April Fools’ Day 2025 delivered its fair share of automotive absurdity, carrying on a giddy tradition of high-effort pranks. As the world collectively embraced its inner prankster, carmakers joined in with April Fools’ jokes that ranged from almost believable to downright ridiculous.
While some of these gimmicks had us wishing they were real (BMW, we’re looking at you), others made us question the creative liberties taken in corporate boardrooms. We’ve rounded up the most amusing automotive pranks of 2025.
Honda’s purr-fect April Fools’ joke
This year, Honda pounced on the April Fool opportunity with a hilarious (if not entirely believable) announcement: catnip-lined car seats designed to turn car-hating cats into eager road-trippers.
The concept? A lineup of vehicles equipped with specially formulated catnip foam cushions, promising stress-free travel for even the most vocal feline critics. No more scratched upholstery, no more yowling from the carrier—just blissed-out kitties too busy rolling around in euphoria to protest the drive.
But Honda didn’t stop there. The (fake) press release teased an entire suite of cat-centric features, including:
- A scratch-post gear shifter for mid-drive claw maintenance
- An interactive fishbowl infotainment screen to keep pets entertained
- A glove compartment yarn dispenser for emergency playtime
To top it off, their fictional “Head of Pet Products,” Annie Mal (get it?), declared: “When it comes to happy pets, nothing is im-paw-sible!”
While it’s all in good fun, we wouldn’t be surprised if a few cat lovers secretly wished this one was real. After all, stranger things have made it to production.
Suzuki’s Slimny shenanigan – A skinnier Jimny
Leave it to Suzuki to put a hilarious twist on its toughest little 4×4. This April Fools’ Day, Suzuki Australia unveiled the Slimny – a fictional, motorcycle-inspired take on the beloved Jimny that had off-road fans doing double-takes.
Billed as “the world’s first two-wheel-drive four-wheel-drive,” the Slimny was presented as an ultra-narrow, single-track version of the iconic SUV. According to Suzuki’s playful social media posts, this bizarre mashup could supposedly conquer not just mountain trails, but also office hallways and tight alleyways – you know, places where even the compact Jimny might struggle. The joke leaned into the Jimny’s cult following, teasing features like:
- Half the width, (supposedly) twice the fun– a motorcycle-Jimny hybrid for the truly adventurous
- Born from a “collaboration” between Suzuki Auto and Suzuki Motorcycles – because why not?
- All the Jimny’s charm, just… skinnier – perfect for squeezing through spaces as tight as parking spots at the grocery store
Of course, the Slimny isn’t real (sad). But given the Jimny’s popularity in Australia, maybe Suzuki should consider something like it. After all, if anyone could make a two-wheel-drive 4×4 work, it’d probably be them. Until then, we’ll just enjoy the absurdity of an April Fools’ joke that was almost believable. Almost.
BMW’s M cars we wish were real
BMW didn’t just prank us—they taunted us—with two absurdly awesome fake M models: the M2 Safari and the M3 Touring GT3 Evo.
First, the M2 Safari—a rally-inspired, dirt-road-ready beast. This rugged coupe had off-road enthusiasts practically drooling, featuring lifted suspension, knobby tires, a full skid plate, and a roof-mounted spare. Oh, and BMW teased it with a manual transmission option—because of course, they did. A false product made all the more believable with the success of crossover supercars like the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.
Then came the M3 Touring GT3 Evo, a winged wagon monster that looked like it had just escaped a ’90s touring car championship. With an aggressive aero kit, a race-spec fuel filler, and a rear wing large enough to double as a picnic table, BMW’s joke was cruelly convincing.
While neither of these will make it to production, the real joke is how badly we all wish they would. We’re still waiting for the production-spec BMW M3 ute…
Porsche Exclusive: Matching ink for die-hard fans
For those configuring their dream Porsche through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, the brand introduced an exclusive tattoo service at its Zuffenhausen headquarters. Customers could opt to have the outline of their new Porsche inked onto their body, with the tattoo’s colour matched to their car’s unique paint using the same formula.
With six designs available—one for each current Porsche model—enthusiasts could proudly showcase their new ride in the most permanent way possible. Just tap the tattoo option on the Porsche Car Configurator, and the in-house tattoo artist, Pia Florol, will get to work.
Porsche says that they’re a brand that gets under your skin—now, it’ll be literally true.
Leapmotor’s workout out mat that charges your EV
Who needs charging stations when you’ve got cardio? Leapmotor “unveiled” its most ambitious charging solution yet this April Fools’ Day – the Leap Mat, a fitness mat that converts your jumping jacks into battery percentage.
This tongue-in-cheek concept turns exercise into electricity, promising to:
- Transform your workout into watts – every hop charges your EV via built-in CCS2 cable
- Make range anxiety physical – the harder you sweat, the farther you drive
- Match your car’s aesthetic – because sustainable charging should be stylish
The brand even introduced fictional spokesperson Paul Yorlegg to pitch future “innovations” like solar-panel paint and wind turbine roofs – proving that when it comes to April Fools’ jokes, the sky’s the limit.
While we won’t be ditching fast chargers for burpees anytime soon, the concept skewers our obsession with alternative energy solutions. After all, in today’s EV market, is a workout charger really that much crazier than vehicle-to-grid or battery swapping?
Omoda & Jaecoo’s cheeky solution for noodle connoisseurs
For anyone who’s ever tried to juggle Chinese takeaway and the steering wheel, Omoda & Jaecoo UK had the “perfect” fix this April Fools’ Day— chopstick holders in the dashboard for your next noodle run.
This prank accessory promised to keep your favorite chopsticks secure while navigating traffic. Designed to clip neatly beside the infotainment screen in the OMODA 5 and JAECOO 7, it blended premium placement with cultural flair—all for a cheeky £82.69 (because why not pay more for an accessory than your dinner?).
While this won’t be hitting showrooms (and let’s be real—your KeepCup holder does the job just fine), it was a hilariously on-brand joke for the Chinese automaker. For now, let’s stick to tradition- balancing takeaway containers on our knees like everyone else.
Hyundai’s mobile solution for urgent restroom needs- The Mobilet
Hyundai took ‘mobile solutions’ to a comical new extreme with a fictional, high-tech restroom vehicle. This wry concept aligns well with Hyundai’s “Progress for Humanity” vision by addressing a very basic human need, proving that even absurd ideas can spark conversations about real-world needs.
Hyundai’s Mobilet concept had us chuckling- and low-key wondering if we’d just glimpsed the future of emergency pit stops. Some features that made it amusing included a facial recognition flush, an aroma diffusion system, and a stealth mode. And if you think about it, a hi-tech mobile restroom should definitely have these. Hyundai, can we take it a notch further with gesture control flushing or voice-activated commands?
Hyundai doubled down on the joke with AI-generated visuals and a full social media rollout across Instagram, X, and Facebook.
“With Mobilet, we combined humor with innovation to highlight our commitment to creating mobility solutions for every need.” -Sungwon Jee, the Global CMO
Who knows? With the way mobility is evolving, maybe Mobilet isn’t that far-fetched…
Until next April…
While April Fools’ Day may be over, the creativity behind these automotive gags leaves us wondering—could any of these concepts actually work? From BMW’s rally-ready M2 Safari to Honda’s genius cat-friendly interiors, some ideas feel just plausible enough to deserve serious consideration. Which one would you most want to see become a reality? Let us know in the comments—and if you fell for any of these pranks, you’re certainly not alone!
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