# Initials on cars: EX, CX, CL, SL, CS, etc. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954 "2004-01-11T06:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/21 "2004-01-12T14:33:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by disponibilite \* > \*\*But I recently saw TT on a newer Audi. What is TT supposed to stand for in these cases and why is Audi stupid enough to keep using it—at least on cars sold in America? \*\* Twin Turbo. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/22 "2004-01-12T15:05:51Z")
> [@](#): > > why is Audi stupid enough to keep using it—at least on cars sold in America? Maybe because they have not found that American customers associate “TT” with “titty.” If it hurts their sales, I’m sure they’ll change it. But, really, I’ve never heard of someone who is interested in that model being put off by the name. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/23 "2004-01-12T15:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vivalostwages \* > \*\*I’ve got a Dodge Daytona CS Turbo ('89). So it’s a something-or-other sport? \*\* According to this site it stands for [Carrol Shelby](http://www.xmission.com/~dempsey/shelby/sheldodd.htm). At the time, he was working for Dodge trying to give their boring line-up a kick in the pants. IIRC, there were some models that carried a “GTS” badge that was rumoured to stand for **G** ot **T** urbocharged by **S** helby. Peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/24 "2004-01-12T15:48:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sublight \* > \*\*Is Volkswagen part of Daimler-Chrysler? That might explain the similarity, as D-C recently acquired a controlling interest in Mitsubishi. \*\* Nope, VW has a strong relationship with (essentially owns?) Audi, but no real connection to M-B, or now D-C. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/25 "2004-01-12T15:49:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by disponibilite \* > \*\*And then there is the TT model.— > > I only remember a TT designation a couple times. Seems like Toyota had that for maybe a year back in the 60’s or 70’s and then dropped it (for obvious reasons—who wants to drive a “tee tee” car? ----Not very macho) ------I guess the Japanese had witnessed the popularity of the American SS and ST models and foolishly thought that TT would work too. > > But I recently saw TT on a newer Audi. What is TT supposed to stand for in these cases and why is Audi stupid enough to keep using it—at least on cars sold in America? \*\* I don’t think anyone here (no one I’ve ever met, certainly) associates TT with “titty”. Now a model PP would face some hurdles, as would a model TNA. ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/26 "2004-01-13T02:04:08Z")
Why does it seem that TT which for me has always brought back memories of racing and of motoring competitions, now somehow been associated with titties. I mean I can see the link but when a term like “Tourist Trophy” or “TT” which has been associated with motorsport for as long as I can remember. When motor racing first began weren’t all races called “Tourist Trophies.” I know this has changed but still the [Brittish Championship is still known as the TT](http://www.racingcircuits.net/UnitedKingdom/_gpTouristTrophy.html) and the [Isle of Man](http://www.iomtt.com/) although a motorcycle event is still called a TT. Lastly who could forget the famous [Dutch TT](http://www.tt-assen.com/) racing curcuit. This [Auto Sport Designs page](http://www.autosportdesigns.com/MichaelCooper.htm) has some really good pictures from some TT races, notice the names of the drivers; Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, I think these guys would have been proud to win a Tourist Trophy. Actually many of them did on several occaisions. I know I could be wrong but the term for me goes back to the early days of racing when most carss were called tourers and the races Tourist Trophies. It seems to make sense to me but I guess my mammary could be slipping. And on finally taking a look at the [Audi web page](http://www.audiusa.com/contact_audi/0,3802,categoryId-10_,00.html) there’s this. > [@](#): > > How did the TT get its name? > The name “TT” stands for Tourist Trophy, named for the oldest motorsports race held on public roads in Britain, established in 1905. Have I at least made some case for why they used the name TT? ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/27 "2004-01-13T02:13:20Z")
Don’t forget the classic Dodge Omni GLH, supposedly meaning **G** oes **L** ike **H** ell. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/28 "2004-01-13T02:55:24Z")
> [@D.E.S.K.Top668](#): > > According to this site it stands for [Carrol Shelby](http://www.xmission.com/~dempsey/shelby/sheldodd.htm). At the time, he was working for Dodge trying to give their boring line-up a kick in the pants. IIRC, there were some models that carried a “GTS” badge that was rumoured to stand for **G** ot **T** urbocharged by **S** helby. > > Peace - DESK Thanks, DESK. I printed out that page. ---
**Author:** ![disponibilite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@disponibilite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/disponibilite)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/29 "2004-01-13T15:29:55Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Maybe because they have not found that American customers associate “TT” with “titty.” If it hurts their sales, I’m sure they’ll change it. But, really, I’ve never heard of someone who is interested in that model being put off by the name. Actually I wasn’t thinking of the designation “TT” sounding a little silly because it meant “titty”. That never occurred to me. It always sounded silly to me, and to many others, because “tee tee” as in "I have to go “tee tee” " — Or "Do you have to go “tee tee?” " was the more polite version of “pee pee” —at least when I was growing up. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954/30 "2004-01-13T18:18:05Z")
> [@](#): > > It always sounded silly to me, and to many others, because “tee tee” as in "I have to go “tee tee” " — Or "Do you have to go “tee tee?” " was the more polite version of “pee pee” —at least when I was growing up. Hm. I can honestly say that I’ve _never_ heard that one. Maybe your slang is just _way_ out of date. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/initials-on-cars-ex-cx-cl-sl-cs-etc/223954.md?page=1)