Autoblog: Top 10 Worst Car Names of All Time

[ilvtofu]

Top 10 worst car names of all time

When it comes to naming new car products, the auto industry has had more than its fair share of careless blunders, misfortune and ridicule over the years. Need proof? Look no further than this week's Geneva Motor Show, where the uncreative named the new prancing horse the Ferrari LaFerrari (inspired by Renault's LeCar?) and the controversial Kia Provo also debuted.

As car manufacturers around the world rush to get their latest makes and models into consumer hands, it seems poor translations and slang terminology have had their way with many of their best marketing efforts.

Overcoming complex language barriers in multiple countries is no simple task, but some of the most memorable car name failures seem to be brought about by obvious mistakes or general lack of creativity spawned after a night of heavy drinking.

10) Subaru Brat
The Subaru Brat was an odd little car-based truck. Our younger readers are glazing over right now wondering what it is, well it’s basically a Japanese El Camino. The name however was an odd choice, it was hinting that the car was difficult and wouldn’t do what you asked of it. Even the logo suggested this thing would give you attitude… however it was a great vehicle that unfortunately, the public rejected and it disappeared fast.

9) Toyota MR2
Back when Toyota first launched the sporty MR2 coupe, they later discovered saying the car's letters and numbers in French sounded like "Em, Erhe, Deux," which translates to the car stinks like poop.

8) Ford Escort
When Ford scrambled to capitalize on the compact car craze, the Ford Escort was designed to get them back on track. Sure escort can mean friend or formal entourage of sorts, it can also mean something else. In the 1980’s call girls became more popular than street-walking prostitutes but they referred to themselves as… you guessed it escorts.

7) Volkswagen Thing
Volkswagen sure had some odd cars back in the day. Tinny, basic appliances to get people around was the VW focus but that also bred some cult classics. The Volkswagen Thing was one of them but it really was a strange name for the boxy four door... but then again this car was super weird. While they were imported here, the vehicle was anyTHING but successful and soon bowed out of the marketplace.

6) Ford Probe
Nothing sounds quite as uncomfortable as saying you're "driving a Probe"... Perhaps it was a name designed to appeal to those claiming to be abducted by Aliens or Sci-Fi geeks? Whatever the reason, many of us managed to avoid the Probe until it was laid to rest in 1997.

5) Chevrolet Nova
The Nova serves as a prime example of dealing with language barriers. GM was believed to have a problem with the name of the car in South America and Mexico when its name could be translated to "doesn't go" or "no go" in Spanish. Whether there is truth to that or not, the car was renamed to "Caribe" and the phenomenon of a Nova is defined as a "cataclysmic nuclear explosion" - not better.

4) Buick LaCrosse
When the original Buick LaCrosse debuted in North America, it was oddly badged in Canada as the Buick Allure. Why? Well, rumour has it GM found out the name LaCrosse en francais could potentially be offensive to Canadian consumers, as it's a term used to describe "self-pleasuring" actions.

3) AMC Gremlin
If we learned anything from 80s movies, you don't want to feed this car after midnight! Leave it to AMC to take an ugly name like Gremlin and try to make it something pretty. The odd name and strange styling certainly left its mark on the 70s decade as one of the most iconic hatchbacks.

2) Mazda LaPuta
Hmm, it's not often you come across censoring a car's name, but the Mazda LaPuta caused quite a stir as it translates to "whore" or "prostitute" in a number of Spanish-speaking countries. Luckily, it seems sales of this Mazda compact we're limited to the Asian market.

1) Ford Pinto
The Ford Pinto may well have been an iconic car, but that didn't stop Brazilians from turning the product away. You see, Pinto is slang term for small male genitals in Brazil. Still wondering why it didn't sell so well now?

Haha I always thought Brat was kinda charming
What are some others you can think of?

[PJ]

Not exactly "bad"..

But Chevy Malibu always makes me think of the rum. lol

Then of course there's the whole "STi" deal...

[!e.lo_]

Harley Morenstein: 8 Dumbest Car Names Ever - CAR and DRIVER - YouTube

[smaggs]

Topgear on Pagani Huayra's name - YouTube

[vantrip]

I read some where its a common misconception that the nova did not sell well in mexico and south america because of the name. It did good.

[Akinari]

I dunno, I tend to think names with all those numbers are the worst and terribly confusing.

Like BMW's love affair with number systems 316i 318i 320i 323i 325i 330i 335i and all those letters following...

[ilvtofu]

Originally Posted by akinari-kun

I dunno, I tend to think names with all those numbers are the worst and terribly confusing.

Like BMW's love affair with number systems 316i 318i 320i 323i 325i 330i 335i and all those letters following...

At least bmw's starts to make sense after a while. The new Infiniti Q names are way more confusing lol

[freakshow]

Originally Posted by !e.lo_

Harley Morenstein: 8 Dumbest Car Names Ever - CAR and DRIVER - YouTube

Car & Driver must be really desperate for show presenters..

[sonick]

Originally Posted by ilvtofu

At least bmw's starts to make sense after a while.

Except the new ones with so many new models, they are having a tough time keeping it simple; like Z4 sDrive35iS M-Sport

[swfk]

Originally Posted by sonick

Except the new ones with so many new models, they are having a tough time keeping it simple; like Z4 sDrive35iS M-Sport

Reminds me of Lancia.. Delta.. HF (High Fidelity).. Integrale.. Evoluzione.. II

[RRxtar]

Originally Posted by akinari-kun

I dunno, I tend to think names with all those numbers are the worst and terribly confusing.

Like BMW's love affair with number systems 316i 318i 320i 323i 325i 330i 335i and all those letters following...

BMW makes sense tho.

the first number is the model ranging from cheap to luxury and just recently they are switching to odd being 4 door and even being 2 door, similar to audi. and the second two numbers are the trim (used to be engine size). So you know a 7 series is way more legit than a 3 series. and a 335i is a higher trim than a 328i. and Z cars are roadsters. anything added to that like Msport, Sdrive etc, are just features on that car.


Infinity makes no sense moving to calling ALL of their cars Q-something. and I still don't really understand Mercedes. Someone could ask if, like BMW, higher letters or more letters are better If a CL is a 2 door C, and an SLS is completely different and way better than an SL but an SLK is a completely different lower car all together? are the C, CL, CLA, and CLS based off eachother? what about the G?

[kunoman1]

Then theres the Daihatsu Naked
Apparently Lada's used to be called Zhiguli which sounded too much like gigolo

[SpartanAir]

For anyone in Van who's imported a Mitsubishi Pajero...you'll never find one in Central or South America...

Because "pajero" means "one who masturbates"

[SkinnyPupp]

I honestly think the DODGE DART is one of the worst names. I can't believe they used it again! And the new Dart is actually a pretty cool car... but every time I hear that name, I can't help but picture it as a retarded car for some reason

[Energy]

Originally Posted by RRxtar

BMW makes sense tho.

the first number is the model ranging from cheap to luxury and just recently they are switching to odd being 4 door and even being 2 door, similar to audi. and the second two numbers are the trim (used to be engine size). So you know a 7 series is way more legit than a 3 series. and a 335i is a higher trim than a 328i. and Z cars are roadsters. anything added to that like Msport, Sdrive etc, are just features on that car.


Infinity makes no sense moving to calling ALL of their cars Q-something. and I still don't really understand Mercedes. Someone could ask if, like BMW, higher letters or more letters are better If a CL is a 2 door C, and an SLS is completely different and way better than an SL but an SLK is a completely different lower car all together? are the C, CL, CLA, and CLS based off eachother? what about the G?

Mercedes is like BMW with exceptions. So BMW goes from 1-7 and Mercedes goes from A-S and the higher up the more expensive.

But then stuff like CL means coupe leicht (coupe light), SL means sportlich leicht, SLK means sportlich leicht kompakt, SLS means sportlich leicht super, etc etc.

[CP.AR]

Originally Posted by SpartanAir

For anyone in Van who's imported a Mitsubishi Pajero...you'll never find one in Central or South America...

Because "pajero" means "one who masturbates"

I always read it as "Pak jer Lo"
which in Cantonese is... a man who slaps his penis

[TOPEC]

Originally Posted by akinari-kun

I dunno, I tend to think names with all those numbers are the worst and terribly confusing.

Like BMW's love affair with number systems 316i 318i 320i 323i 325i 330i 335i and all those letters following...

it doesnt take rocket science to understand the general naming scheme...

u have XYY followed by either i/d/L/t/c where X is the series or range and YY the engine size (at least thats what it used to be, up until the release of the 3.0L twin turbo engine)
i = fuel injection/gasoline engine
d = diesel
L= long wheelbase
t = hatch back? (E36 oly i think)
c = coupe (E46s only i think)

so a 330ci is a 3 series with a 3L engine, coupe with gasoline engine

same with mercedes, u have letters up front, then ### for engine size

so a C350 is a C class with a 3.5L engine, or a ML550, a ML class with a 5.5L engine

ofcourse this is just the general naming scheme of how things are/were

[Splinter]

This article seems poorly researched.

it's the Subaru BRAT, not Brat. It wasn't called that because it was difficult, it was an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter

I'm not saying that makes it a good name, but a bad name for different reasons.

The being said, my BRAT.

The Chevy Nova thing is a myth, and I can't really believe that losing sales in Brazil could really have had that much affect on the overall economic performance of the Pinto.

F-. Would not read again.

[fliptuner]

I actually think the name LaPuta is pretty fucking awesome. Too bad the car is shyte.

[Senna4ever]

Gaylord Gladiator

[StylinRed]

i actually dont think those names are bad at all... except maybe the VW Thing...

and when i read laputa i automatically think