Vehicle Models What’s in a name

From 3arf

When you see a vehicle you admire on the road, what is the first thing you do? You ask what's the name of that car. Thanks to auto manufacturers' clever marketing teams, you won't be disappointed in the creativity of words used.

How are names for vehicles chosen and what do they signify for people? Sometimes it's the definition of the word itself and at other times it's what qualities the word represents. Sometimes the words are made up of combination of portions of familiar words or taken from word origins. Still other times it's just how the word sounds in American English and what attributes those sounds represent. Lastly, we have an alchemy of letters and numbers understood only by those who are fond of a particular manufacturer.

The choicest names are often reserved for the vehicles at the higher end of an auto manufacturer's line. The names usually represent power, speed, toughness, aggressiveness, locales, coolness, status, heritage, and ability to handle nature. The names reserved for more mediocre autos will focus on cuteness, fun, ability to move, and utility.

When there isn't really a model name but acronyms, series, classes, or the like, the emphasis is more on the manufacturer's reputation as opposed to the model name. This is true with high end manufacturers such as Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford pick-ups, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Saab, and Volvo. In this situation the numbers, letters, or classes are more relevant to those in the know with a manufacturer's auto line. For example, if I told someone not knowledgeable with Mercedes-Benz that I have a c-class, they wouldn't understand what the c-class represents. They may know that I have a Mercedes Benz, a high status vehicle.

Acura had older models with the name of Legend and Integra but since then have changed their model names to letter acronyms such as MDX, RDX, RL, TL, TSX. Sounding out the letters to make a word gives no information. However, the X in several of the model denotes a mysterious X-factor. In fact it may stand for Experimental as it did in the NSX which stood for new sports-car experimental.Let's explore some common model names and how people perceive these names versus the impression of the cars. We will review some auto manufacturers popular in the United States.

Dodge has more interesting model names for its vehicles compared to other manufacturers. For instance, the ram can mean a goat-like animal or a battering device used to open locked doors. Either way the ram denotes a vehicle which would enjoy and win a head to head challenge. It represents strength, durability, and aggressiveness. The actual Dodge Ram does possess these characteristics. The ram is a tough as nails pickup that shouldn't be challenged by lesser vehicles.

The Magnum is another Dodge model with clearly aggressive stylings. Previously the term magnum was associated with a type of firearm or cartridge. So naming a car along these lines was definitely a bold move by Dodge. The term magnum evokes a powerful handgun used in Hollywood movies. The actual car itself has a very aggressive design, a powerful engine and a hefty frame. It's probably the closest thing to a mainstream gangster car out there today. One almost expects a hitman to roll down the tinted windows and start firing a semiautomatic. It is not a car to be disrespected on the streets.

One of the most recognizable names in the auto universe is the mustang. In fact if you mention the word mustang people think of the machine with four wheels and not the animal with four legs. Part of the reason of the popularity of the model name is the long history it has had with auto enthusiasts going back to 1964. The animal definition of the mustang is a free-roaming feral horse. Feral means they are descendants of domesticated horses. Despite this, when we think of the mustang we picture a group of wild horses running free with their manes flowing in the wind. So the mustang represents freedom, exploration, and speed. Those terms would fit the current Ford Mustang.

The Ford Escape is a suv that will take you away from it all. Escape in this sense would be to escape to nature or from one's normal dull environment. Obviously the vehicle to escape in would possess four wheel drive and plenty of elbow room. In this sense the Ford Escape with optional AWD does foot the bill.

When I think of the word tundra, the arctic tundra with all its vastness and coldness comes to mind. A vehicle with the word tundra on it would have to handle ice, snow, travel long distances and work in extremely low temperatures. It would also have to have a superior heating system. The tundra must be a very tough vehicle indeed. Does the Toyota Tundra live up to its name? Well physically the Toyota Tundra is a massive pickup, almost on the level of a Dodge Ram. In has an incredible toying capacity and a reputation for reliability in almost any circumstance.

Escalade is a term meaning scaling by ladders. So the Cadillac Escalade would have to be an automobile that is above others or can go above others. The actual Cadillac Escalade is high-status hip suv that definitely gets noticed.

Mitsubishi has an interesting model name with the Outlander. An outlander is a person from another country who doesn't have any obligations to the country he is currently in, a bit of a rebel and troublemaker. The Mitsubishi Outlander commercial displays these qualities stating the Outlander can outdo any other vehicle. The Mitsubishi Outlander is a performance suv with great handling and a powerful engine.

What do we think of when we see the word mariner on a vehicle? Well it probably should be near a body of water. The driver may own a boat or likes boating. The car would handle well in wet weather and may be able to drive through floods. The Mercury Mariner is suv with the toying capacity of 3,500 pounds. Enough to pull a modest sized boat for a day on the lake.

Here is a list of interesting names by manufacturers. I may even add some corny comments for your reading pleasure.

Chevrolet:Avalanche(yikes, get out the way), Cobalt, Colorado(infused with all the qualities of the state), Express, Impala(outrun any predator), Malibu, Monte Carlo, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe,Trailblazer(Burn it up), and Uplander.

Chrysler:Aspen, Crossfire(duck), Pacifica, Town and Country(Appeases both the city and country mouse).

Dodge:Avenger(don't' get mad, get even), Caliber, Challenger, Charger, Dakota, Durango, Magnum(bang bang), Nitro, Sprinter, Viper(watch those fangs).

Ford:Crown Victoria(hail to the queen), Econoline, Edge(sharp), Escape, Expedition, Explorer, Flex, Focus, Freestar, Fusion(mix it up), Mustang, Ranger, Taurus(for those born in April and May).

GMC:Arcadia, Canyon(look out below), Envoy(don't shoot the messenger), Savanna, Sierra, Yukon(hmm, I'm sensing a theme here).

Honda:Accord, Civic, Element, Fit(stay in shape), Odyssey(into the vast unknown), Pilot(fasten your seatbelts), Ridgeline.

Jeep:Commander(yes sir), Compass(which way is north?), Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot(god bless America), Wrangler.

Mercury:Grand Marquis, Mariner, Milan, Monterey, Mountaineer, Sable.

Mitsubishi:Eclipse(where did the sun go?), Endeavor(keep trying), Galant, Lancer(knights of the round table?), Outlander, Raider.

Nissan:Altima, Armada(oh my), Frontier, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest(on a quest are we?), Rogue, Sentra, Titan(drive like a giant), Versa(tile), Xterra.

Pontiac:Grand Prix(Be the first to the light), Solstice, Torrent, Vibe(I'm feeling it)

Saturn:Astra(mystical), Aura, Ion, Outlook, Relay(don't drop the handoff), Sky, Vue.

Subaru:Forester, Impreza, Legacy(leave one), Outback(not the restaurant), Tribeca.

Toyota:4runner, Avalon, Camry, Corolla, FJ Cruiser, Highlander(stay on high ground), Land Cruiser(won't work in water), Matrix(just like the movie), Prius, Rav4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Yaris(ya what?).

The model names hold the qualities which the manufacturer would like you to believe the vehicle possesses. Many manufacturers have clear themes in their lines. The name of the vehicle is very important part of the vehicle(literally). It is one of the first things if not the first thing one knows about the vehicle.

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