Tunnel Mode Engaged!

Porsche Patent Sillyness

Anyone who's had a fruity sounding car over the years will appreciate the childlike pleasure of nailing it through a tunnel with the engine howling and an echo from hell.

No, it's not clever, yes it probably annoys the locals but it's one of the less damaging hooligan behaviours perhaps?

Now, Porsche is seeking to patent the behaviour with a 'tunnel mode' that when engaged, detects upcoming tunnels, lowers the windows and flicks the car into sports mode.

Chances are it'll never make it to production but as "Patents as PR" go, it's quite a clever move.

Whether it needs full automation is a question nobody is asking really. Part of the visceral fun of making some noise is the preparation - dropping a cog, dropping the windows and give it some as you enter.

Here in the UK, quite frankly we don't really have enough long tunnels to enjoy such japes, but our continental cousins no doubt curse the hoards of petrolheads who blast through the mountains at full chat.

Best left as a 'manual' feature we reckon. Patenting driving japes isn't necessary.

November 2025