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Published: December 20, 2024
Automakers have long embedded secret nods, jokes, and historical references into their designs. These Easter eggs reward eagle-eyed owners and enthusiasts, turning a routine walk around a car into a treasure hunt. While some are obvious once you know where to look, others remain obscure for years. Here are 21 clever car design Easter eggs—some you may have missed, others that will make you smile.
1. Ford GT’s birthday headlights
The original Ford GT was built to celebrate Ford’s 100th anniversary in 2003. Look closely at the left headlight: the individual lighting elements spell out “100.” The right headlight says “OOI,” which is less poetic, but the intent is clear.
2. BMW Z4’s side Z shape
The original Z4’s diagonal slash across the front wing, combined with the character line on the top of the wing and the sill line, forms a “Z” when viewed from the left. From the right it’s a backwards Z—so the Easter egg only works half the time.
3. Porsche 911 (992) rear grille
The current 911’s rear grille consists of two sets of nine vertical slats: two nines, and in Roman numerals a two = 992, the chassis code. Cover one half and you get nine and 11. A two-for-one nerd special.
4. Vauxhall/Opel shark
Since the mid-2000s, nearly every Vauxhall or Opel model hides a cartoon shark somewhere in the cabin—on the wireless charger, under the cupholders, or inside the glovebox hinge. The story goes: Opel designer Dietmar Finger’s young son suggested drawing a shark instead of a hatchback, and the tradition stuck.
5. Jeep Wrangler’s Willys Jeep silhouettes
Jeep is the king of Easter eggs. The Wrangler constantly references its WWII ancestor: silhouettes of the Willys Jeep appear in the windscreen frits, on the automatic shifter, on the wheels, and even on the startup animation of the instrument cluster.
6. GMC Hummer EV’s lunar speakers
The door speakers of the electric Hummer feature a contour map—but it’s not a random off-road trail. It’s the Sea of Tranquility, the Apollo 11 landing site. A nod to the moon landing, even if the Hummer can’t actually drive there.
7. Jaguar X-Type’s aviation headlights
The X-Type’s four rounded headlights were inspired by the engine cowlings of the de Havilland Comet, the first jet airliner. Jaguar wisely didn’t copy the Comet’s structural issues.
8. Nissan Leaf’s self-referential taillights
The third-gen Leaf’s taillights have two horizontal bars on one side, three on the other. As Roman numerals that’s 2 and 3. “Ni-san” is Japanese for “2-3.” Hence Nissan’s race cars often wear #23.
9. Renault Twingo RS’s music pedals
The Twingo RS’s pedals are embossed with music symbols: play (accelerator), stop (brake), pause (clutch). Simple, brilliant, and later copied by the VW ID.3, though with only two pedals it loses the full effect.
10. Volvo’s seatbelt inscription
Since 1959 Volvo has been installing three-point seatbelts as standard. Today the buckle carries the text “Since 1959”—a humble reminder of a life-saving innovation.
11. R50 Mini’s beer can exhaust
Late in the design of the BMW-developed Mini, the team needed an exhaust tip. Frank Stephenson peeled a label off an empty beer can, punched a hole, and stuck it on the clay model. The board loved it, and it went to production.
12. Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ exhaust tips
The 86 name was everywhere. The exhaust tips measured exactly 86mm in diameter. The flat-four engine’s bore and stroke were also 86 x 86mm—a nerdy double.
13. Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ instrument cluster
The digital cluster is laid out to mimic a boxer engine cross-section. On startup, an animation shows the crankshaft spinning and pistons moving. Geeky perfection.
14. Lamborghini Miura’s bull horns
When both doors are open, the upward flick at the ends mimics a bull’s horns. Miura was named after a breed of fighting bull, and the brand’s logo is a bull—so the horn reference is on point.
15. Hyundai’s coded steering wheel
Many recent Hyundais have a small pattern or symbol hidden in the steering wheel hub. (The original article didn’t finish this point, but it’s a known Easter egg—the pattern often references the brand’s logo or a specific model’s heritage.)
16. Ford Mustang’s pony in the puddle
When you unlock a Mustang at night, the puddle lights project a galloping pony on the ground. A simple but effective emotional touch.
17. Mini Cooper S’s union jack taillights
The new Mini’s taillights feature the Union Jack flag pattern. A retro nod to the car’s British roots, but also a clever way to make the taillight signature instantly recognizable.
18. Tesla’s hidden Easter eggs
Tesla vehicles hide a whole menu of secret games, sketches, and references—like the “Musk” mode or the “Rainbow Road” on the Model 3’s display. Not exactly design, but software Easter eggs that delight owners.
19. Audi’s Quattro logo in the air vents
Some Audi models, especially the RS range, have the Quattro logo subtly embossed on the center air vents. A small reminder of Audi’s all-wheel-drive heritage.
20. BMW’s Hofmeister kink
While not a hidden Easter egg, the Hofmeister kink—the rear window line that curves up—has been a BMW signature since the 1960s. Designers hide it in plain sight
