April's crop of foolish notions

The best of this year's automotive April Fool releases includes a luxury Nissan that alerts the driver to the dangers of driving when hungry. It uses Active Noise Control to detect tummy rumbles, flashes a knife and fork warning symbol and automatically sets the satnav to the driver's favoured restaurant.

Seat (a VW brand) promised a hatch with a 545-litre fuel tank replacing the rear seats to ensure the owner need only refuel at each 10,000km service.

Hyundai offered a scheme to bury the much-loved family car at a "Garage of Rest" in a scenic park, instead of crushing it.

Subaru US released details of doggy driving clinics to teach your pet rudimentary car control - applying the hand brake and activating hazard lights (then spoiled it by adding a disclaimer).

And there's the prescription windscreen, billed as keeping glasses wearers safe on the road and reducing vehicle theft. It'd keep your pesky teen out too.

But our favourite? The UK Automobile Association issued a press release about its latest method to reach stranded motorists. Project Apollo will put patrols into the air, with AA jetpacks trialled to get to otherwise inaccessible vehicles.

The AA said the 113kg, 100km/h jetpack includes satnav, a parachute, hand controls - and a special lightweight tool kit. "Park and fly" patrols would be launched from the back of AA vans.

Sceptical readers were referred to a YouTube clip ...