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Cape Town - It is that time of the year again when the world pulls pranks and automaker's try to put one over people's eyes. Yes, it's April Fools' Day 2017!
The car industry always shows its sense of humour on April 1 and this year was no exception. Here's a run down of five pranks of 2017.
Why not start your Monday with a laugh or five.
1. Honda's in-car dating app for millenials
Honda used April 1 to launch a new in-car dating app that helps drivers find love at the wheel. The 'H-Swipe' app connects to an innovative digital windscreen and interactive directional windscreen ‘s-wipers’, and uses geolocation technology to pinpoint the nearest potential dating candidate. The driver then uses the windscreen wipers to swipe left or right, either accepting or rejecting and moving on to the next eligible suitor.
With research* revealing that 80% of millennials struggle to find time to look for love thanks to on-the-go lifestyles, romance-seeking drivers will now be able to download the H-Swipe app directly to their dashboard, offering a unique in-car experience helping them hit the accelerator in the realm of online dating.
2. Hyundai's 'click to fly' - world's first drone delivery service
Hyundai Motor UK launched Click to Fly, the world’s first car delivery service by drone. Building on the success of the online purchasing website, Click to Buy, the new offering gives customers nationwide the option to have their brand new Hyundai delivered by Hyundai’s in-house developed drones.
Once a new Hyundai car has been ordered, the Click to Fly express delivery option will allow customers to receive a new car in under two hours* providing their chosen car is in stock – a timescale which hasn’t been possible until now.
3. Škoda launches world first 'rent-a-family' test drive service
In an effort to recreate the ‘delights’ of family travel, ŠKODA UK is offering a unique experience to customers taking the new Kodiaq SUV for a test drive.
Rent-a-Family is a no-cost test drive option that gives potential owners the chance to sample Škoda’s new seven seat SUV complete with crayon-wielding kids, insolent infants and talkless teens. As an added function, Rent-a-Family asks drivers if they’re ‘nearly there yet’ a minimum of five times per drive and mentions at least three times that someone needs to find a loo.
4. Lotus made a race helmet for four-legged friends
Lotus' attempt at a joke was actually pretty cute, called the Lotus Pet Lid, it's a helmet built specially for cats. So, if your'e keen to take your cat to a track day, best get hold of Lotus. Oh wait, they were only available till 12pm on April 1.
5. McLaren's feather weight-saving measure
McLaren introduced their latest 'paint' finish: 10 000 carbon-veined faux feathers. The supercar maker says the 'finish' weighs no more than a coat of paint, and aids the 570's aerodynamics, by reducing drag.
We're not sure if this specification will take off, but good try McLaren.
