Every 1st of April, people, brands, organisations and the like always try their best to fool us into believing the unbelievable. Most of the time we aren’t fooled but sometimes the ‘joke’ seems a little too real. Here's the wrap-up.
The prank day has been popular around the world since the 19th century but surprisingly little is known about the actual origins of this tradition. Perhaps a well-orchestrated prank in itself? The tradition goes that an April Fool’s Day joke is revealed by shouting “April fool!” at the recipient of the joke who becomes the “April fool” with all pranks and joking ending at midday.
The best-regarded April Fool’s Day joke was from 1957 when the BBC current-affairs show Panorama broadcast a hoax report of a Swiss family who harvested their spaghetti from a so-called “spaghetti tree”. It’s reported that hundreds of viewers phoned the station to question the authenticity of the story or to ask for more information about how they could grow their own spaghetti tree!
Here’s the wrap-up of our favourite 2023 April Fool’s Day attempts from the car world.
Subaru
Subaru appear to be real lovers of the April 1st tradition with two jokes being played, one in the UK and another in the US. For the UK, Subaru teased their new limited edition all-terrain walking boots, named the Suba-Shoes.
The Suba Shoes are said to offer maximum comfort with a specially designed leather seat stitch and include ‘All-Heel drive technology’ while the shock absorbing outer sole with grill springs assists in propelling each step. While the distinctive Subaru Star breathability zones ensure high wicking ability.
In the US, Subaru announced that they were entering the granola business with the debut of the all-new Subaru Forager Granola. Subaru Forager Granola is a companion snack to power drivers through life’s crunchiest pursuits. It blends wholesome grains, nuts, dried fruits, and the promise of the open road, offering all of the goodness of nature in one tasty package.
Jeep
Jeep launched a range of no-cost optional mud trims across Compass models so all future owners can get the mud look from day one of ownership. Funnily, most Compass owners would never ever get their SUV muddy enough in the first place!
From April 1, customers will be able to select one of three new mud finishes – Clay, Soil and Silt – each developed over the last 12 months by a specialist in-house team of soil scientists. For existing Jeep owners, the brand developed the “Mud-On” aftermarket package which includes a 15-litre container of Clay, Soil, and Silt alongside a mud trowel so customers can apply the classic Jeep off-road look at home.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen UK launched a range of new nail polish which was inspired by the array of paint colour options available on their range of cars. Available in high street stores from 1 April, the nail polish is said to be formulated using a Fashionable Oil Overhaul Lacquer – known as F.O.O.L – so it can even be used to temporarily repair scratches and scrapes on car paintwork.
Skoda
Skoda is taking the lead on car buying with the introduction of an innovative Pumped-Up Pooches scheme that allows potential owners to check that their beloved hounds will be a perfect fit for their new car. Available at Skoda retailers in the UK from April 1, the new in-car inflatables allow buyers to get a ‘woof idea’ of how their pet dogs would fit into new surroundings.
Every retailer will hold a Pumped-Up Pooch stock cabinet, complete with a scale inflatable dog for every one of the 222 breeds recognised by The Kennel Club, the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training, and the creators of Crufts.
Honda
Honda launched its first-of-its-kind distraction-limiting technology, HUSH on April 1. This new infotainment system program blocks out the most irritating sounds at the touch of a button. Standard options include white noise, whale songs and elevator music in jazz or blues. HUSH features include:
- Detection and deflection of unwanted noises within the car – child screaming recognition as standard
- Option to block noise from the passenger seat, the backseat, or both
- Control over the volume of sound that reaches the driver
- Pre-set recognition of phrases such as “you’ve missed the turn”, “I would’ve gone the other way” and “are we there yet”
- Customisation options for specific voice recognition, such as a partner, in-law or child
Isuzu
On April 1st, Isuzu announced a production issue about vehicle logo badges being produced with incorrect spelling, causing a potential problem for affected customers, especially for re-sale. The issue is believed to have affected a specific batch of Isuzu D-Max model production that have been delivered during the last 12 month period, with the chrome badges reading ‘IZUSU’ instead of ‘ISUZU’.
Keyword: The top car related April Fool’s Day jokes of 2023