News

Best April fools day jokes by car companies - pictures

April Fools Day comes but once a year and when it does even the big car brands get in on the act. These are their best April Fools’ jokes

by: Auto Express team

1 Apr 2019

Go to: Best April Fools' Day jokes by car companies 2019

One of <a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw">BMW</a>'s best April Fools jokes was the 2009 announcement of Magnetic Tow Technology. The system purported to use a magnetic field that would allow BMW drivers to creep u
It’s not just car manufacturers that like an April Fools’ Day prank. In 2010 Auto Windscreens revisited an old joke by announcing the world’s first prescription windscreen.
As election fever gripped the country in 2010, BMW looked to cash in with a political April Fools’ Day effort. The Political Roundel Attachment Tag (PRAT) was an opportunity for <a href="https://www.autoexp
SEAT probably put a lot of thought into its wind turbine-equipped <a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/seat/ibiza/17943/seat-ibiza-ecomotive">Ibiza Ecomotive</a> April Fools' effort in 2009 but little did
<a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/kia">Kia</a> really pushed the Photoshop boat out in generating the images of its Aero-Soul April Fools' gag in 2009.
The car was said to be modified with a new ‘Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line system’ that harness the power of the wind to save fuel.
In 2008 <a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/kia">Kia</a> looked to capitalise on the success of the Nintendo Wii games console with a KEE_Wii concept car April Fools’ Day joke.
In 2006 Vauxhall announced a neat optional extra for its <a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vauxhall/astra/18753/vauxhall-astra-vxr">Astra VXR</a>hot hatch (on April 1st). The Accelerator Pedal Retarding Int
When is an April Fools’ Day joke not an April Fools Day joke, When it’s a <a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/3-series/34657/bmws-new-m3-pick">BMW M3 pick-up</a>.
BMW lifted the lid on this 414bhp V8 ute based on its M3 Convertible in 2011, proudly announcing that there was enough space in the back for 20 golf bags!
We sniggered but it turned out that the M3 pick-up was real. It was subsequently spotted lapping the Nurburgring and, weighting 50kg less than an M3 Coupe, is said to be capable of 186mph.
Hyundai treated us to an unlikely modified version of its i10 city car in on April Fools Day 2009. The premise behind the <a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/hyundai/i10">i10</a> Special
<a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/seat">SEAT</a> came over all James Bond with its 2008 April Fools’ Day joke. A press release revealed the manufacturer had developed a groundbreaking ‘electro reflective’ exterior panel
Peugeot announced a new personalisation option for its cars in April 1st 2014. The Audio Sonic Personalisation Programme for car horns invited customers to record their own sounds for their car’s ho
Capable of covering 40 miles on a single cup and equipped with Dunk Avoidance Technology to prevent unscrupulous individuals from lowering biscuits into the fuel tank, the Cooper T was a tough one to swallow.
You’ve heard of the Cooper S and Cooper D MINI models, well MINI asked you to suspend disbelief to accommodate a Cooper T on April Fools’ Day 2014. It sounds plausible until you learned the car supposedly runs on tea.
BMW announced a new system that puts the thrill back in to driving for April Fools Day 2014. It claimed that the Force Injection Booster works by “extracting kinetic energy from the car’s engine and converting it into positive g-
The nippy little Mazda MX-5 can now be enjoyed by the whole family - thanks to Mazda's introduction of the four-seater version on April Fool's Day 2014.
In 2014 Vauxhall attempted to dupe the nation with a special edition Astra Copacabana tied-in with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The footballer graphics on the flanks and giant Brazilian flag on the roof were just about believable. The turf-covered seats, sand-filled footwells and on-board cocktail vending machine inside, less so.
Red Bull announced a new addition to its F1 steering wheel for April Fools’ Day 2014 – technology that would allow drivers to tweet during a race.
Skoda introduced us to the Yeti Ice special edition for April Fools’ Day 2014. The car features a special faux fur finish developed by Skoda engineers working in the Himalayas.
VW proposed the Caddy Maxi Mini, a 2.4m long micro van with one seat and only enough room for a tool box or the driver's lunch. Basically, you could take more with you if you got the bus.
VW proposed the Caddy Maxi Mini, a 2.4m long micro van with one seat and only enough room for a tool box or the driver's lunch. Basically, you could take more with you if you got the bus.
Mercedes claimed it was planning a 503bhp panel van with a twin-turbo V8 for April Fools' Day 2015.
As well as the two gas-fired spit rotisserie grills, the modified Vivaro is said to have salad bowls integrated into the arm rests, chilli dispensers and of course a tasty selection of sauces.
Vauxhall announced a breakthrough for the evening entertainment industry for April Fools' 2015. The Taxi Kebabi is a 9-seater Vauxhall Vivaro Combi taxi with built-in kebab shop.
The GYM button disables labour saving gadgets like power steering and increases the force required to operate the pedals and gearbox. Suddenly your drive to work becomes a blood vessel bursting workout capable of burning
On April 1st 2015, Skoda revealed the solution to the age old car buying question, what colour should i choose? The answer being 'all of them'.
Dr Gio Kyng of Prague University, "each panel is coated with a microscopic layer of unobtainium – a newly discovered element that changes colour when a small electrical charge is applied to it."
Like Porsche, Jeep shared its April Fools via social media channels. The Wrangler Grille Grill is, well, shaped like the grille from a Wrangler! <div class="referenced-gallery-node"> <div class="picture type-i
MG thought it'd have a crack at an April Fool's joke and used that old chestnut of revealing its first invisible car. With help from Professor C. Thrue and Chief Designer Avril F'ouil, the brand expressed its excitemen
There’s a pull-out umbrella in the door of the Skoda Superb executive saloon so the logical next stem is to install a second rain shield for use by dogs. Skoda took just that leap for April Fools day clai
There’s a pull-out umbrella in the door of the Skoda Superb executive saloon so the logical next stem is to install a second rain shield for use by dogs. Skoda took just that leap for April Fools day claiming that ther
With emoji symbols now infiltrating all aspects of modern life, Honda couldn’t resist weighing-in with the Emoji numberplate. Here smilie faces and other nonsensical pics replace traditional letters and n
Vauxhall claimed to have entered a new era of “zero running costs and emissions” this year with the launch of its Adam C. Closer inspection reveals that this is the world’s first full size wind-up car and
MINI chose to target its 2016 April Fools effort at the growing ‘hipster’ market, offering us the “world premier of the MINI Hipster hatch”. The spoof car features ‘Instagram filtered windows’, ‘a twin-deck cassette player’ and ‘stonew
MINI chose to target its 2016 April Fools effort at the growing ‘hipster’ market, offering us the “world premier of the MINI Hipster hatch”. The spoof car features ‘Instagram filtered windows’, ‘a twin-deck cassette playe
Lexus's April Fools' Day offering for 2017 was the 'Lane Valet' tech which could move lane hoggers aside at the press of a button. Not the worst idea in the world, actually...
A little Photoshop trickery would certainly have sufficed but it’s good to know that the Honda Concept CR-V Roadster does actually exist in the real world.