What Are Car Easter Eggs?
Just like the hidden features in video games and movies, car Easter eggs are delightful surprises intentionally concealed within vehicle designs. These clever hidden gems might be a subtle graphic, an unexpected feature, or a playful nod to the brand’s heritage.
Manufacturers include these charming details to showcase their personality, reward attentive owners, and create a deeper connection with their vehicles.
While many drivers may never notice these secretive additions, discovering a car Easter egg feels like being let in on an exclusive secret between you and the vehicle’s designers. Let’s explore some of the most fascinating hidden features in cars old and new.
Jaguar’s Prowling Predator
British luxury manufacturer Jaguar has a subtle yet striking Easter egg that appears when you lock certain models like the F-PACE, E-PACE, and I-PACE.
The puddle lights project an image of a prowling jaguar onto the ground beside the vehicle. This elegant silhouette not only serves as a practical lighting feature but also reinforces the brand’s sleek, predatory identity each time you approach or leave your car.
Perhaps one of the most captivating Easter eggs in the automotive world can be found in the Jaguar XE. Before starting the vehicle, observant drivers will notice the start/stop button pulsing with a soft red glow.
This isn’t just ambient lighting—it’s actually mimicking the heartbeat of a Jaguar cat right before it pounces on its prey.
Land Rover’s Wildlife Silhouettes
Another British automotive icon, Land Rover, incorporates charming wildlife silhouettes throughout their vehicles. In the Range Rover Evoque, a small etching of a mother jaguar followed by her cub can be found along the edge of the windscreen. These subtle embossed graphics celebrate the brand’s adventurous spirit and connection to nature.
MINI’s Playful British Heritage
The BMW-owned MINI brand embraces its British roots with numerous Easter eggs throughout its lineup. Look for the embossed Union Jack pattern on the rear lights of newer MINI models, or the “MINI” logo hidden in the headlamps. Some models even feature a silhouette of the original 1959 Mini Cooper etched into interior trim pieces – a subtle nod to the iconic model that started it all.
Ford Mustang’s Hidden Pony
The Ford Mustang, features a particularly clever Easter egg that pays homage to its iconic pony logo. When you open the door at night, Mustang models project a crisp silhouette of the galloping pony logo onto the ground via puddle lights.
But the Ford Easter eggs don’t stop there—look closely at the windscreen of certain Mustang models, and you’ll find a tiny embossed pony hidden in the corner.
Even more impressively, if you pop the hood of modern Mustangs, you might spot the subtle “Ground Speed” labelling on the speedometer instead of the typical “MPH”—a playful nod to the vehicle’s aviation-inspired heritage and performance capabilities.
These thoughtful details celebrate the Mustang’s rich history and legendary status in automotive culture while rewarding attentive owners with delightful discoveries throughout their prized pony car.
Jeep’s Abundant Hidden Features
When it comes to vehicle Easter eggs, Jeep leads the pack with an impressive array of hidden details across its lineup:
Jeep Easter egg graphics, including geckos, spiders and flip flops, hide-in wheel wells, and fuel door hinges.
The iconic Jeep grille and headlight design appear in numerous places throughout their vehicles, from the speaker grilles to the underside of the boot lid.
In the Renegade, tiny Willys Jeep silhouettes climb up the corner of the windscreen, commemorating the original WWII vehicle.
Morse code messages sometimes appear in unexpected places – the Jeep Gladiator’s rear bed features “419,” the Toledo, Ohio area code where Jeeps are manufactured.
Volkswagen’s Musical Moments
German manufacturer Volkswagen includes several musical Easter eggs in models sold in the UK. The Golf GTI’s gear shift pattern resembles a golf ball – a playful nod to the model’s name. More impressively, in certain VW models like the Polo and Golf, the stereo volume goes up to 11 instead of 10 – a reference to the cult classic film “This Is Spinal Tap” and its famous “turn it up to eleven” scene.
Tesla’s Tech-Forward Hidden Features
Tesla vehicles available in the UK come packed with technological Easter eggs that showcase the brand’s playful side. From “Santa Mode” which transforms your car into a sleigh on the infotainment system to “Romance Mode” which displays a crackling fireplace on the central screen with romantic music. There’s even a “Mars” setting that shows your Tesla navigating the Martian landscape rather than Earth roads.
Aston Martin’s James Bond References
Given its storied connection to the James Bond franchise, Aston Martin cleverly incorporates spy-themed Easter eggs in models like the DB11 and Vantage. Look for subtle “007” engravings on certain interior elements, particularly in special edition models. Some Aston Martins even feature start buttons with a subtle red accent that mimics the iconic gun barrel sequence from the Bond films.
Vauxhall’s Hidden Shark
Vauxhall, known as Opel in continental Europe, has a charming tradition of including a small shark graphic somewhere in each vehicle.
This quirky Easter egg began when a designer added a tiny shark to the Corsa’s glove box.
The tradition stuck, and now enthusiasts eagerly hunt for the “Vauxhall shark” in models like the Astra, Insignia, and Crossland.
Range Rover’s Terrain Response Graphics
Range Rover vehicles feature detailed graphic illustrations in their Terrain Response system that accurately depict different landscapes like sand, mud, snow, and rocks. Look closely, and you’ll notice these aren’t generic images but actual landscapes from places where Land Rover tested their vehicles – a subtle tribute to the brand’s global development program.
Rolls-Royce’s Celestial Headliner
While not necessarily hidden, the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s optional “Starlight Headliner” contains a remarkable Easter egg. The thousands of tiny fibre-optic lights that simulate a night sky can be customised to replicate the exact star pattern from any specific date and location – allowing owners to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries, or other significant occasions with astronomical accuracy.
Why Do Manufacturers Include Easter Eggs?
Car Easter eggs serve several purposes beyond simple amusement:
- Brand Identity Reinforcement – These playful elements help strengthen brand recognition and showcase company personality.
- Owner Satisfaction – Discovering hidden features creates a sense of exclusivity and deepens the connection between owner and vehicle.
- Marketing Potential – Unique Easter eggs generate online buzz and word-of-mouth marketing as enthusiasts share their discoveries.
- Designer Expression – These hidden elements allow automotive designers to express creativity beyond functional requirements.
- Heritage Celebration – Many Easter eggs reference company history, celebrating significant milestones or legendary models.
How to Find Easter Eggs in Your Car
Curious if your vehicle contains hidden surprises? Here’s how to embark on your own Easter egg hunt:
- Research online owner forums specific to your make and model
- Check owner’s manuals and supplementary materials
- Examine areas that aren’t immediately visible (under seats, inside storage compartments)
- Look closely at lighting elements when activated
- Inspect digital displays and infotainment systems for unusual menu options
- Pay attention to embossed or debossed patterns on trim pieces
The Future of Automotive Easter Eggs
As vehicles become increasingly digital, we’re seeing a shift toward more interactive Easter eggs. Modern infotainment systems offer rich environments for hiding games, special modes, and secret functions. Tesla has pioneered this approach, but other manufacturers available in the UK are following suit.
The tradition of including these delightful hidden features shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, the increasing connectivity and digital integration of modern vehicles provide even more opportunities for designers to surprise and delight their customers.
Car Easter eggs transform ordinary vehicles into treasure troves of discovery.
These thoughtful hidden details reflect the passion and personality behind automotive design, creating moments of joy and connection for attentive owners.
Next time you’re in your vehicle, take a moment to look beyond the obvious. You might be surprised by the secret messages, playful graphics, and clever references hiding in plain sight. After all, part of the joy of car ownership is discovering these little surprises that make your vehicle truly special.
Have you found any Easter eggs in your car? Share your discoveries in the comments below!