What's in a name.

[Audax]

Last night I was reading about the Honda Jazz and how it was going to be called the "Fitta" which they had to abandon because it's not really a very polite word in Scandinavia, this led me on to thinking about how cars that are perceived to be more upmarket tend to be referred to by letters and numbers (e.g. Merc, Audi, BMW) and cars that are and the cheaper end of the market have names (Vauxhall, Ford, Toyota).

I then even thought that Lexus use model numbers and letters when they're making cars that are partially Toyota based, although I could think of a few exceptions as Subaru use names and I'd expect them to use more letters and numbers but they seem to use them as a model differentiator. Citroen dropped names (and were aiming higher in the market when they did so) but make cars with pretty good interiors (and pretty good overall), Saab and Volvo use numbers and letters, Alfa use numbers and letters. Even things like Nissan, use names for things at the bottom of their range and then use 350Z and GT-R for their interesting stuff.

Is this common amongst all manufacturers? Or has this been well known for ages and I'm just slow to catch on (very likely!).

[Max Headroom]

I don't know if that is altogether true. Don't Bentley and Rolls Royce still use names?

Names were used almost exclusivelyway back in the 1930's for some makes - MG spring to mind with Magna, Magnette, & Midget, but they did have a letter & number that defined say, a saloon variant from an open sports model etc (e.g. The 1933 MG Midget range was known as the J-type Midget - J1 being a four seat variant, J2 being the two seater, a J3 was a supercharged racing two seater, and a J4 was an out and out racer with a lighter body and bigger supercharger), but they were all still known as the Midget.
Riley, Wolsely, Austin and Morris all seemed to use a mix of both names and numbers.

It is an interesting motoring question though!

[sgould]

Porsche have moved away from numbers - Cayenne, Cayman, Boxster.

They are stuck with 911 at the moment for marketing purposes, even though it's probably the 1911 by now...

[Audax]

Correct, it's not always true just something I think makes a general point? I would guess that Rolls are trying to keep in touch with the past (like Bentley) and link the name to that of being long standing image of top quality? I did also notice that names used to be more popular in the past but then Saab never used names apart from the Sonnet was something I also noticed

Which do you prefer, numbers or names?   

[sgould]

I'm happy with numbers.  But no more than 3.

Names are always a problem for international companies.  They usually mean something unsuitable or rude in another country.

There is also the problem of too many names.  One is OK, but then naming special editions can add another one or two.

The other thing I don't like is plastering the back of cars with a label for every possible bit of equipment.  I think that Citroen must hold some sort of a record for this.  The had an estate which barely had room for paint.  Something like "Citroen XM Safari TRD Automatique Comfort" with separate labels for "ABS" "Hydropneumatique" "Injection Direct" & "Turbo".

[Max Headroom]

Which do you prefer, numbers or names?   

Neither - particularly. Just the manufacturers badge

I would rather see something understated rather than the likes of Sgoulds "Citroen XM Safari TRD Automatique Comfort" excess


 

[Norfolk Jim]

Lotus? Bugatti? Maserati? - Ferrari mixed it up F40 but you could have had a Dino?

[Geoff1951]

...Alfa use numbers and letters. ...

Not at the moment they don't.

Current range is Mito and Giulietta. Next up will be the Giulia in 2014.

[Audax]

Not at the moment they don't.

Current range is Mito and Giulietta. Next up will be the Giulia in 2014.

OK, they did until very recently then  Lotus used to use mostly numbers? Bugatti also used to use numbers (I think, mostly) until the Veyron (is that really a Bugatti? or a very special VW with the Bugatti badge?) but I guess that when you start getting into exotics then anything goes? I think (but my knowledge of exotic stuff is quite limited) is that exotic cars for the track seem to use letters and numbers and GT type cars for the road and showing off in have names?

[Norfolk Jim]

OK, they did until very recently then  Lotus used to use mostly numbers?
[/quote]

No Lotus road cars that I know of used numbers. Elan, Europa, Eclat, Esprite (or however you spell it) Elite, Elise, Euvora etc - no numbers there... might be 2+2 sometimes

[Audax]

No Lotus road cars that I know of used numbers. Elan, Europa, Eclat, Esprite (or however you spell it) Elite, Elise, Euvora etc - no numbers there... might be 2+2 sometimes

Seven is a number (kinda!)  OK, looking at the wikipedia article it's fairly badly laid out, looking into it more deeply it suggests that all the cars had a model number and some of the old racing cars were known by numbers but they do have names. Fits in with my theory on exotics used for the road and for racing I guess. 

[CitTone]

With the exception of the 7, Lotus used numbers for track cars, but not road cars IIRC. The 7 was obviously a track car for the road...(ahem). The only numbers on the road cars were variant qualifiers (e.g. Elan S130) I think.

[phoenix]

Hyndai i40? Hardly top drawer...

Triumph TR or Stag?

[Audax]

Hyndai i40? Hardly top drawer...

That's a reasonably new car, wonder if they named it that way to try and push it as something upmarket?

[Norfolk Jim]

My Lotus names were not from Wikipedia but memory.

Correct CitTone. The '7' was designed as a track car first and foremost and then adapted slightly for road but all others had names - some as extras like Carlton and Sunbeam and of course Cortina!

Just for a laugh Spyker had both!