shrubs of the genus ‘Polar Foil - a convenient anagram of ‘April Fool’.

Back in 2014, the clever chaps at MINI boasted that they had found the answer to sustainable fuelling with their new Cooper T - a MINI that runs solely on ‘tea-leaf biofuel composite.’ The Cooper T was supposed to offer up to 40 miles per cup of tea, however unsurprisingly, this typically-British model never made it into production… Shame.

In 2014, Red Bull announced new technology that would let the likes of Sebastian Vettel tweet during the race. Announced on Twitter, the screen, which fits into the steering wheel, was billed as a way to let the drivers keep in touch with fans. We’re not sure what the FIA thought of this!

Peugeot argued that if you can personalise your ringtone, then you should be able to personalise your horn. The Audio Sonic Personalisation Programme would enable drivers to “reflect your own unique personal style and taste” and could include your favourite music, the sound of weather or even your favourite catchphrase. Imagine that. 

Last year Nissan claimed to be introducing a calorie-burning feature to their cars to help owners stay in shape. This came in the form of the ‘GYM’ button, which turns off all drivers assistance technology, increases steering and pedal resistance and allows commuter to get in a workout while behind the wheel.

In 2009, Hyundai announced a new i10 model “specifically targeted at the booming market among world and religious leaders”. In the midst of the financial crisis, Hyundai saw an opportunity to target world leaders choosing to adopt a less ostentatious and more economical lifestyle. What’s more, the i10’s 5 year warranty is fully transferable in the case of lost elections or early evictions from reality TV shows.

Ever wanted to cruise rural roads with the whole family? Well, on April Fools’ day 2014 Mazda announced a four-seater model of their popular MX-5. Wonder what the handling will be like?

Featuring a 4.0 litre, twin-turbo V8 that pumps out 503bhp, this really is a van like no other. However, despite these impressive credentials, Mercedes has made sure that it is still as practical as a ‘normal’ Sprinter Van. Imagine your delivery driver turning up in one of these.