QOTD: Is It Time to 'Save the Car Names'?
It’s not a secret most of us at TTAC are not, to put it charitably, overly enamored with the current crop of alphabet soup adorning the trunk lids of most new cars today. The market has endured alphanumeric model names for years, but at least, say, in the ‘80s and 90s there was a very good chance the numbers stood for engine displacement. Not anymore.
This is why I am glad Kia has chosen to simply make up words for its new product. The Stonic is allegedly a portmanteau of ‘speedy’ and ‘tonic’. All right, then. At least it’s not the 6000SUX or something.
Automotive history is littered with many great and bizarre names. Here’s a few:
I’ll open the bidding with this, the Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard. It, of course, was known here in the States by the much more mundane name of Rodeo.
Let’s use this Mazda Bongo Friendee (with Auto Free Top!) as a chaser to the Isuzu’s weirdness.
Sometimes, a vehicle’s name gains legendary status simply because it captures its personality to a tee, such as this handsome Chevy Blazer.
What’s your all-time favorite vehicle name? It could be because it sounds ridiculous (Honda Life Dunk) or because it simply works with the car (the mighty Ford Mustang). Sure, we all talk about Save the Manuals … but maybe it’s time for TTAC to lead the crusade to Save the Car Names.
[Images: Kia Motors, Wikimedia ( CC BY-SA 3.0),
Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.
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Gordon Keeble - I dropped the mic (or whatever they say).
The 6000SUX