27/03/2013 14:45 | By Chris Rees, contributor, MSN Cars
The best April Fools pranks by car companies

Pedal-power Pope

pedal power Pope (© ETA)
Next
Previous
Previous
  • pedal power Pope (© ETA)
  • BMW picks up its M3 (© BMW)
  • Rolls-Canardly Silver Spoon (© Chris Rees)
  • Kia bares its Aero-Soul (© Kia)
  • Vauxhall VXR Lite (© Vauxhall)
  • Hyundai props up the Pope (© Hyundai)
  • Land Rover levels the tax-disc playing fiel (© Land Rover)
  • Mitsubishi’s Evil I (© Mitsubishi)
Next
Previous1 of 12Next
Share this Gallery

It's that time of year. A cheeky spring is in the step of PR departments across the motoring world as they conjure up their latest April Fools' wheezes. While you're keeping your eyes peeled for this year's latest crop, let us take you on a trip back through some of the motoring world's best-ever April Fools. Just one warning for you though: one of these April Fools is one that we've made up - can you guess which? 

Hot on the heels of the installation of Pope Francis, a press release emerged from environmentally-friendly insurance firmETA with details of his new mode of transport. It claims that the new Pope is about to take delivery of a pedal-powered Popemobile costing £175,000.

Apparently, the eco-friendly vehicle has solar panels, low voltage spotlights “to illuminate His Holiness” and a top speed of 6mph – depending on who’s pedaling. If you didn’t smell a rat already, news later in the release that the plans were set to receive final approval on Monday 1st April 2013 gives the game away. Austere times call for austere measures but the pedal power Pope is beyond a joke.

related stories on msn

User Picture
Write a comment...
25Comments
shitty head (jockateo)
01/04/2012 06:11
avatar
the bmw may be a joke but id buy one as it looks cool
William Bray (Snapes Nose)
02/04/2012 10:42
avatar
I know a manufacturer that only make joke cars

Citroen!
leo santangelo
30/03/2012 21:58
avatar
the bmw badge joke spells P.R.A.T....take is as you wish
redredred
01/04/2012 00:45
avatar
Where do I sign up for the BMW pickup?Smile
Robert Mitchell (Devon Bob)
01/04/2012 01:45
avatar
'Political Roundel Attachment Tag'  p.r.a.t. love it...
Glenn Hoddle (hod01)
30/03/2012 23:57
avatar
Actually - although the Auto Windscreens ad is a spoof, there WAS a Swiss gentlemen who did have a prescription windscreen fitted to his car.
connor maxwell (Salieri)
01/04/2012 13:44
avatar
And they still say the Germans don't have a sense of humour.
John Hammond (Willy Eckerslyke)
01/04/2012 15:36
avatar
Seem to recall a BMW advert 20 or 30 years ago featuring a prescription windscreen
franky w (frankyw)
01/04/2012 00:32
avatar
Am particular really its laughable ;-)
Paul Phillips (pp2352)
01/04/2012 11:34
avatar

Seat's Aero-Tonto Ibiza was picked up by my local paper which printed it as true.  I emailed them with my suspicions that the April Ist date on the press release was a slight clue as to its credibility.  They must have realised their mistake but, strangely, I never got a reply.

This year Peugeot are announcing an RCZ with paint work that changes colour to reflect the owner's mood.  I wonder how many papers will be caught out?

 

BugVey41
30/03/2012 19:22
avatar
How could this have been posted on 01/04/2012? 

Says it at the top. Has this article broken the boundaries of TIME?
Robin Bettelley (Retrait en France)
08/04/2012 11:46
avatar

William Bray  -  CITROEN has always been years ahead of the other car manufactures

perhaps the problem is -- he has been behind everyone else in recognising their engineering  futuristic innovative skills

colin bremner (cocotdog)
01/04/2012 11:59
avatar
i want an m3 pickup,man that would be cool.
William Bray (Snapes Nose)
04/04/2012 08:19
avatar
I watched the Peugeot RCZ colour changing thingy mabob on youtube and i roflmaoed. As much as I love Peugeot, who would actually believe this plop. 
Just me again (little-miss-know-it-all)
01/04/2012 11:24
avatar
Love it, some great fools on there and some obvious trick ones too. gotta say though, i love the BMW pick-up they really should make them! i want one!
David (bluejam3)
01/04/2012 09:53
avatar
The prescription windscreen is a rip-off of an old Billy Connolly joke.
james pierce (x1x900)
01/04/2012 12:54
avatar
the geordie prescription chart,y,i,y,i,y,i,y,​i.
matt sainsbury
03/04/2012 18:50
avatar

I WANT ONE OF THOSE !! as a white van driver i can say i would buy one tomorrow (if possible ) modern construction companies now are all about image as well as reputation gone are the days where you could be a scruffy unshaven animal tailgating civilians in a clapped out rust ridden J reg Transit . BMW should seriously think about putting this into production , also it would go well with my delivery from munich of my new white 1series 12plate 5door BMW

Paul Haverson (Mr Really Angry)
01/04/2012 08:02
avatar
I remember BMW advertising a car with self cleaning paintwork for one April fool joke. All you had to do they said was to drive it in the rain and it would clean itself. I liked that one
Someone (The gatekeeper)
01/04/2012 12:32
avatar
It's not BMW's only April Fool. Anybody of a certain age just might remember in the 70's BMW advertising one of their cars with a "sealed engine - never needs servicing". And as a lad of 13 or 14, I fell for it.
Report
Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
Categories
100 character limit
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

Latest Cars videos

10 reasons to make MSN UK your homepage (© Microsoft)
Image Search for Pedal-power Pope on Bing
Image
Previous 1 of 1 Next
loading
See more results results by

More on msn Cars