When thinking about car design, what aspects come to mind first? The silhouette of the roofline, the wheels, the grille, maybe? There’s probably one thing that you haven’t thought about: the vehicle's key. Although keyless entry (and smartphones as keys) have pushed these handy little pieces of equipment out of the spotlight in the modern age, car keys remain a fascinating yet overlooked aspect of a vehicle’s styling.In many cases, automakers have unleashed their creativity when designing the key for their latest model, resulting in keys with one-of-a-kind designs or tech features. We have collected 10 of the most interesting car keys in the automotive world. These keys unlock a variety of vehicles, from muscle cars to minibusses to hypercars. Let’s take a closer look at them. Ferrari F8 Tributo ferrari-f8-key-classeluxurycarscroatia-ytWe start with the Ferrari F8 Tributo, a mid-engined sports car produced between 2019 and 2023. The F8 Tributo was the first version of the model to be released, followed by the open-top F8 Spider about six months later. Power comes from a twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 that produces 710 hp and is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.The F8’s key includes a few iconic Ferrari elements that bridge the gap between classic and modern: it is painted in one of the brand’s legendary shades of red, and decorated with vintage-style “Ferrari” lettering that echoes models from the company’s past. Classic Volkswagen Beetle/Microbus classic-volkswagen-beetle-microbus-key-mike-fn-garage-ytThe classic Volkswagen Beetle and Transporter/Microbus (also known as the Type 2) are icons of automotive design. Thanks to their simple styling, affordability, and popularity worldwide, they have become household names even among people who are not into cars. They also have a strong cultural association with the ‘60s “flower power” era, having become counterculture symbols thanks to their popularity amongst young people of the time.The Beetle and the Microbus were equipped with a key shaped like a Volkswagen logo: simple, minimalist, yet unmistakable. The perfect choice for two models like the Microbus and the Beetle, which achieved their worldwide fame thanks to the fact that they could instantly be picked out from anything else on the road. Volkswagen Switchblade Key volkswagen-switchblade-key-early-00s-christopher-scott-ytNext up, we have another Volkswagen key, one from a few decades later. The “switchblade-style” car key, with the key flipping out of a fob (which also included remote locking buttons), was not actually introduced by Volkswagen. It was first introduced by another German automaker, Mercedes-Benz, with the 1990 SL-Class.However, in the years that followed, Volkswagen helped popularize this style of key. Some of the brand’s models that featured this key type included the New Beetle and the Golf GTI. The switchblade key became synonymous with Volkswagen’s models, and quickly expanded to several other automakers. It is still popular today. Pagani Huayra Pagani Huayra Key FobWhen you buy a car like the Pagani Huayra, you can be sure that not a single aspect of it has been overlooked, not even the car’s key. In this case, the key is a miniature model of the Huayra. It's not just a utilitarian tool, but an object of beauty that you can put on display in your home.There’s more to it, however: not only is the Huayra’s key a nice object to look at, but it also serves a third purpose as a USB drive. This enables the owner to use the key to play music through the stereo; it might sound a little old-fashioned now, but 15 years ago it was state-of-the-art tech. BMW Z3 bmw-z3-key-key-fob-rob-yt-2The BMW Z3 is a two-seater sports car produced from 1996 to 2002. It was available in both roadster and coupe form. Both body styles also offered a high-performance M version.While the Z3’s key may seem fairly ordinary at first glance, one feature makes it stand out: a built-in flashlight. Whether you’ve dropped something under your seat or need assistance after a flat tire, there are countless situations where you might need some light; it really seems like BMW has thought of everything with this design. Dodge/Chrysler Neon dodge-chrysler-neon-1990s-key-national-automobile-museum-fbThe next entry on our list is a key that fits the name of its vehicle perfectly. The Neon was a compact car built between 1993 and 2005 across two generations. While in the US it was marketed primarily under the Dodge brand (and also as a Plymouth), elsewhere in the world it was sold under the Chrysler brand. A decade after its discontinuation, the Neon nameplate was resurrected. The third-gen Neon, introduced in 2016, is a rebadged Fiat Tipo and is still produced today.This particular key was associated with Neons of the mid-to-late 90s and was notable for its neon-yellow, glow-in-the-dark color. This unique key added a little funky character to the vehicle and was easy to find thanks to its glow. Aston Martin / Jaeger-LeCoultre Watch Key 2005-2012 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe Front DrivingThis key is not a key at all, but a wristwatch. Yes, you read that right: this stylish watch, built by Swiss manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre, includes a function that unlocks your car (more specifically, your Aston Martin) when you press the watch’s face. The magic happens thanks to a built-in transponder.This family of watches is called AMVOX. The first models went on sale around 15 years ago for $34,000 and could exclusively unlock the DB9, DBS, and Rapide. A few years later, in 2014, Aston Martin collaborated with Jaeger-LeCoultre again, producing a new watch (the AMVOX Transponder) that could pair with any modern Aston model. Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2004-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-key-a6rxn-ytWhen the Subaru Impreza WRX STi arrived on the North American market in 2004, it came with a uniquely shaped key that evoked the world of motorsport. Subaru’s rallying heritage is the stuff of legend: the brand has competed in the World Rally Championship since the 1980s, and the Impreza is famously associated with key figures in rallying, such as Colin McRae.The key that came with the 2004 STi resembles a kill switch, a device that shuts down the engine and all electrical power to prevent fires in the event of an accident. This sprinkle of motorsport DNA highlights the Impreza’s history and adds a little excitement to the otherwise ordinary experience of unlocking and starting your car. Koenigsegg Gemera 2026 Koenigsegg Gemera F10 Exterior Front Quarter 1The Koenigsegg Gemera is a rarity in the automotive world: a four-seater GT hypercar. After the Geneva Motor Show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Koenigsegg unveiled the car through an online event. It then entered production in 2024. The Gemera is powered by a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a single “Dark Matter” electric motor, producing a total output of 2,300 hp.The Gemera’s key falls somewhere between a key fob and a smartphone, with a highly advanced touchscreen that offers a multitude of functions beyond locking and unlocking the vehicle. There is even an actual phone function. And because the Gemera is a limited-edition hypercar, customers can personalize their key's look to make it truly their own. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon dodge-challenger-srt-demon-2018-red-key-black-key-knockout-360-ytOur very last entry consists of not just one key, but two. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, an extremely powerful version of the Challenger built for the drag strip, features two differently colored keys that unlock different levels of power. The black key limited power output to 500 hp, while the red key unleashed the car’s full output of up to 840 hp, depending on fuel type.When the Demon variant was brought back as part of the 2023 Challenger’s lineup, the dual-key system was no longer used. It was replaced by a system that measures the ethanol content of the fuel and adjusts the output accordingly.Sources: Ferrari, Volkswagen, Audi, Pagani, BMW, Chrysler, Aston Martin, Subaru, Koenigsegg, Dodge, Chrono24