Strange car names....

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#1421320 5-Nov-2015 06:50

Daihatsu Sirion always looks like Sirloin to me.

But yeah, nowadays it seems that a car doesn't need just a manufaturer name and model name and couple of letters... 3 or 4 names isn't uncommon.

Mattnzl

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#1421326 5-Nov-2015 07:07

Some of the JDM vans are classic, Bongo Wagon Super Custom Royal Family Lounge (ok, so I might have merged a couple of brands there, but it's a wonder they can fit the name badge across the back!).

Always thought Nissan Gloria was a bit odd, and Nissan Cedric down right unappealing!

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#1421333 5-Nov-2015 07:34

Le Ferrari LaFerrari

jonathan18

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#1421359 5-Nov-2015 08:13

Hyundai Pony
Nissan Cherry Vanette

freitasm: (cut) There is the VW Rabbit (Golf brand in the USA) and the VW Bora (replaced with Jetta later in 2005). Those are strange names...

The name Bora is consistent with the naming conventions used by VW for many of their cars, ie it's named after a wind.

This site lists the following:

Most of the European names given to VWs came from wind names. In other countries, the same models may bear different names, such as the Golf I called the Rabbit in the US and Caribe (?) in Mexico. More recently, VW started adopting other naming convetions (e.g., Corrado). (Enhanced with Dennis's notes).

Scirocco - Hot North African desert wind that blows into Italy Original name was rumored to be Blizzard.
Golf - Gulf stream winds (a high altitude North-south 100 mmph wind)
Jetta - Jet stream (East/West wind, affecting Pacific air travel)
Passat - Trade winds
Vento - Blowing/windy (E/I)
Polo - ?
Santana - Hot desert blast accross the Sea of Cortez.
Corrado - Not a wind, it's derived from Spanish Correr which means to run. The original name for the car was Taifun (Typhoon) which means huricane except it was already a registered
trade mark for a GM truck.

vexxxboy

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#1421367 5-Nov-2015 08:21

Nissan Homy super long.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

jonathan18

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#1421368 5-Nov-2015 08:24

Ooops - I mis-read that last one as Nissan Horny Super Long - perhaps the new font size is not large enough for me??!!

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RUKI

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#1421384 5-Nov-2015 08:43

Car names come and go. Brands stay.

"Masda" when written in Cyrillic is pronounced in Russia with the second letter sound as in the "Car". In other words "MUST DA"

English is known by many educated Russians - who in their sober mind buys the car which "must die"? (common joke about Masda over there)

andrew027

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#1421393 5-Nov-2015 08:52

I always though the Renault LeCar was odd - it's almost as if Renault (a French marque after all) is using pseudo-French, like those well known (in the '70s/'80s) brands Le Specs and Le Tan. Why not call it LaVoiture?

Then there's the Mazda Carole Me Lady and the Mitsubishi Lettuce. And my personal favourite... you don't have to be a fan of The Smiths (or the play/film "Sleuth") to find the Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme a bit funny.

Dingbatt

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#1421399 5-Nov-2015 09:01

jonathan18: Hyundai Pony
Nissan Cherry Vanette

freitasm: (cut) There is the VW Rabbit (Golf brand in the USA) and the VW Bora (replaced with Jetta later in 2005). Those are strange names...

The name Bora is consistent with the naming conventions used by VW for many of their cars, ie it's named after a wind.

This site lists the following:

Most of the European names given to VWs came from wind names. In other countries, the same models may bear different names, such as the Golf I called the Rabbit in the US and Caribe (?) in Mexico. More recently, VW started adopting other naming convetions (e.g., Corrado). (Enhanced with Dennis's notes).

Scirocco - Hot North African desert wind that blows into Italy Original name was rumored to be Blizzard.
Golf - Gulf stream winds (a high altitude North-south 100 mmph wind)
Jetta - Jet stream (East/West wind, affecting Pacific air travel)
Passat - Trade winds
Vento - Blowing/windy (E/I)
Polo - ?
Santana - Hot desert blast accross the Sea of Cortez.
Corrado - Not a wind, it's derived from Spanish Correr which means to run. The original name for the car was Taifun (Typhoon) which means huricane except it was already a registered
trade mark for a GM truck.

I wonder with the current scandal whether we might see a VW model renamed
Flatulence, meaning bad emissions :-)

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Inphinity

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#1421400 5-Nov-2015 09:05

davidcole: The new Subaru levorg

Agree it's not a particularly good sounding name, but it at least has some semblance of logic even if it isn't particularly easy to follow (LEgacy reVOlution touRinG).

Then there's the Mitsubishi Dingo - which supposedly is because they wanted to call it Bingo, but changed it to a D because their logo is a Diamond.

Dairyxox

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#1421401 5-Nov-2015 09:06

gregmcc:
lurker: How about the Ford Probe... I think you're meant to drive it into things

As because it was such a pile of crap it was known as the anal probe

I thought that you might have seen this thread on reddit:
What car model is funniest if you put 'anal' in front of it?

Currently I'm driving a Toyota Isis, unfortunate to say the least, seeing that middle eastern logo/emblem emblazoned on the floor mats.

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andrew027

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#1421403 5-Nov-2015 09:09

Mark: I find the Nissan Z "Fairlady" to be a weird name for quite a good car.

I don't know if it's actually true, but I remember hearing that the name was inspired by "My Fair Lady" - the musical film.

Dairyxox

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#1421404 5-Nov-2015 09:10

Also the Nissan Fair Lady always stuck me as quite the oxymoron, being the beast that it was.

BlueShift

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#1421406 5-Nov-2015 09:12

The Nissan Levin is probably an ok name overseas, but takes on new meaning here in NZ.

freitasm

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#1421419 5-Nov-2015 09:44

andrew027: I always though the Renault LeCar was odd - it's almost as if Renault (a French marque after all) is using pseudo-French, like those well known (in the '70s/'80s) brands Le Specs and Le Tan. Why not call it LaVoiture?

Then there's the Mazda Carole Me Lady and the Mitsubishi Lettuce. And my personal favourite... you don't have to be a fan of The Smiths (or the play/film "Sleuth") to find the Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme a bit funny.

Le sigh...

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