The best Easter eggs from car manufacturers over the years
With Easter just around the corner, your children may be bothering you about the fact that they only have one small Milky Bar Easter egg and that they demand you take them on an egg hunt in the garden. But you can’t get a delivery slot anywhere.
Don’t worry. Easter eggs are everywhere, even in your car, although these ones might not impress a six-year-old hellbent on chocolate. Here’s some automotive Easter eggs. Some are more useful than others.
BMW: AirConsole gaming platform
EVs are hitting the market thick and fast and, while charging times have reduced significantly over the last few years, most models still need at least 20 minutes to regain a decent charge. So, what do you do when your car is plugged in at the charging station?
BMW has the answer in the form of AirConsole. A partnership with this company has allowed the company to integrate a number of games into its infotainment system. It can be used with multiple smartphones too, which act as the controller.
It’s available on a host of the brand’s latest models including electric vehicles like the i4, i5 and iX.
Renault 5: Baguette holder
The Renault 5 has been lauded as one of the most significant small EVs yet. Revealed in full a few months back, this model takes direct inspiration from the classic model that spawned in the 70s, but adds a high-tech drivetrain and funky interior.
But the old 5 isn’t the only French icon the new model focuses on – it will also be available with a wicker baguette holder. Ok, not so useful if you’re diving into Tesco for a meal deal. But if you’re after a more laid back French approach to lunch, it might just come in handy.
The Moab Map: Jeep Renegade
The map on the Jeep Renegade console is not some design quirk but an actual place: Moab, Utah.
This trail map is little nod towards a place famous among Jeep aficionado's for its unparalleled off-road setting. Those little numbers? Coordinates to find the trail and enjoy yourself the way Jeeps were built to be enjoyed on a little adventure of your own.
If you drive a Renegade the fun doesn’t stop there, apparently there are over 30 Easter eggs for you to try and find dotted around the interior and exterior of the little off-roader. HINT: There’s another one on that map…
Shark Attack: Vauxhall Corsa
A blast from the past here, but if you’ve got a 2004 Corsa on your drive beware of potential shark attack.
The tale around how a shark ended up on a car that looks nowhere near as menacing as a Great White says that the interior designers had a bet on whether or not they could fit a shark somewhere inside the vehicle. And well, they succeeded in a pretty imaginative way. No, we’re still not sure why either.
Pedal Power: Renault Twingo RS
Keeping an entertainment angle for a second, did you ever notice the pedals on the 2008 Twingo RS when your feet weren’t on them or were they always muddied up?
If not you were missing a pretty cool little touch carried over from the initial Twingo concept car, with the the clutch pedal embossed with a pause emblem, brakes getting the stop logo, and accelerator getting the play symbol etched into it.
Y’know, just in case you were ever confused about what they were for or wanted to pretend that driving a car was like watching a DVD.
The Eggcperts: Tesla
If you’re looking for hidden features, then look no further than Tesla. The vehicle's volume goes up to 11, in reference to This is Spinal Tap, and Elon Musk always goes one louder in many other ways.
We might be a few months late with this one but by holding the ‘T’ button on your infotainment screen and entering the code "holiday", this will cause a light show set to the tune of Wizards in Winter by Trans-Siberian Orchestra to begin. Then the Falcon Wing doors will swing up and mimic flying.
You can also turn your display monitor into Rainbow Road from Mario Kart - though unfortunately you can’t leave banana peels for the car behind to slip on, or fire turtle shells at the cars in front. Still bored? Transform the touchscreen into a full colour sketch pad. Watch the video above for MORE secret stuff.
On the practical side, there’s also a Dog Mode to ensure your pets aren’t in any danger on a hot day and reassure passers-by:
Introducing Dog Mode: set a cabin temperature to keep your dog comfortable while letting passersby know they don't need to worry pic.twitter.com/xFU6MGZT53
— Tesla (@Tesla) February 14, 2019
Simply Clever: Skoda Kodiaq
Whereas all these things are cool and a bit of irreverent fun, are any of them actually useful? No.
If this is your attitude and you find yourself in a Skodawhen it’s raining, look into your door when exiting as there’s something just for you.
Whether it’s the secret umbrella, automatic edge-protectors that pop in and out of the doors when you open and close them, storage bins throughout the cabin, luggage hooks, or an ice scraper hidden in the fuel filler flap, little touches like this mean a lot.
It’s all part of a philosophy aimed at making family life easier which Skoda calls ‘Simply Clever’.
