Wildest Car Extras Ever: Starlit Headliners To AirScarfs

Automakers have long pushed the envelope with optional extras, turning standard vehicles into rolling showcases of opulence and oddity. These features often cost more than the base car itself, revealing how profit margins on add-ons can exceed those on the vehicles they enhance. From heated neck blowers to celestial interior lighting, the history of car options is filled with innovations that range from ingenious to inexplicable.

Extravagant Interior Comforts That Defy Logic

Luxury brands excel at redefining passenger comfort through unconventional means. One standout is Mercedes-Benz’s AirScarf, introduced in 2004 for convertibles. This system integrates fans into headrests to blow warm air onto occupants’ necks, allowing open-top driving in cooler weather. Despite its clever design, it faced legal hurdles when found to infringe on an existing patent, leading Mercedes to disable it in new models while sparing existing units.

Bentley takes personalization to another level with the Mulsanne’s bespoke iPhone drawer. Crafted from polished walnut and lined with Connolly leather to match the seats, this dashboard inset treats personal devices like prized artifacts. While many cars offer simple slots or cupholders, Bentley’s approach elevates gadget storage to high-end luxury, underscoring the brand’s commitment to bespoke detailing.

Cosmic and Glowing Cabin Transformations

Nothing captures automotive fantasy like a starry night sky inside a car. Rolls-Royce pioneered the Starlight Headliner in 2007 for the Phantom, hand-installing over 1,300 fiber-optic lights to mimic constellations. Complete with dimming controls and twinkling ‘shooting stars,’ it turns commutes into stargazing sessions and has since appeared in other models.

These illuminated features highlight how luxury extras blend technology with artistry. The meticulous handiwork ensures each installation is unique, appealing to buyers seeking unparalleled exclusivity.

Outlandish Paint and Material Choices

Paint jobs have evolved from basic colors to statement pieces. Some manufacturers offer finishes infused with diamond dust or gold leaf, transforming vehicles into shimmering spectacles. For instance, certain high-end models allow gold leaf applications that catch light dramatically, though they demand meticulous maintenance to preserve the luster. These options cater to collectors who view cars as wearable art.

• Diamond dust paint: Adds a subtle sparkle visible under direct light, popular among supercar owners.
• Gold leaf accents: Applied in thin layers for a regal sheen, often on limited-edition runs.
• Custom metallic mixes: Blends rare pigments for one-of-a-kind hues.

High-Tech Gadgets That Border on Sci-Fi

Modern options incorporate cutting-edge tech that feels futuristic. Jaguar’s levitating shifter knob emerges magically from the console, creating a seamless, high-drama interface that’s more showpiece than necessity. Similarly, hands-free trunk lids that open via foot gestures under the bumper have become commonplace, but early implementations wowed drivers with their effortless convenience.

Health-monitoring features push boundaries further. In-car heartbeat sensors detect driver stress levels, adjusting climate or audio accordingly. While innovative, they raise privacy concerns and question practicality in everyday driving.

Quirky Utility Add-Ons for Niche Needs

Not all extras aim for luxury; some target specific lifestyles. RamBox storage in pickup trucks integrates lockable bins into bed sides, perfect for contractors needing secure tool compartments. Honda’s HondaVAC, a built-in vacuum cleaner, appeals to families prioritizing cleanliness on road trips.

Historical oddities abound too. Older models featured swiveling driver seats for easier entry or swing-away steering columns akin to luxury cruisers. These catered to an era when comfort trumped modern safety standards.

Luxury Packages with Eye-Watering Prices

Audi’s Design Selection leather for the A8 adds opulent hides in colors like Balao Brown, inflating the price by thousands—enough for an entire mid-range sedan. Ferrari offers carbon fiber covers for engine air filters on the F12 Berlinetta, a pure aesthetic upgrade for enthusiasts.

These packages exemplify how options target the ultra-wealthy. Buyers justify costs through exclusivity, but critics argue they exemplify automotive excess.

Functional Yet Flamboyant Safety Tech

Safety options sometimes veer into the eccentric. Subaru’s EyeSight system uses cameras for adaptive cruise and lane-keeping, blending utility with advanced monitoring. Massaging seats with multi-zone airbags provide relief on long drives, now standard in many premium vehicles.

Factory Rarities That Sparkle in Memory

Rare options like sliding rear roofs on SUVs or 1970s swiveling seats remain collector favorites. These quirks remind us of automotive experimentation, where manufacturers tested bold ideas that rarely went mainstream.

Why These Options Persist

Optional extras drive profits, often outselling base models in revenue. They differentiate brands in a crowded market, fostering loyalty among buyers who crave uniqueness. However, as tech advances, what seems crazy today may normalize tomorrow.

FAQs

What is the most expensive car option ever?

Luxury packages like custom leathers or starlit headliners can exceed tens of thousands, rivaling budget car prices.

Are bizarre options still available?

Yes, brands like Rolls-Royce and Bentley continue offering personalized extras tailored to client whims.

Do these features add resale value?

Often yes for limited editions, but quirky ones may deter mainstream buyers.

Which option faced legal issues?

Mercedes’ AirScarf was patented elsewhere, forcing discontinuation in new cars.

Can anyone order custom paint like diamond dust?

Typically reserved for high-end models via special programs.