10 unusual car features you never knew
02 Oct 2018|17,973 views
UNUSUAL CAR FEATURES
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BELIEVE EXISTED
Text | Goh Zhi Xuan
2 October 2018
Think that the umbrella that pops out of a Rolls-Royce's door is fascinating? Wait till you hear about the car that came with a bike in its trunk.
Over the history of automotive design, many interesting ideas were thrown about. While some of these became widely adopted, others remain as quirky one-offs that are seldom seen on other cars. Here are 10 quirky car features that you have probably never heard of.
Over the history of automotive design, many interesting ideas were thrown about. While some of these became widely adopted, others remain as quirky one-offs that are seldom seen on other cars. Here are 10 quirky car features that you have probably never heard of.
Photos by: Waikem Honda
1) 2014 Honda Odyssey - HondaVAC built-in vacuum cleaner
Don't you hate it when people eat in your car and drop those bits and pieces of food, which eventually attract all sorts of pests to your car? Well, if you have a 2014 Honda Odyssey (in the U.S.A), you can just bust out the HondaVAC to get rid of the mess easily.
The HondaVAC is a vacuum cleaner that is neatly tucked into the side of the Odyssey's cargo area. It is powered by the car and requires no external power source, although it isn't extremely powerful, it sure is a handy addition to the family-oriented MPV.
Don't you hate it when people eat in your car and drop those bits and pieces of food, which eventually attract all sorts of pests to your car? Well, if you have a 2014 Honda Odyssey (in the U.S.A), you can just bust out the HondaVAC to get rid of the mess easily.
The HondaVAC is a vacuum cleaner that is neatly tucked into the side of the Odyssey's cargo area. It is powered by the car and requires no external power source, although it isn't extremely powerful, it sure is a handy addition to the family-oriented MPV.
Photos by: flickr
2) 1999 TVR Tuscan - Door 'handle' under rearview mirror
Think the Toyota C-HR and Honda Vezel's rear door handle location are cool and original? Sorry to burst your bubble, but cars like the Mazda RX-7 FD already have similarly positioned door handles 25 years ago. Now, for something that's truly unique and creative, behold, the TVR Tuscan. It has door handles, buttons to be exact, under the rear view mirrors. This allows the car to have a sleek and clean side profile without any hideous handles to throw a wrench into the works (think of those massive ones on the Nissan 350Z).
Think the Toyota C-HR and Honda Vezel's rear door handle location are cool and original? Sorry to burst your bubble, but cars like the Mazda RX-7 FD already have similarly positioned door handles 25 years ago. Now, for something that's truly unique and creative, behold, the TVR Tuscan. It has door handles, buttons to be exact, under the rear view mirrors. This allows the car to have a sleek and clean side profile without any hideous handles to throw a wrench into the works (think of those massive ones on the Nissan 350Z).
Photos by: ebay, Bmwblog.com
3) BMW - Old glovebox torchlight
Have you ever dropped something in your car and have trouble finding it in the darkness of the night? Turning on the cabin light doesn't help much either as the light never reaches the crevices that whatever you dropped could be nesting in. You know what would be handy? A torch light or your phone's torch function. But picture this, back in the 1990s when phones were still dumb, there wasn't such a function. So the geniuses at BMW designed a torch that plugs into the glove box of cars like the E36 3 Series, which stays charged by getting its power from the car's battery. Functional, useful and thoughtful, the glove box torch sure comes in handy on many occasions.
Have you ever dropped something in your car and have trouble finding it in the darkness of the night? Turning on the cabin light doesn't help much either as the light never reaches the crevices that whatever you dropped could be nesting in. You know what would be handy? A torch light or your phone's torch function. But picture this, back in the 1990s when phones were still dumb, there wasn't such a function. So the geniuses at BMW designed a torch that plugs into the glove box of cars like the E36 3 Series, which stays charged by getting its power from the car's battery. Functional, useful and thoughtful, the glove box torch sure comes in handy on many occasions.
Photo by: Goh Zhi Xuan
4) 1981 Honda City - Motocompo scooter
Electric scooters are all the rage right now, while some can hit three-digit speeds, others can cover the distance of our sunny island from end to end on a single charge. However, way before their conception, Honda had an ingenious solution for people who wanted something compact and handy to weave around the packed city streets - the Motocompo. Designed to fit snugly into the trunk of the Honda City micro car, the Motocompo is a 50cc scooter, which has handlebars, foot pegs and a seat that fold down to form a boxy shape.
Electric scooters are all the rage right now, while some can hit three-digit speeds, others can cover the distance of our sunny island from end to end on a single charge. However, way before their conception, Honda had an ingenious solution for people who wanted something compact and handy to weave around the packed city streets - the Motocompo. Designed to fit snugly into the trunk of the Honda City micro car, the Motocompo is a 50cc scooter, which has handlebars, foot pegs and a seat that fold down to form a boxy shape.
Photos by: flickr, Volkswagen
5) Volkswagen Beetle - Bud Vase
As they say, cars are an extension of one's personality and it is no surprise that drivers often personalise the interior of their cars. It can be a miniature die-cast model of their car, a VIP-style diamond stitch leather dashboard cover, or just a simple tissue box that sits on their dashboard.
But for the Volkswagen Beetles, it's an entirely different game. Several models of the original Beetle, and the modern Volkswagen New Beetles (second generation Beetles) came with a 'bud vase' (a flower vase on the dashboard). Some drivers use it as intended, displaying unique flower arrangements, while others simply use them as a pen holder. Whether you fancy the idea of displaying flowers in your car or not, the bud vase sure is an intriguing addition to a car's interior.
As they say, cars are an extension of one's personality and it is no surprise that drivers often personalise the interior of their cars. It can be a miniature die-cast model of their car, a VIP-style diamond stitch leather dashboard cover, or just a simple tissue box that sits on their dashboard.
But for the Volkswagen Beetles, it's an entirely different game. Several models of the original Beetle, and the modern Volkswagen New Beetles (second generation Beetles) came with a 'bud vase' (a flower vase on the dashboard). Some drivers use it as intended, displaying unique flower arrangements, while others simply use them as a pen holder. Whether you fancy the idea of displaying flowers in your car or not, the bud vase sure is an intriguing addition to a car's interior.
Photos by: Scoopnest.com, Honda
6) 1997 Honda CR-V - Rear-mounted shower
Despite the current trend where SUVs are so popular with families due to their versatility, their roots actually trace back to rugged, utilitarian and off-road uses. SUVs typically have increased ground clearance, which allows them to traverse all sorts of surfaces. These are vehicles that suit the adventurous and in order to cater to their needs, Honda clearly went the extra mile by offering the option of a powered shower attachment for the Honda CR-V in the early 2000s. The CR-V's shower attachment kit consists of a water jug, hose, showerhead and a 12-volt pump that was powered by the car. It was designed to be mounted on the open tailgate, and could be used to clean muddy boots.
Despite the current trend where SUVs are so popular with families due to their versatility, their roots actually trace back to rugged, utilitarian and off-road uses. SUVs typically have increased ground clearance, which allows them to traverse all sorts of surfaces. These are vehicles that suit the adventurous and in order to cater to their needs, Honda clearly went the extra mile by offering the option of a powered shower attachment for the Honda CR-V in the early 2000s. The CR-V's shower attachment kit consists of a water jug, hose, showerhead and a 12-volt pump that was powered by the car. It was designed to be mounted on the open tailgate, and could be used to clean muddy boots.
Photos by: Fiat, flickr
7) 2012 Fiat 500L - Espresso machine
When it comes to classy solutions, the Italians simply never fail to deliver. With the Fiat 500L, you no longer have to step out of your car just to get your daily caffeine fix; that is if you ticked the box for the coffee maker option. Sitting snugly in the cup holder of the 500L is a Lavazza 500 Espresso Machine. Slot in a coffee pod and add some water, and the flask-like machine will do the rest as you are crawling through the morning peak hour traffic on the way to work. You can now avoid that detour to Starbucks that will only serve to interrupt your routine. Isn't this a splendid solution?
When it comes to classy solutions, the Italians simply never fail to deliver. With the Fiat 500L, you no longer have to step out of your car just to get your daily caffeine fix; that is if you ticked the box for the coffee maker option. Sitting snugly in the cup holder of the 500L is a Lavazza 500 Espresso Machine. Slot in a coffee pod and add some water, and the flask-like machine will do the rest as you are crawling through the morning peak hour traffic on the way to work. You can now avoid that detour to Starbucks that will only serve to interrupt your routine. Isn't this a splendid solution?
Photos by: Amery Reuben
8) 2009 MINI Convertible - Openometer
How many times have you fallen for things that seem intriguing and novel, only to end up under-utilising them as soon as that initial excitement wears out while cognitive dissonance starts to set in? The 2009 MINI Convertible featured an 'Openometer', which is simply a gauge that shows the driver how much time the car is driven with its top down. While it was probably designed to remind owners to use their convertible as intended, with the top down as much as possible, we feel that it will end up as a stark reminder of the errant choice of a drop-top ride in the ridiculous all-summer climate of Singapore.
How many times have you fallen for things that seem intriguing and novel, only to end up under-utilising them as soon as that initial excitement wears out while cognitive dissonance starts to set in? The 2009 MINI Convertible featured an 'Openometer', which is simply a gauge that shows the driver how much time the car is driven with its top down. While it was probably designed to remind owners to use their convertible as intended, with the top down as much as possible, we feel that it will end up as a stark reminder of the errant choice of a drop-top ride in the ridiculous all-summer climate of Singapore.
Photos by: Popularmechanics.com, FavCars.com
9) 1984 Toyota Van - Ice maker
There's probably nothing more enjoyable than a cold beverage on a hot day. But what if you are on a lengthy road trip and have this sudden urge for that brain-freezing sensation you get when gulping down a glass of iced water? Well, you can pull up at the nearest petrol kiosk to get something, or if you are driving a 1984 Toyota Van (yes, we are not kidding, Van really is the name of this Toyota van), you can simply pop open the built-in ice maker. The ice maker is chilled by the air-conditioner refrigerant lines, which we can't help but wonder how long it takes for the ice to be made, and will it even be possible in the short travel durations here in Singapore?
There's probably nothing more enjoyable than a cold beverage on a hot day. But what if you are on a lengthy road trip and have this sudden urge for that brain-freezing sensation you get when gulping down a glass of iced water? Well, you can pull up at the nearest petrol kiosk to get something, or if you are driving a 1984 Toyota Van (yes, we are not kidding, Van really is the name of this Toyota van), you can simply pop open the built-in ice maker. The ice maker is chilled by the air-conditioner refrigerant lines, which we can't help but wonder how long it takes for the ice to be made, and will it even be possible in the short travel durations here in Singapore?
Photos by: Nissan North America, Low Fai Ming
10) Nissan Cube - Shag dash topper
The Nissan Cube was available with an 'Interior Designer Kit', and included in this package is the 'shag dash topper', which like the Beetle's bud vase, seems to be a unique dashboard ornament that adds character to the car. However, unlike the bud vase, the 'shag dash topper' doesn't seem to serve any functional purpose. Based on our observation on Nissan Cube forums, most owners of the car seem to accept and adore this quirky object found on their car's dashboard as a part of the car's unique personality, after all the Cube is indeed a curious looking car with an asymmetrical rear end.
The Nissan Cube was available with an 'Interior Designer Kit', and included in this package is the 'shag dash topper', which like the Beetle's bud vase, seems to be a unique dashboard ornament that adds character to the car. However, unlike the bud vase, the 'shag dash topper' doesn't seem to serve any functional purpose. Based on our observation on Nissan Cube forums, most owners of the car seem to accept and adore this quirky object found on their car's dashboard as a part of the car's unique personality, after all the Cube is indeed a curious looking car with an asymmetrical rear end.
Think that the umbrella that pops out of a Rolls-Royce's door is fascinating? Wait till you hear about the car that came with a bike in its trunk.
Over the history of automotive design, many interesting ideas were thrown about. While some of these became widely adopted, others remain as quirky one-offs that are seldom seen on other cars. Here are 10 quirky car features that you have probably never heard of.
Over the history of automotive design, many interesting ideas were thrown about. While some of these became widely adopted, others remain as quirky one-offs that are seldom seen on other cars. Here are 10 quirky car features that you have probably never heard of.
Photos by: Waikem Honda
1) 2014 Honda Odyssey - HondaVAC built-in vacuum cleaner
Don't you hate it when people eat in your car and drop those bits and pieces of food, which eventually attract all sorts of pests to your car? Well, if you have a 2014 Honda Odyssey (in the U.S.A), you can just bust out the HondaVAC to get rid of the mess easily.
The HondaVAC is a vacuum cleaner that is neatly tucked into the side of the Odyssey's cargo area. It is powered by the car and requires no external power source, although it isn't extremely powerful, it sure is a handy addition to the family-oriented MPV.
Don't you hate it when people eat in your car and drop those bits and pieces of food, which eventually attract all sorts of pests to your car? Well, if you have a 2014 Honda Odyssey (in the U.S.A), you can just bust out the HondaVAC to get rid of the mess easily.
The HondaVAC is a vacuum cleaner that is neatly tucked into the side of the Odyssey's cargo area. It is powered by the car and requires no external power source, although it isn't extremely powerful, it sure is a handy addition to the family-oriented MPV.
Photos by: flickr
2) 1999 TVR Tuscan - Door 'handle' under rearview mirror
Think the Toyota C-HR and Honda Vezel's rear door handle location are cool and original? Sorry to burst your bubble, but cars like the Mazda RX-7 FD already have similarly positioned door handles 25 years ago. Now, for something that's truly unique and creative, behold, the TVR Tuscan. It has door handles, buttons to be exact, under the rear view mirrors. This allows the car to have a sleek and clean side profile without any hideous handles to throw a wrench into the works (think of those massive ones on the Nissan 350Z).
Think the Toyota C-HR and Honda Vezel's rear door handle location are cool and original? Sorry to burst your bubble, but cars like the Mazda RX-7 FD already have similarly positioned door handles 25 years ago. Now, for something that's truly unique and creative, behold, the TVR Tuscan. It has door handles, buttons to be exact, under the rear view mirrors. This allows the car to have a sleek and clean side profile without any hideous handles to throw a wrench into the works (think of those massive ones on the Nissan 350Z).
Photos by: ebay, Bmwblog.com
3) BMW - Old glovebox torchlight
Have you ever dropped something in your car and have trouble finding it in the darkness of the night? Turning on the cabin light doesn't help much either as the light never reaches the crevices that whatever you dropped could be nesting in. You know what would be handy? A torch light or your phone's torch function. But picture this, back in the 1990s when phones were still dumb, there wasn't such a function. So the geniuses at BMW designed a torch that plugs into the glove box of cars like the E36 3 Series, which stays charged by getting its power from the car's battery. Functional, useful and thoughtful, the glove box torch sure comes in handy on many occasions.
Have you ever dropped something in your car and have trouble finding it in the darkness of the night? Turning on the cabin light doesn't help much either as the light never reaches the crevices that whatever you dropped could be nesting in. You know what would be handy? A torch light or your phone's torch function. But picture this, back in the 1990s when phones were still dumb, there wasn't such a function. So the geniuses at BMW designed a torch that plugs into the glove box of cars like the E36 3 Series, which stays charged by getting its power from the car's battery. Functional, useful and thoughtful, the glove box torch sure comes in handy on many occasions.
Photo by: Goh Zhi Xuan
4) 1981 Honda City - Motocompo scooter
Electric scooters are all the rage right now, while some can hit three-digit speeds, others can cover the distance of our sunny island from end to end on a single charge. However, way before their conception, Honda had an ingenious solution for people who wanted something compact and handy to weave around the packed city streets - the Motocompo. Designed to fit snugly into the trunk of the Honda City micro car, the Motocompo is a 50cc scooter, which has handlebars, foot pegs and a seat that fold down to form a boxy shape.
Electric scooters are all the rage right now, while some can hit three-digit speeds, others can cover the distance of our sunny island from end to end on a single charge. However, way before their conception, Honda had an ingenious solution for people who wanted something compact and handy to weave around the packed city streets - the Motocompo. Designed to fit snugly into the trunk of the Honda City micro car, the Motocompo is a 50cc scooter, which has handlebars, foot pegs and a seat that fold down to form a boxy shape.
Photos by: flickr, Volkswagen
5) Volkswagen Beetle - Bud Vase
As they say, cars are an extension of one's personality and it is no surprise that drivers often personalise the interior of their cars. It can be a miniature die-cast model of their car, a VIP-style diamond stitch leather dashboard cover, or just a simple tissue box that sits on their dashboard.
But for the Volkswagen Beetles, it's an entirely different game. Several models of the original Beetle, and the modern Volkswagen New Beetles (second generation Beetles) came with a 'bud vase' (a flower vase on the dashboard). Some drivers use it as intended, displaying unique flower arrangements, while others simply use them as a pen holder. Whether you fancy the idea of displaying flowers in your car or not, the bud vase sure is an intriguing addition to a car's interior.
As they say, cars are an extension of one's personality and it is no surprise that drivers often personalise the interior of their cars. It can be a miniature die-cast model of their car, a VIP-style diamond stitch leather dashboard cover, or just a simple tissue box that sits on their dashboard.
But for the Volkswagen Beetles, it's an entirely different game. Several models of the original Beetle, and the modern Volkswagen New Beetles (second generation Beetles) came with a 'bud vase' (a flower vase on the dashboard). Some drivers use it as intended, displaying unique flower arrangements, while others simply use them as a pen holder. Whether you fancy the idea of displaying flowers in your car or not, the bud vase sure is an intriguing addition to a car's interior.
Photos by: Scoopnest.com, Honda
6) 1997 Honda CR-V - Rear-mounted shower
Despite the current trend where SUVs are so popular with families due to their versatility, their roots actually trace back to rugged, utilitarian and off-road uses. SUVs typically have increased ground clearance, which allows them to traverse all sorts of surfaces. These are vehicles that suit the adventurous and in order to cater to their needs, Honda clearly went the extra mile by offering the option of a powered shower attachment for the Honda CR-V in the early 2000s. The CR-V's shower attachment kit consists of a water jug, hose, showerhead and a 12-volt pump that was powered by the car. It was designed to be mounted on the open tailgate, and could be used to clean muddy boots.
Despite the current trend where SUVs are so popular with families due to their versatility, their roots actually trace back to rugged, utilitarian and off-road uses. SUVs typically have increased ground clearance, which allows them to traverse all sorts of surfaces. These are vehicles that suit the adventurous and in order to cater to their needs, Honda clearly went the extra mile by offering the option of a powered shower attachment for the Honda CR-V in the early 2000s. The CR-V's shower attachment kit consists of a water jug, hose, showerhead and a 12-volt pump that was powered by the car. It was designed to be mounted on the open tailgate, and could be used to clean muddy boots.
Photos by: Fiat, flickr
7) 2012 Fiat 500L - Espresso machine
When it comes to classy solutions, the Italians simply never fail to deliver. With the Fiat 500L, you no longer have to step out of your car just to get your daily caffeine fix; that is if you ticked the box for the coffee maker option. Sitting snugly in the cup holder of the 500L is a Lavazza 500 Espresso Machine. Slot in a coffee pod and add some water, and the flask-like machine will do the rest as you are crawling through the morning peak hour traffic on the way to work. You can now avoid that detour to Starbucks that will only serve to interrupt your routine. Isn't this a splendid solution?
When it comes to classy solutions, the Italians simply never fail to deliver. With the Fiat 500L, you no longer have to step out of your car just to get your daily caffeine fix; that is if you ticked the box for the coffee maker option. Sitting snugly in the cup holder of the 500L is a Lavazza 500 Espresso Machine. Slot in a coffee pod and add some water, and the flask-like machine will do the rest as you are crawling through the morning peak hour traffic on the way to work. You can now avoid that detour to Starbucks that will only serve to interrupt your routine. Isn't this a splendid solution?
Photos by: Amery Reuben
8) 2009 MINI Convertible - Openometer
How many times have you fallen for things that seem intriguing and novel, only to end up under-utilising them as soon as that initial excitement wears out while cognitive dissonance starts to set in? The 2009 MINI Convertible featured an 'Openometer', which is simply a gauge that shows the driver how much time the car is driven with its top down. While it was probably designed to remind owners to use their convertible as intended, with the top down as much as possible, we feel that it will end up as a stark reminder of the errant choice of a drop-top ride in the ridiculous all-summer climate of Singapore.
How many times have you fallen for things that seem intriguing and novel, only to end up under-utilising them as soon as that initial excitement wears out while cognitive dissonance starts to set in? The 2009 MINI Convertible featured an 'Openometer', which is simply a gauge that shows the driver how much time the car is driven with its top down. While it was probably designed to remind owners to use their convertible as intended, with the top down as much as possible, we feel that it will end up as a stark reminder of the errant choice of a drop-top ride in the ridiculous all-summer climate of Singapore.
Photos by: Popularmechanics.com, FavCars.com
9) 1984 Toyota Van - Ice maker
There's probably nothing more enjoyable than a cold beverage on a hot day. But what if you are on a lengthy road trip and have this sudden urge for that brain-freezing sensation you get when gulping down a glass of iced water? Well, you can pull up at the nearest petrol kiosk to get something, or if you are driving a 1984 Toyota Van (yes, we are not kidding, Van really is the name of this Toyota van), you can simply pop open the built-in ice maker. The ice maker is chilled by the air-conditioner refrigerant lines, which we can't help but wonder how long it takes for the ice to be made, and will it even be possible in the short travel durations here in Singapore?
There's probably nothing more enjoyable than a cold beverage on a hot day. But what if you are on a lengthy road trip and have this sudden urge for that brain-freezing sensation you get when gulping down a glass of iced water? Well, you can pull up at the nearest petrol kiosk to get something, or if you are driving a 1984 Toyota Van (yes, we are not kidding, Van really is the name of this Toyota van), you can simply pop open the built-in ice maker. The ice maker is chilled by the air-conditioner refrigerant lines, which we can't help but wonder how long it takes for the ice to be made, and will it even be possible in the short travel durations here in Singapore?
Photos by: Nissan North America, Low Fai Ming
10) Nissan Cube - Shag dash topper
The Nissan Cube was available with an 'Interior Designer Kit', and included in this package is the 'shag dash topper', which like the Beetle's bud vase, seems to be a unique dashboard ornament that adds character to the car. However, unlike the bud vase, the 'shag dash topper' doesn't seem to serve any functional purpose. Based on our observation on Nissan Cube forums, most owners of the car seem to accept and adore this quirky object found on their car's dashboard as a part of the car's unique personality, after all the Cube is indeed a curious looking car with an asymmetrical rear end.
The Nissan Cube was available with an 'Interior Designer Kit', and included in this package is the 'shag dash topper', which like the Beetle's bud vase, seems to be a unique dashboard ornament that adds character to the car. However, unlike the bud vase, the 'shag dash topper' doesn't seem to serve any functional purpose. Based on our observation on Nissan Cube forums, most owners of the car seem to accept and adore this quirky object found on their car's dashboard as a part of the car's unique personality, after all the Cube is indeed a curious looking car with an asymmetrical rear end.
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