10 motors with hidden features including secret hiding spots, phone apps & free goodies – is YOUR car a treasure trove?
A NUMBER of popular motors are hiding hidden secrets and random fun details – if you know where to look for them.
From Tesla’s ‘007’ mode to the hidden compartment that can be found inside a popular Toyota model, your set of wheels might just be concealing something rather interesting.
Tesla’s ‘007 mode’
A hidden tribute to James Bond can be found on Tesla’s Model X and Model S cars – all you need to do is know where to press.
Tesla owners may already know that they can adjust their car’s suspension height using the control console, but few will be aware of an unknown James Bond feature that can be found from the ‘Software’ screen.
From here, drivers can press and hold their finger in the middle part of the word ‘Model’ underneath the image of their Tesla motor for a couple of seconds, before letting go and revealing a passcode box.
The secret code is, of course, 007.
Then, upon returning to the menu’s ‘Suspension’ screen, the car shown on the display has now changed to James Bond’s Lotus Esprit – the car that featured in the 1977 film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ that famously turns into a submarine.
VW ID.3’s play and pause pedals
Drivers of the Volkswagen ID.3 probably shouldn’t be looking at their pedals while they drive.
Which is why many won’t notice the play and pause logos on the EV’s accelerator and brake – an Easter egg apparently borrowed from the Renault Twingo RS.
Vauxhall Corsa shark
According to Motorpoint, in 2004, Corsa’s interior designer Dietmar Finger needed to add reinforcement ribs to the hinges on the Corsa’s glovebox.
After doodling for a while at home, his son suggested a little shark, which became an official hidden design found in the popular hatchback from 2006 to 2014.
Next time you’re inside a Corsa, check the glove compartment; you should be able to find a line drawing of a shark embossed on to the hinge.
Toyota Prius hidden compartment
Drivers of the latest Toyota Prius might not be aware of the iconic hybrid car’s hidden compartment, which can be found under a panel in the centre console.
You’ll know when you’ve found it, because the section can be opened up to reveal a secret tray, stamped with ‘#hiddencompartment’.
Volvo XC90 spider
Inside the luxury Volvo XC90 with its seven-seat layout and roomy interior, passengers can find a spider.
Considering all that space inside, it might be hard to find, but on the third row seat’s armrest storage bin, a little cartoon spider can be seen inside.
There’s no official word from Volvo why there’s a spider grinning from its web under that lid, but it is very cute.
Tesla Back To The Future
For this one, you need the Tesla phone app and a love for the 1980s movie series Back to the Future.
In the film, Doc Brown needs 1.21 gigawatts to send Marty McFly, played by Michael J Fox, back to the future.
Tesla drivers can also time travel back to 1955 if you plug in your Tesla, by using the app to check on the vehicle’s charging levels.
Simply stop the process bang on 121 miles, press the battery illustration and the app will show a ‘Time Circuits Off’ warning, along with a ‘be sure to reset your clocks to account for temporal displacement’ message.
There’s even an ‘Outatime’ plate similar to the DeLorean’s, and a shot of a Model X parked with its Falcon Doors raised.
Jeep Renegade’s grille and jerrycan
The Jeep Renegade certainly has its fair share of hidden features, spread across two key themes.
The first is Jeep’s iconic seven-slot-grille-and-headlights graphic that can be found inside the head and taillights.
These are either side of the rear-view mirror housing, on the speaker surrounds and inside the tailgate.
The second is a jerrycan, which is a nod to Jeep’s World War 2 heritage.
This can be found hidden in the taillights, at the bottom of the cup holders and imprinted right across the roof.
Skoda umbrellas
The typical British weather isn’t a problem in a Skoda, with the VW-owned car maker offering drivers an umbrella located under the passenger seat or in the driver’s door on some models.
Brilliantly, this is a feature the Skoda Superb actually had before the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Jaguar E-Pace mother and baby jaguar
Another cute one can be found on Jaguar’s smallest SUV that was recently discontinued.
At the bottom of the windscreen, curious drivers can find a real, feline jaguar and her cub imprinted on the base of the windscreen.
Toyota Touch 2 with Go
In what could possibly be a homage to the anime film Initial D, Toyota drivers can find the Touch 2 with Go model in their infotainment system.
Here, a virtual glass of water appears on the touchscreen display, which spills if you drive too aggressively.
This is almost certainly a reference to the film’s character Takumi, who delivers tofu at high speed in a Toyota Corolla without spilling a glass of water.