Lack of Creative Car Names?
06-16-2004 | 07:43 PM
#1
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Backup is coming.
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: New Jersey
Lack of Creative Car Names?
Anyone else notice how it seems that more and more automobiles are being cranked out with derivative names? For example, "Protege," "Seville," and "Discovery" have been replaced by "3," "STS," and "LR3."
You'd think that actual names might be easier for the public to remember and identify with...
I dunno
You'd think that actual names might be easier for the public to remember and identify with...
I dunno
Last edited by Backup7; 06-16-2004 at 07:49 PM.
06-16-2004 | 08:19 PM
#2
2010 Prius - Miss the 8
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,676
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From: LA/SGV...Miss the OC
Maybe they are trying to gain the Luxury appeal.. like the BMW and Benz series... M3s, SL500..etc etc.
Mazda Spinneroonie, Infiniti Tomahawk Chop, Honda Shoryuken, Mitsubishi Penetrator, Ford Pinto-X2... those are some names I'd like to see.
Mazda Spinneroonie, Infiniti Tomahawk Chop, Honda Shoryuken, Mitsubishi Penetrator, Ford Pinto-X2... those are some names I'd like to see.
06-18-2004 | 12:41 PM
#4
i think it may be an american thing, because look at the names of things back in japan. Nissan 300ZX/350Z= Fairlady; one of the mazdas (3 or 6?) is called familia, G35= skyline and so on...
06-18-2004 | 05:30 PM
#6
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From: Dallas Texas
Originally posted by zoom44
its a viscious cycle. they go with numbers for awhile then names then back to numbers. then they start making up new words and use names again etc etc etc
its a viscious cycle. they go with numbers for awhile then names then back to numbers. then they start making up new words and use names again etc etc etc
I miss the name Probe! (I had a 1990 for 13 years, wish they'd bring it back!)
06-18-2004 | 05:30 PM
#7
Listen to Zoom44
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Overland Park
Well actually (don't mean to nit pick or what not) the Mazda Protege was called the Mazda Familia.
Other Mazda vehicles got cool names like:
Mazda 3- Axela
Mazda 6- Atenza
...thats about it (besides RX-8 )
Therefore, I have named mine Mya (Yes, after the sessi singer). Im currently rethinking it to Milian (Christina Milian)...
Anyhoot, Some names are cool others can get out of hand like the new Mercedes SV1000000.
Other Mazda vehicles got cool names like:
Mazda 3- Axela
Mazda 6- Atenza
...thats about it (besides RX-8
)Therefore, I have named mine Mya (Yes, after the sessi singer). Im currently rethinking it to Milian (Christina Milian)...
Anyhoot, Some names are cool others can get out of hand like the new Mercedes SV1000000.
06-23-2004 | 07:56 AM
#10
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From: Montreal
I think that by designating a car with just a letters and numbers has a bit of european cache to it.
But there are probably practical reasons for doing so as well. By not assigning a name to a model, carmakers avoid the embarassment of an akward car name if that car is destined for foreign markets. For instance, remember the Chevy NOVA? NOVA=no go in spanish. There are probably other example of oddly named products out there.
Am I making sense? Maybe I need another coffee......
But there are probably practical reasons for doing so as well. By not assigning a name to a model, carmakers avoid the embarassment of an akward car name if that car is destined for foreign markets. For instance, remember the Chevy NOVA? NOVA=no go in spanish. There are probably other example of oddly named products out there.
Am I making sense? Maybe I need another coffee......
06-23-2004 | 08:09 AM
#11
Human Being
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 554
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From: plains
Originally posted by MTLbroker
I think that by designating a car with just a letters and numbers has a bit of european cache to it.
But there are probably practical reasons for doing so as well. By not assigning a name to a model, carmakers avoid the embarassment of an akward car name if that car is destined for foreign markets. For instance, remember the Chevy NOVA? NOVA=no go in spanish. There are probably other example of oddly named products out there.
Am I making sense? Maybe I need another coffee......
I think that by designating a car with just a letters and numbers has a bit of european cache to it.
But there are probably practical reasons for doing so as well. By not assigning a name to a model, carmakers avoid the embarassment of an akward car name if that car is destined for foreign markets. For instance, remember the Chevy NOVA? NOVA=no go in spanish. There are probably other example of oddly named products out there.
Am I making sense? Maybe I need another coffee......
06-23-2004 | 02:17 PM
#12
vroooom.....
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 213
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From: Arlington, VA
I'm not so sure about that... check out these cars. If you understand Spanish you will find this amusing.
Mazda's LA PUTA. Translation to Spanish "The Bit@h"
Mazda's LA PUTA. Translation to Spanish "The Bit@h"
Last edited by fluque; 06-23-2004 at 02:21 PM.
06-23-2004 | 03:38 PM
#15
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,356
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From: Santa Fe, NM
I like Ford's nomenclature for their SUV's (all starting with "Ex":
Explorer
Expedition
Excursion
Escape (well, a lot of people pronounce this "Exscape")
If they continue this, imagine the possibilities:
Excuse
Exclamation
Exclusive
Excrement
Extravagance
Explorer
Expedition
Excursion
Escape (well, a lot of people pronounce this "Exscape")
If they continue this, imagine the possibilities:
Excuse
Exclamation
Exclusive
Excrement
Extravagance
06-23-2004 | 06:34 PM
#17
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From: Dallas Texas
Originally posted by MTLbroker
...
But there are probably practical reasons for doing so as well. By not assigning a name to a model, carmakers avoid the embarassment of an akward car name if that car is destined for foreign markets. For instance, remember the Chevy NOVA? NOVA=no go in spanish...
...
But there are probably practical reasons for doing so as well. By not assigning a name to a model, carmakers avoid the embarassment of an akward car name if that car is destined for foreign markets. For instance, remember the Chevy NOVA? NOVA=no go in spanish...
Claim: The Chevrolet Nova sold poorly in Spanish-speaking countries because its name translates as "doesn't go" in Spanish.
Status: False.
The truth is that the Chevrolet Nova's name didn't significantly affect its sales: it sold well in both its primary Spanish-language markets, Mexico and Venezuela. (Its Venezuelan sales figures actually surpassed GM's expectations.) The whole "Nova = "doesn't go" tale was merely another in a long line of automotive jokes, like the ones about "Ford" being an acronym for "Fix or repair daily" or "Found on road dead" or "Fiat" being an acronym for "Fix it again, Tony!" These humorous inventions might adequately reflect the tellers' feelings about the worthiness of various types of automobiles, but we don't really expect that anyone ever refrained from buying a Ford because he actually believed they needed to be repaired on a daily basis.
The one bit of supporting evidence offered to back up this legend is spurious as well. General Motors, we're told, finally wised up and changed the model name of their automobile from Nova to Caribe, after which sales of the car "took off." One small problem with this claim: the Caribe sold in Mexico was manufactured by Volkswagen, not General Motors. (The Caribe was the model name used by VW in Mexico for the car more commonly known in the USA as the Volkswagen Golf.) The Nova's model name was never changed for the Spanish-speaking market.
Status: False.
The truth is that the Chevrolet Nova's name didn't significantly affect its sales: it sold well in both its primary Spanish-language markets, Mexico and Venezuela. (Its Venezuelan sales figures actually surpassed GM's expectations.) The whole "Nova = "doesn't go" tale was merely another in a long line of automotive jokes, like the ones about "Ford" being an acronym for "Fix or repair daily" or "Found on road dead" or "Fiat" being an acronym for "Fix it again, Tony!" These humorous inventions might adequately reflect the tellers' feelings about the worthiness of various types of automobiles, but we don't really expect that anyone ever refrained from buying a Ford because he actually believed they needed to be repaired on a daily basis.
The one bit of supporting evidence offered to back up this legend is spurious as well. General Motors, we're told, finally wised up and changed the model name of their automobile from Nova to Caribe, after which sales of the car "took off." One small problem with this claim: the Caribe sold in Mexico was manufactured by Volkswagen, not General Motors. (The Caribe was the model name used by VW in Mexico for the car more commonly known in the USA as the Volkswagen Golf.) The Nova's model name was never changed for the Spanish-speaking market.
Gee wiz, I did not know that and I work in Advertising!
:D
06-24-2004 | 09:06 AM
#18
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From: Montreal
Name of a car may not affect sales. It IS nonetheless, a corporate gaff that can subject the manufacturer the butt of ridicule.
Would I not buy a car because it's named "Fairlady"? Who knows, depends on the car.
I still think it's simpler just to call something the ABC123.
Would I not buy a car because it's named "Fairlady"? Who knows, depends on the car.
I still think it's simpler just to call something the ABC123.
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