Why are car keys so ugly?

[Whitean3]

Loving the Porsche 917 key, with added lightness:

[sunnydude]

Personally like these. Ergonomical, fit for purpose and felt high quality with the shiny silvery bits

[AH33]

EnglishTony said:

Pity it has the initials AH on it.

They're some good initials.

[AH33]

The winner is the 7 series

[smithyithy]

jan8p said:

How doable is that currently though? Is the NFC used in phones the same/similar to keyless entry technology?

I'm not sure. NFC has such a small range I don't think it would be practical for keys. But I would assume that whatever technology is in the key (some kind of transmitter for a radio signal?) could be emulated by a phone, given how advanced they are nowadays.

It seems logical to me - rather than adding screens and more complex features to keys, just make phones do it. Security issues exist of course, and if you're phone dies to may be buggered, but there are always solutions

[IanCress]

Phones as car keys? It's already happening...
https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/en-us/media/pre...

[smithyithy]

IanCress said:

Phones as car keys? It's already happening...
https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/en-us/media/pre...

That's brilliant. I like the idea too of multiple / temporary keys. For example if you had the 'master key' on your app, and were out, and a relative or friend needed to use the car, you could authorise their app to be able to operate the car, and even follow where they are and their speeds etc

This is the future!

[Ikemi]

S1 Elise. Purposeful, classic Ferrari-esque design, by Vauxhall ...

[soad]

IanCress said:

Leaky Valve Stem Seal said:

I quite like my SAAB keyfob...

Lock, unlock, boot, flying saucer?

The sort of oval line button turns on the parking lights for a minute (or so), so you can find your way out of the garage. They are what's called the "Halo" lights iirc.

[Jeenyus161]

That 928 key is fantastic!

It seems to me that the mid range exec rep-mobiles are where the innovation is. But back to the OP - why aren't more super / hyper cars making a better hash of this?

[Iva Barchetta]

I quite like the Ferrari key posted earlier.

It's red,got a logo on it.

What's not to like ?

[Huff]

You're all trying too hard:

The only kind of 'key' for my BEC.
- and a fob to attach to the car so I don't lose it.

[ajprice]

I always thought my Smart keys looked like a giant Minstrel chocolate
(random pic from an image search)

[Leptons]

This is the most underwhelming Key I've ever come across.

I give you - 2016 Rolls Royce Dawn:





Fairly sure it's just a BMW key...

[carlove]

Leptons said:

This is the most underwhelming Key I've ever come across.

I give you - 2016 Rolls Royce Dawn:





Fairly sure it's just a BMW key...

Like my old 3 Series key, but that had a nice red bit, I liked it, maybe not on a Rolls Royce.

The Rolls Royce one does have what looks like a wifi button though, don't get that on the BMW key.

[MrOrange]

smithyithy said:

BMW's keys for their 7 Series etc are pretty smart

The theory is good but the limitations are idiotic. It's too big, the touchscreen doesn't look like it will survive in my pocket and the fecker needs charging every few days. Via a USB lead. _ it was supposed to have clever induction charging in a "pod" in front of the gear selector.

It does nothing more, and a good deal less than the i8 App on my phone. And if it goes flat there is no way to get into or start your car. Dumb.

I use the standard key which works just fine. If I need clever stuff I fire up the app.

[CB2152]

I think Koenigsegg's key features in pretty much every "coolest car keys" list made since it was introduced.



Must weigh a not inconsiderable amount though.

[k-ink]

soad said:

Oh, and: The Ten Coolest Car Keys Ever Made

Porsche 917 wins for me. Closely followed by all the simple flat titanium keys and the vintage VW offering.

Anything else is just a horrid tacky lump. Although bear in mind most of these keys suit their target customers perfectly.

[Moonhawk]

Zod said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Jeenyus161 said:

The Aston Martin One 77 car key:

Could be any ol' repmobile.

Any old repmobile has a glass key?

Also - not just the One-77

Pretty much all modern Astons since around 2010 (except the upcoming DB11) use this key.

A better picture of it

Edited by Moonhawk on Sunday 29th May 11:33

[k-ink]

That's just embarrassing.