13 innovative car keys taking driving to a entire fresh level
It’s only suiting that the Ferrari FF has a good key to go with it. Ferrari Four
Don’t overlook the appeal of a well-designed car key.
Keys have come a long way since the classic turn key I used to unlock my one thousand nine hundred ninety seven Subaru Forester.
Some automakers have ditched the classic key altogether for high-tech fobs, while others are providing classic keys an aesthetic upgrade.
Here are some of our favorites:
Business Insider’s Aaron Brown wrote a previous version of this article.
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The BMW 7-series’ key has a full-color touch screen.
It’s only suiting that a car as high-tech as the BMW 7-series would come with a key fob to match it.
It comes with four buttons to lock and unlock the car, pop open the trunk, and funk. But it also comes with a full-color Two.2-inch touch screen that lets you swipe to see information like whether all the doors are locked and your current fuel range.
You can also use the key to control the climate in the car and toggle the lights. But by far the coolest part is that you can use it to park the car remotely.
Tesla’s Model S key can be used to summon the car.
Tesla’s key fob was actually designed to look like a mini Tesla Model S
In addition to locking and unlocking the car doors, the Tesla key can be used to tell the car to pull forward and backward, all from a semi-remote distance and without anyone inwards of the car.
Koenigsegg’s shield fob looks like something a superhero would carry.
When locking and unlocking the doors of a Koenigsegg, you’ll need something that can make as big of a statement as the car itself.В
Koenigsegg’s metal shield key doesn’t have any hugely crazy special features, but what it canВ give you is the sense of authority and a rock hard reminder that you drive an insane Swedish supercar.В
If driving one of theseВ insane supercars doesn’tВ give you the thrill or feel of power you were looking for, holding this awesome shield key fob just might.
This Ferrari key may not have any tech-savvy features, but the design is stunning.
Very first of all, it’s a key with some weight to it. It’s sleek and big enough that it’s pleasant to hold without being too clunky. Its functional purpose is hidden on the back, where there are three buttons to lock and unlock the doors as well as pop open the trunk.
To begin the car, you stick the key in the ignition and then press a separate button on the steering wheel. In that regard, the key indeed only has an aesthetic purpose. ButВ hey, with the classic prancing pony and deep crimson color, it’s not something I would mind lugging around.
Unluckily, the key only comes with older Ferrari models like the FF. Even Ferrari has given up the traditional key or a fob, but this one is still among our favorites.
If you can’t get your mitts on an old-school Ferrari key, the fob is still worthy of attention.
Simply slip it into your pocket, and you can drive your Ferrari supercar off into the sunset.В It’s simplistic, but the compact form and Ferrari typography make this fob an instant classic.В
The Bugatti Veyron top speed key is another one lacking any hitch-tech features. But, it makes our list for serving a very specific function.
The top speed key is aptly named because you have to put it in a slot to the left of the driver’s seat to reach the Veyron’s top speed of a whopping two hundred fifty three mph. Without the key, you can still get the car up to a sweet two hundred thirteen mph.
But toggling the top speed key will make the car’s rear spoilers retract and the front diffusers shut so it can that extra fifty mph.
Aston Martin’s key fob is topped off with a crystal.
However it can only truly treat the tasks of an averageВ key fob, the aesthetics of this key make it much more special than most others out there.
Inserting this crystal key into the center of an Aston Martin’s dashboard never gets old.В
McLaren’s key reminds you lightness is key.
If crystals aren’t indeed your thing, maybe lightweight carbon fiber is.
McLaren’s key has three buttons and is backed with a carbon fiber rear.В
Because you can never have too much carbon fiber.
Maserati’s key rolls out of a compact fob like a switch blade.
It’s a fob with the best of both worlds.
On one arm, it has this truly neat, slick packaging so it fits squarely in your palm. It also offersВ all of the traditional functions of a fob, like the capability to lock, unlock, and pop open the trunk of the car.В
But on the other arm, in the fob is still a good ol’ style key that swings out.В
It’s a joy mix of old and fresh.
Pagani’s aluminum key does more than just look good.
However Porsche and Tesla haveВ similar offerings, Pagani’s key fob is the one that truly stands out.В
Very first, it’s the flawless cool looking desk ornament.В
2nd, it’s also a USB flash drive.В
Third, it’s still a key.
How’s that for multi-functional?
Corvette has a fine, matte black box of a key.
Most automakers stick to a rounded form for their key fobs, but Corvette’s black box fits the vibe of the souped-up muscle car.В
In addition to the typical fob functions, it also lets you remote embark the car.
The Jaguar F-Pace Activity Key is the key to have if you hate using keys.
With the F-Pace’s Activity Key, by holding your wrist up to the Jaguar badge on the rear of the car, you can lock or unlock the vehicle.В AndВ it’s waterproof!В
The Activity Key is available as a $400 option.В
But if you hate car keys altogether, there’s good news: Volvo is going to embark letting you use your smartphone instead.
Volvo is presently selling aВ Bluetooth-enabled digital key that lives on your smartphone. The key can be used to lock, unlock, or remotely commence a car, but isn’t a utter replacement for a key yet. Volvo hasn’t said when the app will fully substitute the car key.