HomeThe best car company April Fools’ Day jokes

The best car company April Fools’ Day jokes

To celebrate April Fools’ Day 2026, we’ve chosen some of the funniest car manufacturer pranks, from grass carpets to driving dogs.

April 1, 2026

Are you having a laugh?
© VW
If you’re a motoring journalist, any press release issued on the 1st of April must be treated with extreme caution. Car manufacturers have a long history of April Fools’ Day jokes, and here we’ve picked some of the best. From birdsong warning bleeps to alloy wheels that can repel urinating dogs, some of these are more believable than others…
Safety that’s for the birds
© VW
According to Volkswagen, the latest T-Roc is available with a new safety option: the Canary-Assist blind-spot monitor. This emits a ‘cheerful chirping’ sound, along with a canary-shaped warning light on the door mirror, if the driver is about to steer into the path of another car. It can be switched on or off via the touchscreen, as seen above.
Take a flying leap
© Leapmotor
New Chinese marque Leapmotor has introduced an ingenious new Leap Mode for its C10 SUV. At speeds below 20mph, this ‘uses the C10’s advanced Cell‑to‑Chassis EV architecture and rear motor magnetic field to gently lift the vehicle over upcoming bumps or dips in the road’. Given the parlous state of Britain’s highways, we rather wish this one was real.
The grass is greener
© Jaecoo
Jaecoo is already one of the UK’s fastest growing car brands and this new option of grass floor mats can only boost its appeal. ‘Designed for drivers who believe even a trip to the supermarket should feel like a countryside escape,’ the mats use what Jaecoo calls ‘advanced tactile turf simulation technology’ to create the look, feel and smell of real grass. Just remember to check your shoes before climbing out.
Rear of the year
© Fiat
Fiat is valiantly tackling the UK’s builder’s bum ‘crisis’ with a new range of workwear. Designed in collaboration with Alessandro Cheekwood, the anti‑slip shorts and trousers feature ‘extended waistbands, reinforced stretch panels and Cheekwood’s new crack‑control fabric’. Only 250 examples of these ‘cheeky’ 250 pieces will be available, so get in touch with your Fiat dealer now. Or, um… maybe don’t.
Skoda paw-fect pooches
© Skoda
As one of the official sponsors of Crufts, Skoda does enjoy a dog-related prank. These Pumped-Up Pooches are apparently kept in showrooms so that dog owners can test any Skoda model for size. Got a dachshund? You’ll be fine with a Fabia. But if you own a dalmatian (inflatable or otherwise), you’d better buy a Superb estate.
Scania Sauna-Series lorry cab
© Scania
Here is Swedish truck maker Scania’s answer to reducing long-distance stress. The in-cab sauna allows lorry drivers to ‘sweat their problems away’ and comes with a ‘handcrafted set of towels and matching bath mat’. The only downside? You’ll need a shower at the motorway services afterwards.
A Porsche with patina
© Porsche
Many Porsches are specified in unusual ‘Paint to Sample’ colours as an extra-cost option. But an April Fools’ Day video on the brand’s YouTube channel claimed to offer a PTS pre-rusted finish. A spokesperson for Porsche reportedly said: “We can bring in even more authenticity now with new paint technology. So, we use oxidation processes for the paint and get a very authentic – ‘rusty’, you might call it – look. I would definitely call it the future of individualisation but, as always with Porsche, inspired by the past.”
McLaren takes flight
© McLaren
For an even more individual finish, how about this McLaren 570GT covered in 10,000 artificial, carbon-veined feathers? In 2017, the British company claimed the glamorous wrap improved the mid-engined supercar’s aerodynamics and added just 2.5kg in weight. For the right price, Woking’s bespoke MSO division would probably give it a go…
Nuts and volts
© VW
Did you hear the one about Volkswagen changing its name to ‘Voltswagen’? A press release explaining the rebrand appeared on Volkswagen USA’s website, before being swiftly removed. Then it was announced officially by the brand’s social media, apparently to support VW’s goal of ‘moving all people point-to-point with EVs’. Yet it turns out ‘Voltswagen’ was a joke all along.
The Inbetweeners’ Fiat Panda
© Fiat
This was an absolute corker from Fiat. Behold, the Panda Hawaii – a tribute to the Cinquecento that starred in cult TV show The Inbetweeners. It will apparently be offered with free insurance for first-time teenage drivers. No one wants to be a bus… well, you know. Features include ‘amphibious qualities’ in case you get too friendly with your local pond, as well as a pre-dented red door, plus a cassette player in place of the usual infotainment system.
Tesla Roadster in space-age sale
© Tesla
The Tesla Roadster sent into space will be offered for sale, allegedly. The electric sports car was blasted beyond the Earth’s atmosphere aboard a SpaceX rocket, with a David Bowie ‘Starman’ mannequin in the driving seat. Pending its return to solid ground, the interplanetary Tesla will be offered for sale via auction website Collecting Cars. With one owner from new and full main-dealer service history, its estimated hammer price is $420,000 (£320,000). Aida Prilgrap, Collecting Cars’ specialist in the Netherlands, said: “This is the first vehicle we’ve consigned outside our atmosphere. It’s unbelievable.” Well, quite.
Kahn Design electronic paint
© Kahn Design
Kahn Design has created the world’s first electronically customisable paint. Via an app, owners can control the three billion diodes in the paint to create a bespoke colour at the touch of a finger. Or just get your Lamborghini wrapped.
Skoda ProjectaPal LED reminder system
© Skoda
Many Skoda Karoqs have standard spotlights that illuminate the ground when the door is opened. Cue a development of this, called ProjectaPal lighting system, which projects personalised messages onto the ground. The firm’s head of infotainment development, Dr Ivor Tüchskreen apparently said: “Every week, I forget to put my bins out for recycling. Before ProjectaPal, I would tape a note on the interior door handle, but it would always fall off. Then I thought ‘why don’t I ask my Karoq to remind me instead?’ – and that’s when we started designing ProjectaPal.”
MG road-colouring tyres
© MG
MG’s mantra is ‘colour the road’. So on April 1 2019, it announced road-colouring tyres. They’re coated with a water-soluble dye that covers the road as the car drives, before fading shortly afterwards. And don’t worry about safety, adds the firm; they’ve passed the strictest industry tests with, ahem, flying colours.
The UK’s most remote charging point
© Land Rover
Land Rover is taking a stand in the fight for a better electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For EV owners on the remote Scottish Isle of Skye, the company has installed what is officially the most remote charging point in the UK. The non-existent electric outlet allows for zero-emissions adventures in the Range Rover P400e. Its batteries will charge in two hours and 45 minutes, according to LR. “Plenty of time to take in the electrifying view,” then.
BMW Motorrad iRace Kit
© BMW
BMW’s astonishing S 1000 RR produces 207hp, weighs just 193kg and is a superbike of the highest order. What about if you’re not quite so talented, but still want to sample what it’s capable of? Enter the new iRace Kit, which uses BMW’s patented autonomous-ride motorcycle tech to accelerate, brake, gearshift and steer riders around circuits at speed all the way up to the current lap record. They simply hold on. “What I experienced was sheer fear,” said test pilot Rosario Froschle, “but I started to gain trust. It was pure madness, but completely safe.”
A 1,000hp jet-powered motorbike
© Triumph
From the vaguely silly, to the absolutely insane; here’s a new accessory for your Triumph Rocket motorbike. Two jets are fitted where the exhaust would normally be, each lending 500hp to the cause of forward motion. And that is forward motion only, given this Rocket will be thrust-driven. “The new Rocket Mode Thrusters will beat just about anything in a straight line, including up,” said S.P. Aceman, chief project engineer at Triumph. We believe you, Mr Aceman.
Toyota ‘Pieace’ mobile oven
© Toyota
Somebody at Toyota Australia has been busy with Photoshop. The result is a convertible version of the Hiace van, complete with an optional pie oven. The oven includes a grill with four cooking racks. Toyota Australia’s head of public affairs, Brodie Bott, said the Pieace “made smoko a breeze”. Whatever that means. An alarm on the dashboard lets the driver know when a pie is cooked.”
Mini Hipster Hatch
© Mini
Mini is famous for its special editions and here’s one that taps straight into the current psyche. The Mini Hipster Hatch answers the needs of ‘what those who refused to be categorised want from a car’. Enter red lumberjack check exterior details and Instagram-filtered windows. Take it in Brooklyn Blue, Monochromatic Green or this rather fetching Organic Pumpkin. It has a fixed gear drive, just like hipsters’ beloved fixie bicycles, with a maximum speed of 25mph.
Mini Cooper T
© Mini
Does it get any more British than this? It’s a Mini Cooper that’ll run on tea. Colours include ‘Chamomile Yellow’, ‘Red Bush’ and ‘Early Grey’.
Toyota Aygo Instagram app
© Toyota
How can Toyota make its Aygo city car more desirable to young drivers? It found the answer by teaming with photo-sharing app Instagram to offer its famous filters on the car’s rear-view camera. Selfies taken through the camera can then be shared through the app. Toyota x-touch engineer Flora Poli said: “This is certainly one of the trickier projects I’ve worked on. At first I was worried, because let’s face it, using a reversing camera to take selfies seems a stupid idea.”
Morgan MOGrod
© Morgan
The Malvern firm that specialises in sports cars made of wood teased a new project – a range of Morgan hot rods, powered by Ford’s 3.7-litre V6. We kinda wish this wasn’t an April Fool gag.
Hyundai i10 special project
© Hyundai
In 2009, Hyundai claimed that world leaders were becoming concerned about emissions from large limos and adapted SUVs. So it announced a cost-effective solution in the form of a customised i10 city car. The roof was specially raised to accommodate VIPs, while the seats were finished in a cloth nicknamed ‘holy sheet’…
Paw-wheel drive
© VW
Volkswagen announced that it had been working with the RSPCA to teach dogs to drive its Amarok pick-up. Apparently the three mixed-breed dogs, Tulip, Jacob and Harry, were initially taught using a wooden trolley, before upgrading to the four-wheel-drive truck.
Nissan Gym
© Nissan
Thanks to Nissan, driving to work could be as healthy as walking, courtesy of this ‘Gym’ button. It turns off features drivers take for granted, such as power steering and electric windows, while also increasing the resistance in the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals. The firm reckoned motorists would burn thousands of calories a week and raise their fitness levels as they drive. There was even a ‘Gym and Go’ app in the infotainment system. Alternatively, just buy a classic British sports car.
Kia KEE wii
© Kia
Another Kia prank, this time from 2008. The Korean manufacturer took its Kee concept car, seen at Frankfurt the previous year, and claimed it could be driven using a small controller inspired by computer games consoles.
Citroen C4 Cactus Arsenal edition
© Citroen
The Citroen C4 Cactus is already an eye-catching car, but its blue, red and gold Arsenal edition got a mixed reception ahead of the 2014/15 season. It featured a Geo Organised Away-day Location, Information & Entertainment interface (GOALIE), pre-loaded with Arsenal’s away fixtures including directions to the matches, a database of pie and mash vendors and a music playlist of football anthems.
Seat electro reflective technology
© Seat
Could invisible cars be a thing? In April 2008, Seat claimed that it had used technology similar to that found in auto-dimming mirrors to create a Leon that could mimic its surroundings.
Seat Aero-Tonto
© Seat
On 1 April 2009, Seat followed this up with a wind turbine that could be mounted on top of the Ibiza Ecomotive’s roof to generate power for its headlights. As a result, it could return an extra 3mpg.
Vauxhall Astra VXR Accelerator Pedal Retarding Intervention Lump
© Vauxhall
Back when you could get a new Vauxhall Astra VXR, the firm offered a solution to quelling the expensive fuel bills that went with it: the Accelerator Pedal Retarding Intervention Lump (APRIL), which prevented a heavy right foot.
BMW Force Injection Booster
© BMW
Like every drive to feel like an Autobahn blast? BMW’s Force Injection Booster (FIB) extracts kinetic energy from the car’s engine at speeds of up to 20mph, converts it into positive g-forces and channels it through the air vents. At the same time, a mild electric current is delivered through the front seats, to simulate the same exhilarating feeling of driving at high speed.
BMW xDrive Baby Boots
© BMW
Good news! Now your baby can enjoy the benefits of xDrive, BMW’s intelligent four-wheel-drive system. The xDrive Baby Boots enable perfect weight distribution, providing maximum walking pleasure for your toddler. You know something, if BMW actually produced these, we think there’d be a queue outside dealerships everywhere…
Mazda MX-5 four-door
© Mazda
The Mazda MX-5 is one of our favourite sports cars, but would it be more desirable as a four-door? The manufacturer tweeted this picture, saying ‘We’re excited to share with you the first picture of the all-new Mazda MX-5 4 seater.’ Hmmm.
BMW Canine Repellent Alloy Protection
© BMW
Fed up of dogs doing their business on the wheels of your new BMW? In 2008, the manufacturer revealed its Canine Repellent Alloy Protection (CR… well, we don’t have to spell it out…) which would give animals an electric shock if they came too close to your BMW.
BMW Political Roundel Attachment Tag
© BMW
BMW has form for acronym-based April Fools’ gags. Ahead of the 2010 general election, it revealed its Political Roundel Attachment Tag (PR… yes, you’ve got it) – a bonnet badge that could be specced in the colour of whichever political party you support.
Vauxhall Astra Copacabana
© Vauxhall
On April Fools’ Day, Vauxhall revealed a £41,024.01 Astra. The Copacabana’s 2.6 second 0-60mph time would push passengers back into their seats, which were trimmed from genuine Rio turf. The footwells were filled with sand and the horn resembled a vuvuzela.
BMW M3 pickup
© BMW
The way BMW’s model line-up is going, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see an M3 pickup added to the range. Apparently its light weight (50kg less than the convertible) and lower centre of gravity meant it could hit a top speed of 300km/h (186mph).
Land Rover self-levelling tax disc holder
© Land Rover
In 2011, Land Rover developed a self-levelling tax disc holder in response to new legislation that said tax discs should not be displayed at jaunty angles. Then the internet solved this problem for us.
Kia Concept i
© Kia
Buying a new car is getting increasingly like buying home furnishings, with some manufacturers now opening dealerships in shopping centres. Kia saw this coming in 2007, with the introduction of its Concept i. Described as a ‘modular car’, buyers could choose the engine, transmission and trim specification of their new car before opting for the rear model (saloon, hatch, estate etc). Dealers would then supply the modules for the customer to put together at home, creating their new, erm, i’Kia.
Vauxhall Taxi Kebabi
© Vauxhall
Many nights on the town end with a quick kebab before a taxi ride home. In a stroke of genius, Vauxhall launched the Taxi Kebabi, which is like having your kebab and eating it. Based on the nine-seat Combi minibus, it featured two gas-fired spit rotisserie grilles, integrated salad bowls, chilli dispensers and a selection of sauces.
Caterham makes a lighter bite
© Caterham
We’d definitely add this Caterham Seven-shaped snack to our packed lunch, not least because a single 95g pack ‘contains enough calories to power an adult human for 24 hours straight’. Revealed in 2022, the Cater-Ham Seven-ses range combines ham with different cheeses for different markets, such as brie for France, gouda for Holland and artificial spray-on cheese in the USA.
Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Mini
© Volkswagen
If today’s vans are a little too large, the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Mini could be the answer. This pint-sized van is just 2.4 metres long and answers the need for ultra-compact vans in urban environments. It can even be parked at right angles to the kerb, Smart-style.
Skoda Simply Clever dog umbrella
© Skoda
You couldn’t make it up. Actually, you could, with Skoda’s new dog umbrella for its flagship Superb. Like its ‘human’ counterpart, the dog umbrella integrates into the car’s doorframe, and can be attached to a conventional lead to provide a unique ‘paws-free’ operation.
Honda emoji licence plate
© Honda
Honda’s response to demand from younger drivers in the UK? Plans to introduce the world’s first official emoji vehicle registration plates. Shigastu Baka, First Officer of Licences at Honda UK, said: “We are really excited to offer our customers a fun, quirky way to customise their car, which importantly, is reflective of their personality and lifestyle.
Honda CR-V Roadster
© Honda
What happens when you take an angle grinder to a family SUV? The answer, obviously, is the Honda CR-V Roadster. While clearly a joke, dare we suggest this rugged drop-top isn’t that different to a Range Rover Evoque Convertible or Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet? And both of those are very much real cars.
World’s first Formula 1 coach
© Luxaria
This is Luxuria, the world’s first purpose-built track and tour coach. It develops 3,614lb ft of torque, with a top speed of 122.6mph. It has lapped the Barcelona F1 circuit in a mere 2min 18 sec, with a list of features that includes an adjustable carbon fibre rear spoiler, carbon ceramic disc brakes and super-soft slick tyres. Up to 30 guests can enjoy this unique experience.