# How in the hell do they come up with these stupid car names? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 19, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759 "2005-11-19T03:03:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/61 "2005-11-20T07:57:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Actually, a tercel is a male falcon, so that one makes some sense. However, in falcons, like most birds of prey, the male is smaller and wimpier than the female, so the name may not quite convey the intended image. Nope. A male falcon is a [tiercel](http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/glossary.htm), not a tercel. ---
**Author:** ![fiztig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@fiztig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiztig)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/62 "2005-11-20T08:14:26Z")
I love our new car. In the US you call it the [Toyota Highlander](http://www.toyota.com/highlander/index.html). Here, Toyota retail it as the **Kluger**. We affectionately call ours “Freddy”. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/63 "2005-11-20T11:31:14Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > If they don’t, they get hectored every time they take the car out. Undeservedly. It’s a good car, the only achilles heel is fuel consumption, which is in fact reasonable for a surprisingly capacious vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/64 "2005-11-20T15:28:25Z")
Na. The Daihatsu **Charade** is the worst screw up. “I’m not a real car, but I play one on TV” ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/65 "2005-11-20T16:45:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Yeah, I guess it’s only got one “L”. The Niva was as described. I’ve also seen a Panda 4x4, which was just wrong. > > Hey, how about a **Fiat Donfaylme**? You mean the [old Panda](http://gblx.cache.el-mundo.net/elmundomotor/especiales/2002/10/coches/utilitarios/imagenes/fiat_panda_climbing_xxl.jpg) or the [new Panda](http://top.ch/tc/fiat/Panda_climbing_12.jpg)? Both have a 4x4 version. The Lada Niva is noisy, slow, has crappy plastics and the electric systems fail all the time. But it is an inexpensive and very capable off-roader. Around here, many people use [modified Nivas](http://www.off-road.gr/uploads/files/superspy/14trial4x4/HPIM0732.JPG) in raid and trial off road races. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/66 "2005-11-20T16:54:19Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Nope. A male falcon is a [tiercel](http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/glossary.htm), not a tercel. A male falcon can be called either a tercel, a tercelet, or a tiercel. The terms are interchangeable. Check the [dictionary](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=tiercel). ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/67 "2005-11-20T17:17:31Z")
> [@Bambi Hassenpfeffer](#): > > A male falcon can be called either a tercel, a tercelet, or a tiercel. The terms are interchangeable. Check the [dictionary](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=tiercel). Oops. :o Ignorance fought. I’ll be over here at the blackboard, writing “Check the dictionary” about a zillion times. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/68 "2005-11-20T17:32:21Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Oops. :o > > Ignorance fought. I’ll be over here at the blackboard, writing “Check the dictionary” about a zillion times. Don’t feel so bad. I regularly make sweeping pronouncements that turn out wrong, and then I feel like :smack: . ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/69 "2005-11-20T18:19:57Z")
Pontiac has a new car called the **Torrent**. Great name. I think the car comes up on page 47 of Google results for that term. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/70 "2005-11-20T18:41:08Z")
> [@J. Gelert](#): > > Camry (what the hell is a camry, anyway? Does it mean anything?). Apparently, it’s a lovely girl’s name…judging by the number of under-20s that I know with that name. :dubious: I’m really hoping someone will tell me it was a girl’s name before the car existed, but I won’t hold my breath. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/71 "2005-11-20T23:01:58Z")
I see those Placenta Previas and all I can think is “EEwwww, why would they call it that?” Wait, you say that’s a Toyota? Oh, my bad… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/72 "2005-11-21T07:51:19Z")
Well, there’s always the story about the Mitsubishi Starion. The marketing team in Japan were looking for a name that implied speed, power, and above all, virility. Some bright spark came up with the idea of naming it after a male horse . . . Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/73 "2005-11-21T12:27:09Z")
> [@Testy](#): > > Well, there’s always the story about the Mitsubishi Starion. The marketing team in Japan were looking for a name that implied speed, power, and above all, virility. Some bright spark came up with the idea of naming it after a male horse . . . > > Regards > > Testy [Maybe, maybe not.](http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/starion.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/74 "2005-11-21T14:07:39Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > [Maybe, maybe not.](http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/starion.asp) Thank you very much. I’d heard it as a joke several years ago. I had no idea someone actually _believed_ it. Now that you’ve shown me this, there are quite a few jokes I’d like to pass off as fact. Hmmmm. . . Thanks Testy ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/75 "2005-11-21T15:11:27Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Undoubtedly there are vast sums of money being paid to consultants to think up car names - the same sort of people who after much deliberation came up with the (now defunct) tourism slogan: “New Jersey - we’ll win you over”. :dubious: “Ya ya Milwaukee”. (shudder) -Joe ---
**Author:** ![DemonSpawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@DemonSpawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonSpawn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/76 "2005-11-21T16:09:00Z")
My favourite stupid car name is the Mazda Premacy. What’s that supposed to mean? Short form of supremacy? Family car (pregnancy)? ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/77 "2005-11-21T16:54:51Z")
They get their names from video games. For example, the Ford FOCUS C-MAX ULTIMA and the upcoming Ford Katamari. (I hear that baby can really roll.) ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/78 "2005-11-21T17:07:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **Ford Excrement** : Latest in the line of crappy SUVs from Ford, that start with the letters “ex”. I like this theme. **Ford Exfoliator** : Describes what happens to your hands should you be silly enough to try to service your engine yourself. **Ford Excrutiating** : Describes the feeling you get when you see how much it costs to fill up the tank. **Ford Ex-Rocks** : Definitely a comment on Ford’s originality. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/79 "2005-11-21T19:06:21Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > You mean Lada? You can get _Russian_ cars in Alaska? Cool. Sure, they just drive them across the Bering Land Bridge. It’s a toll road though, so it costs a little extra on shipping. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759/80 "2005-11-21T20:22:25Z")
I always wondered why Porsche thought naming their SUV after a chili pepper was a good idea: [The Cayenne](http://www.porsche.com/all/cayenne2005/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-in-the-hell-do-they-come-up-with-these-stupid-car-names/331759.md?page=5)