HomeThe craziest car options and accessories

The craziest car options and accessories

Inspired by the solid gold accessories for the Bentley Batur, we reveal some of the oddest and most extravagant automotive options.

December 23, 2025

This time it’s personal
© Lamborghini
If you have ever bought a new car, you will be familiar with the options list. Here is where manufacturers make a big chunk of their profits, offering individual touches and accessories from metallic paint to an in-car coffee machine (yes, really). Keep clicking to discover some of the wildest and weirdest car options ever. As we shall discover, the list price is just the start…
A visit to Lamborghini in Italy
© Lamborghini
Personalisation is big business, especially for high-end car brands. We recently visited Lamborghini’s factory in Italy, including the ‘Ad Personam’ studio where its supercars and SUVs are configured. Some 26 percent of Lamborghini buyers now add some level of customisation – up from just eight percent in 2019. And almost anything is possible if your pockets are deep enough. The Hurcan Sterrato ‘Opera Unica’ seen here, for instance, has a hand-applied paint finish inspired by the ‘blue skies and crystal clear waters’ of Sardinia.
Made in the Miura’s image
© Lamborghini
If you own a beautiful, one-off Miura Roadster, why not have a last-of-the-line Aventador Ultimae Roadster to match? That was the thinking of this Swiss Lamborghini customer, who ordered his supercar in a specially created colour called Azzuro Flake. Lamborghini notes that it ‘updated’ the glitter in the paint ‘for homologation purposes’. Presumably the original was too toxic for today’s legislation.
All that glitters
© Lamborghini
Wait, did somebody mention glitter? Viktor Wurmboeck, head of configurations for Ad Personam, told us: “Our most expensive request was for paint mixed with real diamond powder, at €250,000 plus taxes”. Coming soon to an Instagram feed near you…
In-car coffee machine
© Seat
Say goodbye to overpriced takeaway coffees forever, with the Seat coffee machine. It’s like having your own personal barista in the car. Only you have to do all the work. So it’s nothing like a barista at all.
Range Rover drinks cabinet
© Land Rover
Forget coffee, why not go the whole hog? If Sir or Madam wished, the Range Rover Holland & Holland could be fitted with a generously sized drinks cabinet instead. It included free refills for the first year, but Sir or Madam had to supply the driver.
Volkswagen Beetle flower
© VW
Ah, the irony. The Volkswagen Beetle and the flower, two symbols of the Swinging Sixties and ‘flower power’. But wait, what’s that on the radio? Ah, BBC Radio 2. Well, we all have to wear our sensible shoes at some point.
Dynamic Volkswagen hub caps
© VW
Would you spend £150 on a set of four dynamic Volkswagen hub caps? Volkswagen said these add a ‘touch of the super-luxury segment’ to the mainstream, with self-levelling wheel centres inspired by Rolls-Royce and Bentley. ‘If you just want to quell the niggling irritation of badges pointing in different directions’, these are for you. For all other irritations, ask your pharmacist.
Bentley Batur 18ct gold trim
© Bentley
Only 18 examples of the 740hp, W12-powered Batur were made. The gold is sourced from the historic Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, then shaped using laser melting printers before being hand-finished by artisan jewellers. Fancy.
Chevrolet Corvette Teen Driver mode
© GM
The latest Corvette features Chevrolet’s Teen Driver mode, which enables parents to educate and coach young drivers on the importance of road safety. The technology is sensible rather than strange, but the fact that teenagers might be driving a mid-engined supercar seems a little bizarre. Would you trust your son or daughter in a Corvette?
Kia Soul speaker lights
© Kia
The Kia Soul speakers were a bit more down to earth, featuring LEDs lights that flashed in time with your funky beats. The speakers also featured ‘mood lighting’ to suit your state of mind.
Vauxhall Adam starlight roof lining
© Vauxhall
Anything Rolls-Royce could do, Vauxhall could manage for a little less cash. Fancy adding a touch of opulent glamour to your Vauxhall Adam? Then ’starlight roof trim’ was for you. Just don’t go promising your other half a night under the stars, because she might be a tad disappointed.
Honda CR-V shower
© Honda
The original Honda CR-V featured a cold water shower in the boot. What a great idea – a common sense feature, perfect for washing dirty dogs, bikes and shoes. Not so good for taking a shower in your local car park.
Honda Element Dog Friendly Package
© Honda
The Honda Element was a funky SUV with more than a passing resemblance to the Skoda Yeti. Not that Skoda ever offered a ‘Dog Friendly Package’ in the Yeti. More’s the pity.
Skoda Superb umbrella
© Skoda
Another case of anything Rolls-Royce can do… the Skoda Superb does a brilliant impression of a luxury car costing many times its purchase price. That goes right down to the minor details, such as the umbrella tucked away in one of the rear doors.
Rolls-Royce Conway Stewart pen set
© Rolls-Royce
In 2005, Rolls-Royce commissioned Conway Stewart to produce a limited number of pen sets to mark the 80th anniversary of the Phantom. A mere 25 Phantoms were treated to the special set within the glovebox, with the remaining cars getting a couple of blue Biros instead. Ahem.
Audi Q3 camping tent
© Audi
Yes, that is an Audi Q3 giving birth to a camping tent. Looks painful, but rather that than the kayak on the roof. Or is it a canoe? Whatever, the Pontiac Aztek got there first.
Peugeot 207 perfume diffuser
© Peugeot
Any Peugeot 207 is getting a bit long in the tooth these days, so there’s a good chance the interior will be a tad smelly. Think old socks, body odour, leftover takeaways and wet dogs. Fortunately, some cars were fitted with a perfume diffuser. You might just need it.
Skoda ice scraper
© Skoda
The only thing crazy about Skoda’s decision to put an ice scraper inside the fuel filler cap of its cars is why nobody had thought of it before.
Mini Driving Excitement Analyser
© Mini
The Mini Driving Excitement Analyser – ‘on hand to highlight just how skilfully and safely drivers are exploiting the potential of their new Mini’. Apparently you can earn Experience Points for sporty but safe driving. OK then…
Nissan X-Trail safari lights
© Nissan
Safari lights: perfect for the mean streets of Surbiton and the wilds of the Morrisons car park. But we shouldn’t mock; whack these bad boys onto main beam and Mr LED daytime running lights is going to think twice about blinding you next time he sees you. Or doesn’t see you, perhaps…
Aston Martin tyre cushions
© Aston Martin
No, we’re not making this up, you can actually order tyre cushions for your Aston Martin. They help to reduce flat spots when parking and can be yours for ‘just’ £870. The alternative is to use your car more often.
Ford Door Edge Protector
© Ford
There’s nothing crazy about this, because Ford’s Door Edge Protector system does exactly what it says in the brochure. Just don’t think it gives you an excuse to ram your car door into the side of ours. Thank you.
Volvo Animal Detection
© Volvo
Volvo’s Animal Detection system was tested in Sweden before being rolled out as part of the City Safety technology. The alternative would be to carry Sir David Attenborough around with you.
Citroen C4 Cactus Airbumps
© Citroen
The magnificently-named Airbumps are found on the old Citroen C4 Cactus. The air capsules absorb small bumps and are also said to offer better resistance to scratches. Which is fine, but we just love them because they look funky. It’s a shame Citroen decided to reduce their size for the facelift.
Mini Openometer
© Mini
The Mini ‘Openometer’ records the amount of time you have spent driving with the roof down. Which, in the case of most Brits, is hardly ever.
The in-car record player
© Steve Lagreca – Shutterstock
If you thought smartphones were a distraction behind the wheel, imagine trying to change a record while on the move. The technology was short-lived, knocked into touch by the birth of the eight-track player and common sense.
Bentley Bentayga Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling clock
© Bentley
Life is all about choices. You could buy a modest house in the north of England, or you could spend £160,000 on the Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling clock for your Bentley. It’s all about Cheshire, innit?
Renault Modus boot chute
© Renault
Clearly inspired by the original Mini, the Renault Modus featured a flap in the lower half of the tailgate to provide easy access to the boot. The so-called ‘boot chute’ was one of the many reasons why the Modus doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
Vauxhall bike carrier
© Vauxhall
Vauxhall’s patented FlexFix bike carrier is integrated in the bumper so that it’s not in the way when not in use. Optional when new, we wonder how many used Vauxhall buyers are unaware that their car features this nifty storage solution.
Bentley Bentayga Fly Fishing by Mulliner
© Bentley
What do you buy the fly-fisher who has it all? The Bentley Bentayga Fly Fishing by Mulliner and a copy of Fly Fishing by J.R. Hartley, of course.
Honda City and Motocompo
© Honda
The Honda City supermini could be optioned with a 50cc foldaway scooter called the Motocompo, which fitted neatly into its boot. Name a better automotive partnership. We’ll wait.
Volvo heartbeat sensor
© Volvo
Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator featured a heartbeat sensor that used the key fob to alert owners if somebody was lurking in the rear seat. The tech was short-lived. “Almost no one was using the intruder query function,” said Dan Johnston of Volvo Cars North America.
Nissan Cube dashboard carpet
© Nissan
You’re looking at the inside of a Nissan Cube with a carpet dashboard-topper. When we suggested ‘cutting some rug’, this isn’t what we had in mind…