Generally, the first thing you notice about a car is the way it looks parked at the curb. From the headlights to the rear, you soak it all in and really pass judgement on the car based on those first-look impressions. We're always told not to judge a book by its cover, but last I checked books are hardly as varied and different as cars and I say judge away when it comes to the automotive world.
I've come to realize there's another way to judge a vehicle before you turn on the ignition and put it into 1st gear: take a look at the car's key (or key fob as the case may be).
Betcha didn't think of that one, did you?
Take a moment to look at your car's keys. If you knew nothing about your vehicle and you saw only the key first, how would it make you feel? I've held many different keys over the years and I've noticed that a key fob really can reveal quite a bit about the car I'm about to drive.
Take for example the Porsche Panamera key. This is, perhaps, one of my favourites. It's shaped like the Panamera which, for starters, is the coolest thing ever. I loved to just hold it in the palm of my hand and stare at it, marvel in the fact that I was holding a mini version of the Porsche waiting in the parking lot for me. With the Porsche crest boldly emblazoned on the “hood” of the key and sculpted sides to mimic wheel-well arches, it is an awesome key that foreshadows the kind of car the Panamera is; designed with a purpose, with all details accounted for.
The sheer weight of a Bentley key fob proves the car's opulence even before you spot the Bentley wings gracing the backside. The size of a credit card, roughly, the Bentley key fob is unapologetically big and cumbersome, and that's just fine. Bentleys are meant to be slightly in-your-face in a sophisticated way – and this key is just that.
Looking at the key for the car I have this week – a 2011 Acura MDX SH-AWD – and it's slightly underwhelming. While it looks like a smart key, it is in fact a key that needs to be popped out (a la circa '98 VW style) in order to start the vehicle. The buttons are a bit clicky and the Acura symbol on the back just looks old and dated. Not such a good first impression for a car that's actually quite modern and well designed. Acura should think about updating its key – just sayin'.
Ford has the right idea with their brand new key fobs for the Lincoln MKX and Ford Explorer. Sleek and elegant looking, these fobs entice the driver and elude to the fact that Ford has taken a step towards the future and their cars aren't just about affordability but also about quality.
The round, discus shape of MINI key fob inspires thoughts of retro design and fun, both solid traits of any and all MINIs on the road today. Range Rover? Their key features a solid chromed rim around the heavy, rectangular key alluding to strength and making one think of a solid pushbar – just the kind of thought you'd want to have about a Land Rover. And Volvo? Well, their keys might seem a bit drab, but the solid, square key makes one think of reliability and straightforwardness: precisely what a Volvo is all about. And Aston Martin's crystal-tipped fob is just so rich and opulent, I can barely contain my excitement when it's resting in my sweaty little palm.
I'd never given the key fob first impression much thought before, but I'll be sure to pay more attention to the keys that land on my desk from now on to see how my key fob impression carries over to my overall car impression.
Which key do you think is the coolest out there?
I've come to realize there's another way to judge a vehicle before you turn on the ignition and put it into 1st gear: take a look at the car's key (or key fob as the case may be).
Betcha didn't think of that one, did you?
Take a moment to look at your car's keys. If you knew nothing about your vehicle and you saw only the key first, how would it make you feel? I've held many different keys over the years and I've noticed that a key fob really can reveal quite a bit about the car I'm about to drive.
Take for example the Porsche Panamera key. This is, perhaps, one of my favourites. It's shaped like the Panamera which, for starters, is the coolest thing ever. I loved to just hold it in the palm of my hand and stare at it, marvel in the fact that I was holding a mini version of the Porsche waiting in the parking lot for me. With the Porsche crest boldly emblazoned on the “hood” of the key and sculpted sides to mimic wheel-well arches, it is an awesome key that foreshadows the kind of car the Panamera is; designed with a purpose, with all details accounted for.
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| Photo: Auto123.com |
The sheer weight of a Bentley key fob proves the car's opulence even before you spot the Bentley wings gracing the backside. The size of a credit card, roughly, the Bentley key fob is unapologetically big and cumbersome, and that's just fine. Bentleys are meant to be slightly in-your-face in a sophisticated way – and this key is just that.
Looking at the key for the car I have this week – a 2011 Acura MDX SH-AWD – and it's slightly underwhelming. While it looks like a smart key, it is in fact a key that needs to be popped out (a la circa '98 VW style) in order to start the vehicle. The buttons are a bit clicky and the Acura symbol on the back just looks old and dated. Not such a good first impression for a car that's actually quite modern and well designed. Acura should think about updating its key – just sayin'.
Ford has the right idea with their brand new key fobs for the Lincoln MKX and Ford Explorer. Sleek and elegant looking, these fobs entice the driver and elude to the fact that Ford has taken a step towards the future and their cars aren't just about affordability but also about quality.
The round, discus shape of MINI key fob inspires thoughts of retro design and fun, both solid traits of any and all MINIs on the road today. Range Rover? Their key features a solid chromed rim around the heavy, rectangular key alluding to strength and making one think of a solid pushbar – just the kind of thought you'd want to have about a Land Rover. And Volvo? Well, their keys might seem a bit drab, but the solid, square key makes one think of reliability and straightforwardness: precisely what a Volvo is all about. And Aston Martin's crystal-tipped fob is just so rich and opulent, I can barely contain my excitement when it's resting in my sweaty little palm.
I'd never given the key fob first impression much thought before, but I'll be sure to pay more attention to the keys that land on my desk from now on to see how my key fob impression carries over to my overall car impression.
Which key do you think is the coolest out there?