American Volkswagen dealers are excited about the arrival of the company’s new luxury saloon and first sport-utility vehicle, but they are not happy about the vehicles’ names, Phaeton and Touareg. And there are so many other names that sound strange, we just wonder what were the manufacturers thinking!
American Volkswagen dealers are excited about the arrival of the German manufacturer’s new luxury saloon and first sport-utility vehicle, but they not so sure about the names.
The Phaeton, which was known internally as the D1, will arrive in 2003. The name comes from Greek mythology and was used in the 1930s to describe a large open-air luxury vehicle. The problem is that the Phaeton will not be a convertible. The SUV has been named the Touareg after an African tribe that makes an annual trek across the Sahara. New company chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder said at the Detroit motor show last month that VW was looking for unusual names with a heritage.
"I’ve been approached by a lot of dealers in both the US and Canada that are upset about the names of both the SUV and the D1," said Al Gossett, chairman of the Volkswagen National Dealer Council.
"Dealers do not think they are appropriate names for the North American market," Gossett said. "This is one issue that has really got both the Canadian and US dealers upset. The names of both of those vehicles are unacceptable."
Gossett said car dealers in North America found it hard to explain the meaning of Phaeton and Touareg to customers.
Of course, this has us thinking about other unusual names. We do understand that picking a name for the constant stream of new cars that manufacturers are developing is not easy, but some just leave one wondering.
On the local market, Kia’s Carens and Opel’s Zafira are names that do not roll off the tongue that easily. And as for the Hyundai Atoz, we take it this little runabout scampers from A to Z, but on the UK market there were rather naughty hints that nobody would Givatoz.
Another Japanese model, Daihatsu’s Gran Move, seems to be missing a D, unless it’s intended for grandparents only.
And there other models we do not see in South Africa. Would you buy a Nissan Cedric? Nissan has produced the Cedric and Gloria medium-sized saloons, which, according to one of the CAR editors, are quite good-looking cars. Apparently the names appeal to the Japanese market.
Nissan has also produced the Sylphy, Leopard J Ferie and Fairlady Z (which of course is the legendary Z-car). The S-Cargo looked vaguely like a snail and lately there have been the Wingroad and Stagea.
Suzuki has given Japan the Every Wagon, Jimney and Alto Lepo, while Toyota obviously spent a lot of time thinking up the Opa!, Brevis and Funcargo and Sparky. And what was Honda thinking when they came up with the Life Dunk (pictured above)?
But our personal favourite is Daihatsu’s Naked (pictured). Yes, Naked, that’s the name of the vehicle. What do YOU think about it?
With names like these it is easy to see why some manufacturers choose to just use numbers. It may be a little boring, but at least potential customers are not rolling around in the showrooms with laughter or desperately wondering how to pronounce it. Although lately there has been plenty of confusion as numbers and engine capacities, for one, have not matched up.
Are there any names that bother you? Tell us about it.
