Gallery: The Worst Automotive April Fool's Pranks Of 2012
Daniel Deisenroth01april-fools
It's been years since anyone's laughed at an April Fool's Day prank, but as the persistence of Henny Youngman gags and knock-knock jokes proves, it's hard to kill even the most misguided attempts at mirth. In the automotive industry, April Fool's Day is a chance for usually staid, serious companies to have a laugh -- and, if they're clever enough, get some free publicity. Past pranks have included self-cleaning cars, a Royal Wedding edition M3 and numerous EV/sports car mashups. This year, we bring you a roundup of the best April Fool's pranks that the auto industry had to offer -- from the groan-worthy to those just barely too good to be true. Mini Cowley and Swindon Caravans -------------------------------- With the sheer number of accessories Mini dealerships have on offer, it wouldn't have been too surprising for the company to put a pair of campers on sale. Sure, the Mini is a small car -- but the [Toppola rooftop tent](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toppola) turned the Saab 99 into one of the world's smallest RVs. Still, Mini made sure to make their prank apparent: Cowley and Swindon aren't exactly known as resort towns, and the cars' license plates give the gag away entirely. *Photo: Mini*
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Mini Swindon Roof-Top Tent -------------------------- It's a shame that Mini isn't building this pop-up camper, because it's quite stylish. "The design of the roof-top tent box allows it to blend in seamlessly with the Mini when closed," the company said. "Its lower shell is painted Midnight Black, the upper opening section in Chili Red – a combination previously the preserve of John Cooper Works models." *Photo: Mini*
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Mini Cowley Teardrop Camper --------------------------- Mini pulled out all the stops when creating the Cowley camper, which the company referred to as a "exclusive pied-à-terre on wheels." Weighing in at only 661 lbs., it features a twin-burner gas stove, water tank, refrigerator, TV/DVD and stereo system. While lightweight teardrop campers do exist, this Mini-branded model is solely a figment of a designer's imagination. *Photo: Mini*
04bmw-running-coach
BMW Running Coach ----------------- From BMW UK comes a new addition to the latest 3-series: a running coach that's part of the car's infotainment system. Simply set the intensity of the workout you desire, and the car will follow you at close range as motivation. "ConnectDrive technologies and surround view cameras enable your BMW to follow you at a safe distance while you pound the streets," the company said. "Integrated exterior speakers play words of encouragement when you need a little extra motivation." Should you find yourself unable to keep up, it's a good thing the new 3-series' bumpers are compliant with new EU pedestrian-safety recommendations. *Photo: BMW*
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Callaway Volt ------------- Callaway, the legendary engine design company that's turned ordinary Chevys into record breakers, claimed to have given a Chevy Volt a 10,000 volt boost. The "VoltMort" has a 400 mph top speed, a 120,000 rpm redline and the endorsement of none other than Bob Lutz. *Photo: Callaway*
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Google Racing ------------- Perhaps our favorite April Fool's Day pranks come from Google. This year, the company claimed that their autonomous vehicle team had joined with NASCAR to create a self-driving car for the track. While an autonomous car did [make it to Taco Bell last week,](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2012/03/googles-autonomous-prius-drives-blind-man-to-taco-bell/) it'll be awhile before a car chases the Sprint Cup with nobody behind the wheel. *Photo: Google*
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Kia Plays Matchmaker -------------------- Kia's prank was pretty obvious: a matchmaking navigation system that connects single Kia owners. "The system will show available singles nearby via our new Front Operational Organic Light Emitting Display (FOOLED)," the automaker said. "The scheduled launch date is set for April 1st 2013." *Photo: Kia*
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Subaru Solar Tribeca -------------------- Last year, Planet Subaru of Hanover, MA teased the hundred or so Subaru Baja fanatics out there with a promise of assembling a limited run of the trucklets from scratch. This year, the dealership claimed to have been on the receiving end of a shipment of high-efficiency photovoltaic panels from a bankrupt solar panel manufacturer. The solution? Strap one onto the roof of a Tribeca. *Photo: Planet Subaru*
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Subaru Solar Tribeca -------------------- The dealership -- which, coincidentally has a solar-powered showroom -- claims that the car runs fine unless it's cloudy, and that it has a tendency to lose power when passing under bridges. And here we thought the joke was that the aging Tribeca was still for sale. *Photo: Planet Subaru*
Chris Hutter Fotostudio10tomtom-darth-vader
TomTom Darth Vader Voice ------------------------ Navigation system manufacturer TomTom released the findings of a six month long study that proved Darth Vader's voice had the uncanny ability to comfort those screaming children in the backseat. Coincidentally, TomTom offers a number of navigation systems with Darth Vader as an optional voice. *Photo: TomTom*
