What's in a name?

capt jack · Oct 6th, 2019, 18:08

Seeing something called a Vauxhall Grandland the other day, I got to thinking that some car names are really good, and some, like Grandland, absolutely silly.

I'd suggest that there's a relatively short list of names that have been truly great choices by whichever Marketing teams dreamt them up.

I reckon that to be a truly great car model name, the moniker has to be instantly recognised even when not prefixed by the maker's name. Just for fun, discounting manufacturers who cheat by using just letters and or numbers, here's the top 12 list I came up with - in no particular order:

Transit
Discovery
Fiesta
Golf
Mondeo
Mini
Beetle
Escort
Astra
Corsa
Cortina
Micra

Anyone got any other suggestions?

Jack

Dippydog · Oct 6th, 2019, 18:25

Phantom
Any of the "Silvers" used by Rolls Royce
Shogun
Mustang
Charger

migrator · Oct 6th, 2019, 20:03

Anglia, Avenger, Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac.

S60D5-185 · Oct 6th, 2019, 20:15

Allegro!!!

I'll get my coat should I.

The Thong · Oct 6th, 2019, 21:30

Ka......

phil1968 · Oct 6th, 2019, 21:45

Cedric. Bongo.

AndyJudge · Oct 7th, 2019, 08:28

BL's Finest

Maestro
Montego
Ital
Marina
Acclaim
Princess

Who can forget the Stag, or Dolomite Sprint

The Marketing department must have been on Something

Coat on Zipped up & running for the door

DaveNP · Oct 7th, 2019, 09:30

In terms of 'names' Scirocco, just a shame they reused it for the new one, similarly the Viva.

Do the great names come from a period when car manufacturers didn't keep changing the design every year which gave us a chance to get to know the model and/or they didn't have to dream up so many new names?

We've been lookingfor a new car for the wife recently, having had a Kia for 6 years we looked there again so here's their current name offerings
Piccanto, a small car and the name seems to fit
Rio, a small hatchback, sounds fun like the old Viva
Ceed, nice car but a tortuous name
Niro, OK but doesn't sound like a car to me
Stinger, muscle car with an appropriate, if slightly corny, name
Optima, the name seems to suit the estate car, and reminds me of the Skoda Octavia and Superb
Sportage, fitting for an SUV I think
Soul, given it has the styling of a zombie... no
Sorento, it's a chelsea tractor so call it something a bit exotic and they'll love it

and finally the one we could end up buying the Stonic, nice car shame about the name, apparently it comes from S for speed and tonic as in the musical tonic sol-fa ( do, re, mi for the non musicologists), now what the fluff has that got to do with a car?!?!?

john.wigley · Oct 7th, 2019, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Phantom
Any of the "Silvers" used by Rolls Royce
Shogun
Mustang
Charger

Wasn't the RR Silver Shadow originally going to be called Mist, until someone realised that means something quite different in German?

Regards, John.

Dippydog · Oct 7th, 2019, 14:32

Quite possibly John and no doubt other manufacturers have run foul of a chosen model name meaning something different[possibly rude] in different markets.
Some others;
Interceptor
Thunderbird
Firebird
Viscount

Oct 6th, 2019, 18:08	#1
capt jack VOC Member Last Online: Apr 20th, 2024 18:56 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire	What's in a name? Seeing something called a Vauxhall Grandland the other day, I got to thinking that some car names are really good, and some, like Grandland, absolutely silly. I'd suggest that there's a relatively short list of names that have been truly great choices by whichever Marketing teams dreamt them up. I reckon that to be a truly great car model name, the moniker has to be instantly recognised even when not prefixed by the maker's name. Just for fun, discounting manufacturers who cheat by using just letters and or numbers, here's the top 12 list I came up with - in no particular order: Transit Discovery Fiesta Golf Mondeo Mini Beetle Escort Astra Corsa Cortina Micra Anyone got any other suggestions? Jack

Oct 6th, 2019, 20:03	#3
migrator Aye - him again Last Online: Yesterday 22:17 Join Date: May 2001 Location: HAWICK	Anglia, Avenger, Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac. __________________ (Ouch - that's another knuckle ...) VOC 11817

Oct 6th, 2019, 20:15	#4
S60D5-185 Me ? Surely Not! Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 16:23 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 Geartronic. South of Hadrians Wall.	Allegro!!! I'll get my coat should I. __________________ “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain 😊 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 SE Geartronic

Oct 6th, 2019, 21:30	#5
The Thong VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 22:49 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: The Independent Republic of Leamington Spa	Ka...... __________________ Never underestimate the power of stupid. It’ can’t be reasoned or negotiated with and you’ll never never beat it…. Cut your losses, smile and walk away Currently Volvoless but Thong will be back

Oct 6th, 2019, 21:45	#6
phil1968 Master Member Last Online: Jul 27th, 2020 23:19 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Chatham	Cedric. Bongo. __________________ 2008 C70 D5 SE Lux Nav Geartronic

Oct 6th, 2019, 18:25	#2
Dippydog Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 17:18 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: S****horpe	Phantom Any of the "Silvers" used by Rolls Royce Shogun Mustang Charger

Oct 7th, 2019, 08:28	#7
AndyJudge Premier Member Last Online: Feb 18th, 2024 17:40 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hebburn	BL's Finest Maestro Montego Ital Marina Acclaim Princess Who can forget the Stag, or Dolomite Sprint The Marketing department must have been on Something Coat on Zipped up & running for the door __________________ Current 2015 XC60 D5 AWD - Caspian Blue Previous 2012 XC60 D5 AWD - Seashell Metallic Previous 2005 S60 D5 Geartronic - Gunmetal Previous 2001 C70 T5 GT Auto Convertible - Saffron Previous 1999 S40 XS - Silver

Oct 7th, 2019, 09:30	#8
DaveNP Non VOC Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 19:37 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Milton Keynes	In terms of 'names' Scirocco, just a shame they reused it for the new one, similarly the Viva. Do the great names come from a period when car manufacturers didn't keep changing the design every year which gave us a chance to get to know the model and/or they didn't have to dream up so many new names? We've been lookingfor a new car for the wife recently, having had a Kia for 6 years we looked there again so here's their current name offerings Piccanto, a small car and the name seems to fit Rio, a small hatchback, sounds fun like the old Viva Ceed, nice car but a tortuous name Niro, OK but doesn't sound like a car to me Stinger, muscle car with an appropriate, if slightly corny, name Optima, the name seems to suit the estate car, and reminds me of the Skoda Octavia and Superb Sportage, fitting for an SUV I think Soul, given it has the styling of a zombie... no Sorento, it's a chelsea tractor so call it something a bit exotic and they'll love it and finally the one we could end up buying the Stonic, nice car shame about the name, apparently it comes from S for speed and tonic as in the musical tonic sol-fa ( do, re, mi for the non musicologists), now what the fluff has that got to do with a car?!?!? __________________ David V70 2.5 10v Torslanda Manual 98 Sreg

Oct 7th, 2019, 14:32	#10
Dippydog Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 17:18 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: S****horpe	Quite possibly John and no doubt other manufacturers have run foul of a chosen model name meaning something different[possibly rude] in different markets. Some others; Interceptor Thunderbird Firebird Viscount

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