What's In A Name?
A lot actually! When it comes to car names, there have been some great ones and some real duds. And while we appreciate and respect the great ones, it's more fun to talk about the terrible names car companies have come up with over the years. Like...
Nissan Friend-ME
In 2013, Nissan unveiled a social network-inspired concept car that they called the Nissan Friend-ME (and yes, they stylized the "ME" with both letters capitalized—which kinda seemed like a desperate cry for help/friends).
Audi e-Tron
What's so bad about e-Tron, you ask? Well, nothing really—unless you live in France (étron is a French word for excrement).
JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Minica Lettuce
Can you think of a less exciting vegetable to name a car?
Toyotacoronaexsaloon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Pistachio
Can you think of a less exciting nut to name a car?
Riley, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kia Pro_cee'd
An underscore and an apostrophe. Really? Kia eventually changed it to Proceed.
Daihatsu Naked
Daihatsu produced this kei car from 1999 to 2004.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Carisma
It isn't so much that the name is that bad—but rather the car they decided to give the name to. Few cars have less charisma than the bland Mitsubishi Carisma.
Mitsubishi Minica Winky
We assume this one was named by a giggling eight-year-old.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Mum 500 Shall We Join Us
The name is bigger than the micro-car itself.
Mytho88, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Renault LeCar
If we're being honest—we love this one.
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ferrari LaFerrari
This one—not as much.
Honda Life Dunk
It was launched in Japan back in 2000.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dodge Dart Swinger
We assume these were usually the first keys pulled out of the bowl at 70s parties.
Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard
We don't want our vehicle and the word "mystery" in any way connected to each other (unless, of course, we're driving around with Scooby-Doo—thumbs up to the Mystery Machine). Depending on where you lived in the 90s, you might've known this one better as the Frontera.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Geely Beauty Leopard
This car from Chinese motor company Geely was the first car with a built-in karaoke machine. Is that the "beauty" part?
KotVadim, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Mini Active Urban Sandal
Mitsubishi's answer to the Smart Car was small (but not as small as a sandal)—and why you'd want to focus people's attention on walking and their feet is beyond us. Maybe that's why it never got past the concept stage?
Vauxhall Adam
British car company Vauxhall is the sister brand of German Opel—and Opel's founder was Adam Opel. Ergo the Vauxhall Adam. So, we get the story behind it. But the rather generic name did nothing to help it stand out from the crowd—which was in direct opposition to the car's offering of multiple customization options that would make it "as individual as you are".
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Studebaker Dictator
Produced from 1928 to 1937—at which point they finally changed the name to Commander.
Don O'Brien, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
AMC Gremlin
Insert your own "don't get it wet or feed it after midnight" joke here.
CZmarlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ford Probe
Is this the car the aliens use on people they take into their UFOs?
Great Wall Wingle
What?
Anonymousfox36, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Subaru Brat
Kinda cool looking car—but the name just makes us want to give it a time-out.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Pajero
If you speak Spanish, you get why this one is on the list. We'll leave it at that.
Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mazda LaPuta
Another one for the Spanish-speakers in the audience.
Kuiha455405, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Toyota Deliboy
A terrible name—unless, of course, it comes with a fridge full of cured meats.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Celebrity
Not much to celebrate with this generic-looking car—and certainly no place on the red carpet for this one.
Isuzu Bighorn
Known as the Trooper outside Japan.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Smart #1
You'd think it would be "Smart One" or "Smart Number One". And while neither of those are great, what they actually wanted people to call it was: "Smart Hashtag One".
Mitsubishi Toppo Big Joy Guppy
Also known as the Toppo BJ. Not any better.
Changan Benni Love
Cool if your name was Benni. Otherwise...nope!
Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Peugeot Bipper Tepee Outdoor
Individually, all three of those names would be list-worthy. Together...even more so.
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