8 Secrets Hidden in Cars That You Didn't Know About
The Little Arrow on the Fuel Gauge
We’ve all been there: arriving at a gas station in a borrowed or a rental car and you aren't sure what side the gas tank is on.
Help is at hand thanks to that little arrow that tells you precisely where to find the filler cap. Proof that even in this age of adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and driverless cars, a humble arrow can make all the difference.
Take Out Hook
Nissan claims to have invented the in-car ‘curry hook’ when it debuted on the Almera in 1996 in Europe. It was designed for carrying handbags or shopping bags, but it soon became a must-have accessory for takeout lovers.
Today, you’ll find a ‘takeout hook’ in the Qashqai and X-Trail, but look out for similar hooks in other vehicles. More often than not, you’ll find at least one pop-out hook in the boot.
Colour-Coding Under the Hood
Too many drivers are blissfully unaware of what lies below the hood of your vehicle, only venturing beneath to fill the washer fluid bottle.
Helpfully, many modern engine compartments feature colour-coded guides to highlight the fluids and levels that could and should be checked between services. They tend to be yellow or blue, and they make it easier to locate the engine dipstick, oil cap, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid.
Jeep Renegade Spiders
There's no shortage of Jeep Easter eggs out there, and this one is just as cool. Peeking out from the fuel fill is a tiny spider bidding lucky discoverers a happy "Ciao Baby!". The friendly little critter is nothing but a conversation piece, but that doesn't make it any less fun.
Volkswagen Golf And Passat Back Camera
Spy movies always have these nifty little tricks concealed up the cars' (metaphorical) sleeves, and the Volkswagen Golf and Passat both don't disappoint. Hidden behind the trunk's logo is a sneaky rear camera that reveals itself when users shift into reverse. The rotating logo definitely looks like something straight out of a heist film, and there's no question which car belongs to the crafty villain.
Tesla Model S Mini Car Key Fob
Ever had to wait for someone in the car until you get bored to death? The Tesla Model S key fob just might save the day. It comes as a sleek miniature version of an actual toy car, so everyone can zoom around their imaginations to pass the time and keep the boredom at bay. It definitely appeals to the inner child in all of us!
Ford Mustang Hologram
Just like in the Hyundai Genesis, projected holograms from the lighted side mirrors are always a crowd favourite. The Ford Mustang projects a powerful pony onto the ground like its own version of Batman's Batsignal—just don't expect horse-themed superheroes to show up and fight crime in the neighbourhood any time soon, though.
Tesla Model S Secret 007
James Bond fans are definitely in for a treat with this one, because the designers of the Tesla Model S have another scintillating secret in their back pockets. On the odd occasion that a car owner accesses the technician log in screen, they can simply type in "007" for one heck of an Easter egg--the Model S will morph into the 1977 The Spy Who Loved Me submarine on screen. Of course, this is no excuse for anyone to drive their vehicle into the nearest body of water in hopes of actually getting it to float, but there's no harm in dreaming about it, is there?
We hope you enjoyed these secrets, features and Easter Eggs in the vehicles we love.
Drive safe everybody!
The Dale Adams Team