2016 April Fools' Day: Morgan digs at Tesla, Mini's scissor doors, more
Fri, Apr 1 2016
Morgan MOGrod
The Morgan Motor Company's MOGrod is one of our favorite April Fools' jokes so far this year because it's a car we wish could be real. The company says on Twitter that the retro hot rod uses a 3.7-liter Ford V6, and there are already 250,000 preorders, which is a play on the huge number of reservations for the Tesla Model 3. Morgan took the joke even further by sketching a landspeed record version for the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Mini Scissor Doors
The people at Mini apparently have a lot of free time because the company has two gags this year. The first is the scissor door option. The idea cleverly plays on the myriad ways customers can customize their Mini, but this solution doesn't look like anyone could easily enter the car due to the way these doors open.
Mini Hipster Hatch
There's also the Hipster Mini, which is a much funnier idea. This fictional hatchback would be perfect for fashionable Millennials thanks to features like Instagram-filter windows and a fixed-gear drivetrain, which limits the top speed to 25 miles per hour. The interior uses stonewash denim upholstery and packs a twin-deck cassette player.
Skoda Dog Umbrella
People love dogs, and owners know that a wet canine can be a mess. Skoda is ready to tackle this problem with an umbrella for your mutt. Made from unobtainium, the gadget hides in the door when not in use, but when raindrops start falling, people can keep their pup dry.
Skoda Snowman
Skoda's Facebook page also teases us with a very cool vehicle. The Snowman is a 396-horsepower plug-in hybrid snow machine. With its tracks, the company's newest model would never have to worry about getting stuck in the winter.
Opel Adam C
Sure, electricity and hydrogen are cleaner forms of fuel than gasoline or diesel, but Opel has a way to make your car even more environmentally friendly – muscle power. Wind up the crank at the rear for 15 minutes, and the Opel Adam C is good for 125 miles. GM's European division also claims that owners get a great workout because a full winding session burns 400 calories. You wouldn't feel guilty about picking up that pizza after cranking up this hatchback.
Opel Sewing Machine
Opel boss Karl-Thomas Neumann also gets in on the joke by tweeting about the company's new sewing machine. It actually looks really good, and refers to the company's heritage making sewing machines.
Honda Emoji License Plate
Honda wants to appeal to younger drivers in the UK, but rather than creating with an exciting vehicle to grab their interest, the Japanese automaker has emoji for license plates. The idea seems lame to us, but maybe we're just too old.
MG Invisible Concept Car
MG doesn't appear to understand that April Fools' Day jokes aren't mandatory. If you're not going to bother trying, it's okay to skip the gag entirely. The company's invisible concept car seems like the result of running out of time to come up with a clever idea.
Fiat 5000
In the US, Fiat is known for its small cars, and the company subverts that reputation with the Fiat 5000 – a Fiat 500 stretch limo. According to the Italian automaker's tweet, there's enough room for you and 25 of your friends. The 500's front-wheel drive platform might actually make this idea realistically possible, and we think Fiat needs to build one for real at SEMA.
Leisure Travel Vans' autonomous RV
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Nissan NV Cargo Drift Van
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Mazda Will Only Offer Automatic Gearboxes
Mazda knows that it has a dedicated enthusiast fanbase because of models like the MX-5 Miata and RX-7, and the company continues to offer manual transmissions as its competitors drop the ability to row your own gears. That makes the tweet from Mazda Canada claiming to phase out manuals by 2018 an especially mean prank.
BMW xDrive Baby Boots
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- Image Credit: All images copyright their respective automakers
By Chris Bruce
See also: Buick boss shuts down idea of importing Opel Adam, Mini Clubman to get the 'Works,' four-door Hardtop not so much, How long will the 'golden age' of performance last?.