In the past, car key fobs are just simple metallic things stamped with the car company's logo. But as time goes by and cars become more and more advanced, car manufacturers have been improving the design of their car keys and key fobs. This is especially true in the case of luxury car manufacturers which aim to make every part of their vehicles as luxurious as it can be.
Dirk van Braekel, the Director of Design and Styling for Bentley, summed up the current trend in key fob design by saying: "The design idea was to create a piece of jewelry, something special that an owner can hold, something that lives up to the Bentley vehicle and brings with it the Bentley status." To give consumers an idea of which car manufacturer designs the most attractive key fobs around, Edmunds.com compiled a list composed of the ten most fabulous car key fobs.
Number one the list is of course the key fob for the Bentley Flying Spur and the Continental GT which was designed by Brett Boydell. The key fob designed for these two luxury cars is a classic in its own right. It sports the famous Bentley logo at the back and boasts of a high quality knurling on its side. According to Braekel, "the easy part was to place the knurling on the open shell, but we also wanted the knurling in the bed where the key is stored. This was very difficult to achieve." This shows how far the company has gone to ensure that even the key fob would exude the same luxury aura given off by the Continental GT and Flying Spur. The key fob is also easy to grip, thanks to the rubberized plastic used in the production of the key fobs. The good look of the key fob is complemented by its practicality and ease of use.
Second on the list is the fob designed by German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. The fob performs the normal duties like unlocking the door, opening the lid trunk, and controlling the car alarm. But aside from that, the fob can serve as a remote starter switch. This comes in handy on winter driving when one can start a vehicle without having to go out on the freezing cold. The fob is chrome accented and features the Mercedes Benz logo prominently displayed on the front of the fob.
The exquisite design of the fob is expected to be a treat to future Mercedes-Benz car owners. "For people that haven't had a Mercedes before, the key fob is always a pleasant surprise," says Brent Sullivan, the General Sales Manager of Mercedes-Benz Chicago.
Next on the list is the fob designed for the Jaguar XK. The new fob replaces the old-fashioned key designed by the British car manufacturer for its cars. One of its features is the removable valet key. Other keys can be attached to this removable part of the key fob. Similar to the fobs designed by Mercedes-Benz, the Jaguar XK's fob is also chrome accented. Its leaping cat emblem known the world over is prominently displayed above the "Jaguar" etchings. It performs the common duties like any other key fobs. Its unique feature is that it can activate the headlights as you approach the vehicle. Pushing the "Start/Stop" button on the fob is also a convenient feature for Jaguar car drivers.
Next on the list is the fob designed for the hardy Land Rover Range Rover Sport and the LR3. Living up to the company's reputation of producing rugged vehicles, the key fob is also made to last. The construction of the fob lets it survive a 30-foot drop to hard concrete. In terms of surviving underwater, the rubberized buttons can withstand water pressure up to 75 feet down. Aside from locking and unlocking the door of the hardy Land Rovers, the key can also activate the headlights remotely, control the car alarm, and even lower the vehicles' suspension by 4.2 inches. While the key fob may not be the showiest in the list, it is definitely the most rugged.
Number five on the list is the key fob designed by the word famous German car manufacturer Audi. The company is known for the luxurious cars that they produce and it comes as no surprise that they would come up with a flashy key fob. The fob uses the switchblade key design like the ones used on the Land Rovers. This design eliminates the risk of ripping precious pants with the metallic keys. The key is hidden and can be exposed by simply pressing a button. The fob has the same functions other key fobs features like locking and unlocking a car door and opening the trunk lid. It also has a panic button for emergency purposes.
Next on the list is the key fob designed for the BMW 3, 5, 6, and 7 Series. The key fob is originally available only for the 7 Series but recently made standard to other series as well. The fob is unique in the sense that it has no key at all. The fob itself is inserted into a slot located in the car's dashboard. Inserting it will activate the push button which will start or stop the engine. The BMW emblem on the face of the fob is actually the lock button cleverly disguised. The same as the fob for the Land Rover, the BMW fobs are not flashy but are functional and practical.
Number seven on Edmunds' list are the fobs used on Lexus vehicles. Simplicity and practicality is the theme used in the design of the Lexus key fob. Similar to the BMW key fob, the rectangular fob is easy to use and is not as flashy as the ones used by Mercedes-Benz and Bentley. It performs the common duties like locking and unlocking doors as well as activating the panic alarm.
Number eight on the list is the safety oriented key fob designed by Swedish car manufacturer Volvo for the S80. The design is actually the fruition of the company's investment in designing a concept family car twelve years ago. The key fob features a unique LED which tells the driver vital information pertaining to the car. With a look at the LED on the key fob, one can learn whether the car doors are locked or not and whether the car alarms are on or not. A unique feature of this key fob is that it can warn a driver if a person is inside the car by sensing a heartbeat inside the vehicle. This means that the driver can be forewarned when a person is lurking inside the vehicle.
This fob is a perfect complement to the Volvo S80 which is equipped with many safety features and made of reliable parts like , suspension assembly, and others.
Number nine on the list is the key fob used by Nissan's luxury division, Infiniti. The small design of the keyless fob makes sure that it is easy to carry around. The oval-shaped fob displays the Infiniti logo and has three buttons.
Next on the list is the key fob designed by Cadillac. The company complements their lineup of high quality luxury cars with an equally high quality key fob. The fob is a semicircular gadget which has five buttons up front and the Cadillac logo on the back. Aside from the usual car door lock and unlock buttons, trunk lid open button and panic button, the fob also allows Cadillac owners to start their vehicles remotely.
