You drive a what?
Motor Trend has been gathering Least Favorite Car Model Names from its readership, and I figured the least I could do was come up with some of mine.
- Ford Flex: the last thing I want a Ford, or any car, to do is, well, flex.
- The Mercedes-Benz and BMW model descriptors that used to indicate engine size, but don’t anymore: the 330i has a 2.8-liter engine, and the 335i has that same engine with a turbo. This reminds me of AMD’s not-really-clock-speed clock speeds.
- BMW’s convoluted SUV nomenclature like X5 xDrive 35d. Seriously: WTF?
- Does anyone understand the alphabet soup at Acura? TL, RL, RSX, MDX — BFD.
- Toyota Yaris: the pronunciation isn’t obvious, and the correct pronunciation suggests that a pirate named it. (The Japanese domestic versions are “Belta” and “Vitz,” which are possibly even worse.)
- Almost any Volkswagen, though the silliest has to be the Tiguan, which Vee-Dub would have you believe is half tiger, half iguana.
- The new Lincoln MK-whatevers.
On a semi-related matter, how come I never see a Chevrolet Cobalt in blue?
McGehee »
20 December 2008 · 2:38 pm
If I had a Cobalt, I’d be tempted to rebrand it as a Strontium.
CGHill »
20 December 2008 · 3:07 pm
I always wondered why Pontiac, the alleged “excitement” division of GM, called its version of the Cobalt “G5″ and not an element more appropriate — say, “Boron.”
ms7168 »
21 December 2008 · 8:46 am
The Cobalt is available in a beautiful shade of blue and another thing I personally like about the car is it is also available in a coupe! Unheard of these days!
Matt Keegan »
10 February 2009 · 4:23 pm
Agreed, the Tiguan is one of the most forgettable names on the market.
And, Lincoln’s nomenclature has me confused as it doesn’t make sense.
Their respective marketing companies should be let go, IMO.