Automakers' 2015 April Fools' pranks
I remember when I first started on the automotive beat about 10 years ago, I almost got sucked in by a press release from Mini that announced the first 8-speed gearbox - with two reverse gears.
And then I read this:
"Research has shown that MINI owners have the highest 'FGF' score (Fun Going Forward) on the road and so MINI engineers have developed a 2-speed reverse gear to increase the 'FGB' (Fun Going Backward) score to a similar level."Called Double Back Shifting (or Double B.S.), the new system adds a second reverse gear and thereby allows MINI owners to reverse faster than the competition to speeds of up to 40 mph."I started to think something was a tad off. But it was the last line of the press release that was the real kicker:
"Pricing has yet to be announced, however, a MINI spokesman, said 'this development is perfectly timed as there is no better day than April 1st to announce B.S.'"A-ha! Automakers can have a sense of humor!
And so, I actually look forward to April 1 each year, when I can search the web for the best jokes.
Here's a round-up of what I've found this year.
Ram Trucks "Gone Fishin" Edition: Announced on Twitter, this new special edition from Ram clearly targets the outdoorsman. My question: Can I have the fisherman, too? Putting worms on a hook has never been my thing.
Fiat 499: This is more of an ad for the 500X than an actual April Fool's prank. But I give them props for the whole one-less-than-500 equals a much, much smaller Fiat. But, um, don't vehicles like this actually exist in Europe?
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter63 S: We found this one on Instagram where @mbusa announced an AMG version of a top-heavy cargo van. In a second Instagram post, the caption reads: "Ready to attack corners with its AMG custom-engineered sport suspension, the Sprinter63 S is powered by a 503hp handcrafted 4.0-liter biturbo V-8which means it's also ready to haul a lot more than just cargo." Um, 503 horsepower and rear-wheel drive? This was released on March 31, and while Mercedes hasn't necessarily owned up to the joke, we're assuming that's what this is.
The Honda HR-V Selfie Edition: This one has to be my favorite. And it's complete with a YouTube video, full press release and website. It goes "on sale" this summer and will be equipped with 10 selfie cameras throughout the vehicle, which are only operable when the vehicle is in park. After the success of the selfie stick, something like this wouldn't actually surprise me. But, what this high-tech April Fools' joke really does is highlight the current technology already available in Honda vehicles: LaneWatch, a multi-angle rearview camera, 7-inch touch-screen featuring Pandora, Bluetooth streaming audio, a satellite-linked navigation system and HondaLink Next Generation that allows people to stay connected to their smartphones via a digital hub.