ilvtofu
03-11-2013, 10:01 AM
Top 10 worst car names of all time (http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/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?
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?