What Does This Insanely Awesome Button Do?

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is home to perhaps one of the most appropriate buttons we've encountered in the What Does This Button Do? series. Mysterious buttons are rarely spelled out as clearly as the Jeep SRT8's, or as fun to use.

By spelled out, we mean the whole word, "Launch," appears on the button to designate the 470-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Jeep SRT8's Launch Mode. There are no acronyms or guessing with this button. What the button does is also made clearer by the awesome depiction of a drag strip's starting-line lights, aka a "Christmas tree."

What Do These Buttons Do?

The 2013 Lexus LS 600h L is a lengthy name for a car with a lengthy list of premium features and a hefty price tag: $120,805 (including destination). It's no surprise a few worthy mysterious buttons appeared in this ultra-luxurious sedan. Among its lavish features are a command center in the backseat for the reclining and massaging seats, power sunshades and various remotes for the entertainment and massage functions. 

Despite the the numerous backseat features, the more curious buttons appeared up front. A "Spot" button is an interesting choice on a $100,000-plus luxury sedan. See Spot run. See Spot wearing a doggie diaper if ever allowed in the Lexus. Button No. 2 looks straight out of a James Bond movie; it could pass as an ejector seat used on whoever allowed Spot in the car without a doggie diaper.

What Does This Outlet Do?

House-style AC outlets are one of those handy "little things that count" new-car convenience features that literally have hundreds of uses. The outlet goes by different names and voltage ratings like 110-,115- and 120-volt AC outlets, though they all serve the same purpose and offer an alternative multi-use outlet compared to the common probe-style DC outlets that accept phone and portable GPS chargers.

The feature is still far from standard equipment on family cars (where it often appears), and is usually paired with expensive rear-seat multimedia systems in large SUVs and minivans or available only on more expensive trim levels. When equipped, the outlets are typically found in the second row or cargo area appearing just like they do on the wall at home.

As cool as it would be to plug an electric snow blower or refrigerator into your car, not everything with a plug will work. The plug has its limitations, and there are guidelines to follow in order to use electronic devices safely.

What Does This Button Do?

A 2013 Ford F-150 that we recently tested didn't have the much-maligned MyFord Touch setup, but we still found ourselves confused by one of the physical buttons we say we prefer. It's clearly related to engine speed with a tiny tachometer and arrow pointing at the low end of the engine's rev range. The button almost looks like a comic book dialogue bubble warning, "Slow down there, champ." Slow down? That's no fun in the F-150 with an EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V-6 making 365 horsepower; this 5,000-pound truck hauls the mail.
 
Going slow is part of the button's function, however, which is primarily an off-road feature that allows slow speeds and control to help the F-150 out of sticky situations.

What Does This Button Do?

If this button were on James Bond's Aston Martin, it would dispense an oil slick from the side mirror. But this gem is found in the redesigned 2013 Honda Accord. Located on the tip of the lighting stalk with controls for the headlights, fog lights, turn signals and high beams, the button activates an all-new feature that is a first for the industry.

What Does This Gear Do?

Chevrolet's Spark microcar is pointed directly at the tech-savvy youth market with features like the slick MyLink multimedia system. Did GM pull an Apple with the name of the gear selector? There's an "I" in the shift pattern, as in the possible iGear, iShift or iMoveHereToGoForward.
 
Apple didn't license any shifting nomenclature in the Spark. The oddly named "I" gear position is a different abbreviation for a very common feature. 

What Does This Button Do?

A proper front seat should comfortably support your body, but the Hold button in the 2013 Lexus GS 450h looks more like a hug button that’s used when you just need someone to hold you and say, “Everything is going to be alright.” The GS’ tagline could be, “Feeling lonely? Buy a Lexus GS 450h hybrid.” 

The Hold button is a convenience feature, and one that doesn’t relieve loneliness. We all know that’s what red sports cars are for.

What Does This Button Do?

Hyundai’s Blue Link is a feature-heavy communications system with services such as emergency response, voice-activated navigation and the ability to remotely operate the door locks or start the engine through a smartphone application. Blue Link could have many more confusing buttons than the one puzzling center button on the rearview mirror.

Among the system’s three buttons on the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT is a center icon showing a star at the end of a road. Were the Three Kings in the age-old Christmas-time story driving a Hyundai hatchback when they found baby Jesus beneath a star?

Nope, but it could help you find a store for holiday shopping. The button activates the navigation features of BlueLink.

What This Button Doesn't Do

Our series of posts titled "What Does This Button Do?" has been quite popular, revealing the true nature of various peculiarly labeled buttons in new cars and trucks. Today's entry, pictured above, takes things in an unexpected direction. What does this button do? Absolutely nothing!

As I explain in my 2012 Toyota Prius review, the button is found on the venerable Prius and some other Toyota and Lexus hybrids. Unlike the other buttons we've highlighted, its function seems clear: EV equals electric vehicle. It's meant to activate an all-electric EV mode that allegedly allows for gas-free acceleration. Only it doesn't.

What Does This Button Do?

Calling the 662-horsepower 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 a muscle car is an understatement. It’s like lumping a semi-truck-pulling, keg-hurling competitor from The World’s Strongest Man competition in the same league as your Facebook friend who abuses your wall by constantly checking in at the gym.

Numerous features harness the GT500’s immense power. One is activated by an “LC” button located to the left of the steering wheel. After using this feature, we think LC should stand for “Last Chance,” like it’s your passenger’s last chance to tighten the seat belt, put a death grip on the door handle and prepare for a wild ride.