People undoubtedly spend many hours each week in a vehicle. Unless you have spent hours going over the manual of the vehicle, chances are you don’t know every little detail about it. Of course you know how to start it, turn on the lights and everything else, but do you know what some of the hidden features are? Car brands have a reason for every little thing that is included on the exterior and interior of a vehicle. For example, the color coding system of your engine is there to tell you something, or a hidden button might pop open a specific compartment in your vehicle. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised at these hidden features that perhaps you never knew about.
A Little Bit Of Color Coding
Each brand has a color coding scheme for their vehicles. On the engine, you will find all kinds or colored parts in yellow, blue, green or red. Knowing your way around these colors will help you discern if it’s time for a visit to the mechanic.
Thanks to this color scheme you will be able to tell which part of the engine is malfunctioning, making it easier to identify the issue. It also saves time.
Hiding Easter Eggs
Did you know that car companies will hide little messages around the body of their vehicles for their owners to find them? These messages vary from little pictures of earlier models of the vehicle engraved on the wheel to a quote from the designer among other things.
After you buy a new car, take some to investigate it and find the Easter Eggs. You will have a lot of fun looking for these hidden messages.
Flower Power
During the ‘60s, all you could see were hippie camper vans in mint green and orange going from place to place across the country. The creators of this vehicle embraced the flower power and featured a little vase next to the steering wheel so that the drivers could put a couple of flowers in it.
Current owners of these vintage vans usually don’t know about this and use the vase as a pen holder.
Collapsible Seats
Some cars are built to ride fast while others are built with a bit more functionality in mind. They are made for people with families that do common activities in everyday life. Due to this reason, the seats at the back can be folded to create a hollow interior so that people can transport furniture, boxes and other big items.
It’s also of great use if you are going camping and need to load gear.
Automatic Brake Dryers
High performance sports cars are especially designed for speed, but brand manufacturers have added a few special features keeping in mind the safety of the driver and passengers. One of these features is the brake drying system.
When it starts to rain, the brake drying system is activated, helping the vehicle to avoid any slippage or hydroplaning. This allows the brakes to remain responsive during poor weather conditions and prevents accidents on the road.
No More Over Filling
Over time, car tires begin to deflate, so it’s every owner’s responsibility to get them sorted out. Each brand would require a certain pressure, but as of 2008 a pressure monitoring system is actually built-in to the car itself.
The way it works is that once you fill them up, the car will let you know when to stop with a loud horn blast. After you stop, remember double checking the pressure with a gauge.
Keep Necks Warm
Convertibles are one of the most beloved types of cars by the public because they are cool in summer and very stylish. Nevertheless, as soon as the cold starts creeping in, roofless cars are not a good idea for our health.
But, many car brands have found a simple solution for this problem. They have incorporated neck warmers into the design of the seat itself. This way you can still enjoy your convertible in wintertime.
Seatbelts Everyone
Every driver and passenger is supposed to wear a seatbelt while the car is moving by law. They’re designed to keep everyone safe in the event of an accident. Each driver should take the time to validate that every passenger is wearing a seatbelt before driving off.
Modern cars make a sound and show an icon that lets them know who is wearing the seatbelt and who isn’t. Safety needs to be the number one priority.
Traffic Light Sensor
Newer models come with front and rear cameras that make the backing up and driving forward easier for the driver. Some vehicles go one step further, and have a built-in traffic light watcher.
It has a sensor with the ability to gauge the speed of surrounding traffic and it can determine when the light is about to change. It’s a great invention for those impatient drivers to keep them from driving through a traffic light.
Time For A Break?
Long distance drives tend to be very tiring. This is why some car manufacturers have begun including smart detectors for when the drivers may be feeling drowsy. At the slightest swerving, the system will issue an alert for the driver to pull over and take a nap.
It’s important to keep yourself and others safe by driving only when you are well rested. Take note that a sleepy driver is not a safe driver.
A Hidden Vacuum
The detailing of a car is a time consuming task. Some people prefer to save the money and do it themselves, others prefer to pay professional help to get the job done. The dash needs to be wiped down, the windows cleaned, and every nook and cranny vacuumed.
Some car manufacturers have made this chore easier by including a built-in vacuum in the trunk of the car. There is no excuse not to clean now.
Go With Aluminum
There is a direct correlation between the weight of the car and the fuel it will need to function. As a result, a lot of car and truck manufacturers have decided to stop using steel for the body of the car and use aluminum instead.
Since this metal is a lot lighter, the car will be more fuel efficient as a consequence. Next time you go buy a car, take this practical knowledge into consideration.
Going Hands-Free
Modern cars allow you to go hands free thanks to all the sensors that they feature. There is a sensor that automatically pops the trunk open when you get near it with your hands full of groceries.
No need to put everything down and reach into your pockets to search for your keys anymore. The car will sense the key nearby and automatically open the trunk up for you. Technology makes our lives easier.
Storage Compartments
Car brands go out of their way to optimize storage space in their vehicles. We already know the traditional storage spaces such as the trunk, but now car brands offer hidden storage compartments such as those for hiding valuables.
Make sure you carefully go over the manual to know where all the hidden storage compartments are. It will come in handy when you need to hide your wallet or an expensive watch out of eyesight.
Look For The Arrow
We can all agree that buying a new vehicle is a very exciting thing to do. It’s the new toy, full of new features and gadgets that you’d like to show off.
Some people are clueless as to which side the gas tank is when they go to fill up their brand new ride at the gas station. Just look at the gas gauge and you will see an arrow either pointing left or right.
Understanding Road Conditions
One of the newer and most useful features included in modern cars today is the road condition indicator. Depending on the temperature outside, the car can now determine what the road conditions might be.
If it senses low temperatures that will most likely result in icy roads, the indicator will signal a snowflake to the driver. It will allow the driver to determine if they need four-wheel drive to manage the sudden change of conditions.
A Little Help From AI
Today’s cars come with a built-in computer system that is ready to assist the driver with a lot of important things. This version of artificial intelligence has been designed to keep drivers safe through a number of mechanisms.
They have a sensor that can detect pedestrians that might appear on the path of the vehicle and another that helps you with tight parking spaces. It is especially of great help for those new at driving.
The Pop Down Mirror
Minivans and even sports cars have a tendency to be bigger in size. Because of this, holding a conversation with the passengers in the back, or keeping an eye on kids can be difficult. This is why many brands have installed a ‘conversation mirror.’
When you pop down the mirror, it provides a good view of the backseats. It will come in quite handy for parents that need to check on their little ones often.
Mood Lighting
When you drive at night, you will need an extra source of light inside the vehicle. The dashboard will light up and in newer cars there may be some strips of ambient light.
These are placed strategically around the bottom of doors and handles. The cool thing is that each driver can customize what light suits their driving mood.
Caught In The Rain
The weather can rapidly change in the blink of an eye. As a result, it’s recommended to always keep an umbrella in the vehicle.
Car manufacturers have thought of this long enough and have come with the idea of installing hidden umbrellas in the doors of the car. You won’t need to remember to take an umbrella with you anymore.
A Quiet Drive
It can be very distracting to listen to the cacophony of honking horns and other traffic sounds while driving. For this very reason, a lot of car brands have begun installing the noise cancelling technology that is usually used in headphones.
Talking in the car won’t be difficult with this new technology, because the interior will be nice and quiet.
Moveable Mirrors
The front mirror of a vehicle is a very important tool for the driver, since it allows them to have proper spatial awareness.
Some mirrors have controls that do this automatically for you, while others require you to use your own hands. Depending on the time of day, you will have to adjust it to best suit your spatial awareness.
A Little Bit Of Stability
There is a very cool feature that helps drivers maintain control of their vehicle. It’s called the electronic stability control that can be turned on automatically or manually depending on the driver’s judgement.
It will lock the brakes to prevent a car from skidding. You will know this feature is turned on by the skidding car icon on the dashboard.
Staying Centered
Although cruise control has been around for ages, now there is a special lane-centering sensor to help drivers even further. They differ from the classic cruise control in the way that they give out a warning should the driver start to veer out of the lane.
This sensor also alerts the drowsy driver that it’s swerving and should pull over.
Shopping Bag Hooks
The seats of the car come with some handy hooks that can be used to hang grocery bags and takeout food. It’s designed so that the owner of the car doesn’t risk the seats to be stained with grease or other liquids from the grocery bags.
You can use these hooks to hang a suit to avoid it getting wrinkled.
The Integrated Bike Rack
Cycling enthusiasts will be grateful for this special feature. A lot of car manufacturers have begun to add a bike rack feature that slides out of the back of the car.
This will come in handy for people that love to take their bikes with them when they travel. These racks are completely hidden, unless you know where they are.
Understanding ABS Brakes
Engineers are always trying to be a few steps ahead when they design a safety mechanism. To ensure that a vehicle always brakes when it needs to, and doesn’t when it shouldn’t, anti-lock brakes are installed in the device.
It has become the norm for cars now, therefore if the brakes start malfunctioning, a hydraulic system will force them to release.
Head’s Up
We all know it is illegal to text while driving due to it being a major distraction for drivers and it can lead to accidents. As a result, many car manufacturers are installing a heads-up display.
It’s placed right in front of the driver and it tells him important information such as the speed limit, how fast they’re driving, etc.
Know Your Blind Spots
Drivers must always be aware of the blind spots of their vehicles. This is why a blind spot detector has been included in the features of new cars.
With the help of cameras, drivers will be able to see video footage of what is in their blind spots. This will give the driver more security and help to avoid accidents.
Bluetooth
Since texting and driving is illegal, many car manufacturers have made it possible to integrate your smartphone to the car system via Bluetooth, so that checking your phone can be done in a safer way.
It makes it possible to take calls while driving as long as it is hands-free. It needs to be set up before you start driving.
A Massage
Luxury vehicles come with all kinds of high-end features such as seat massagers. If you have a sore neck or a knot in your back when in the car, make sure to turn this feature on.
It also helps the driver stay away during long drives. Who would have thought you could have a massage chair incorporated in your car?
Where ‘s The Van?
Brands love to challenge and surprise car owners with Easter eggs, but sometimes they rather just put it all on display on a single accessory inside the car.
For instance, there are some van companies that have been making them for ages that will add the shape of all the generations of vans on the floor mat at the front.
Hidden Cup Holders
It’s funny how much car designers know their customers. They know that car enthusiasts love to pop the hood open to marvel at the engine and show it to their friends.
While you’re having a look at the engine, you might want to place your drink on the ground. Designers have incorporated a cup holder built in under the hood.
Look For The Jaguar
Luxury car brands take the time and invest the money into creating hidden features for customers to discover. The magic is in the small details that might not be at plane sight, but if you look closely you find them.
For instance, Jaguars have a small feline cub built-into their headlights. Other brands have fancy logos inscribed along the windshield.
Fuel Cap Spoon
When you fill up the car with gas, you need to pay attention to a couple of things. First of all, the fuel cap has to be taken out.
Regular car owners have uploaded to TikTok their tricks and hacks. One guy showed how instead of letting the cap dangle, he hooks it into a spoon attached to the car.
Hidden Handles
Many car manufacturers like to equip their cars with hidden items such as door handles. They might not be the nicest feature in the car, but they are necessary.
Many brands happen to have hidden a handle in the car logo at the trunk. Give your logo a push to check if you can find a hidden handle.
Location Is Everything
The automobile industry is very big in the United States as well as one of the most profitable ones. These companies have jump-started the economy and are of historical value.
Many of the manufacturing plants are located in Detroit, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio. To honor their origins, some brands have inserted the area code of the factories into their design.
A Handy Roadmap
GPS devices and cell phones with a GPS app are essential for all road trip enthusiasts/ Nevertheless, it’s never wrong to carry a paper map in the car’s glove box, since you can suddenly hit a no service zone.
Some cars have built-in maps on the rubber mats that show popular travel routes through areas such as Moab, Utah.
The Conversion Console
Although it might seem improbable, you never know when you will need to convert something from the imperial system to the metric system.
Some manufacturers take this into consideration and they feature an engraved conversion chart on the truck’s console. If vehicle designers put it there, it must be due to it being more necessary than we think it is.
Race Track Maps
Racing fanatics around the world know the shape of famous race tracks by heart. Brands that have high performance vehicles that compete in Formula 1 and Grand Prix events such as Ferrari and Honda, have begun to include maps of their favorite race tracks.
If you own a sports car, take a close look and see if you have one.
