CARS – The Best April Fool’s Day Jokes From Car Companies

Car companies aren’t particularly well known for their comedic value, and for good reason but, for one day in the year, the PR bods like to let their hair down and unleash some car-related capers on the unsuspecting public. Here are some of the best April Fool’s Day jokes from the motoring world.

Auto Windscreens prescription windscreen, 2010

Not strictly a car company, Auto Windscreens announced the first prescription windscreen for the bespectacled in 2010. Tailored to the individual driver’s ophthalmic prescription, the company even recruited British touring Car Driver, Tom Chilton (brother of F1 driver, Max) to front the launch. Head of Manufacturing, John Hutson even went as far to say that the company might venture into varifocal and even aircraft windscreens – come off it John, that’s enough now.

BMW’s M3 pick-up truck, 2011

For the practical petrol heads, the M3 pick-up was a real kick in the teeth in 2011. Based on the M3 Convertible, BMW reported that the pick-up’s V8 engine produced 414bhp and weighed 50kg less than a standard M3 Coupe. Sniggers were soon silenced when the M3 pick-up was reportedly seen lapping the Nurburgring shortly after. The one-off is now said to be owned by one very lucky German farmer with a penchant for powersliding.

Hyundai’s i10 Popemobile, 2009

We all know times are hard and even though Pope Francis was seen bowling around in the back of a Ford Focus the other day, it would take quite a bit for the Catholic Church to allow it’s head to be seen parading in a modified Hyundai i10. Creatively codenamed Project Popemobile, Hyundai let the cat out the bag when it claimed, “all leather for the seat facings was replaced with parts of tapestry woven by monks from the Indian city of Utta Bullacs” – stop it Hyundai, my sides are splitting.

Honda anti-theft negotiator, 2013

In 2013, Honda claimed to launch Terii; a patronisng and sarcastic sounding anti-theft negotiator who would emotionally blackmail would-be criminals into keeping their sticky paws off your pride and joy. Reportedly developed in conjunction with “hostage negotiators”, Terii fills the mind of the potential thief with hard hitting phrases such as, “poor decisions are made on an empty stomach” – that’s enough to put me off.

BMW’s Political Roundel Attachment Tag (PRAT), 2010

As election fever gripped the country in 2010, BMW cashed in and offered Beemer drivers the chance to sport the colours of their chosen political party through the purchase of a Political Roundel Attachment Tag, or PRAT. N.B no purchase necessary if, like a significant proportion of the country, you backed the Conservatives.

By Rory FH Smith