Did You Know Where Car Models Get Their Name From?

Have you ever been curious about how car manufacturers come up with the names for their models? It's wild how some car names can make you feel powerful, adventurous or luxurious, like the sleek and sporty Ford Mustang or the reliable Volkswagen Golf.

So, where do these names come from, you ask? Well, let's dive into the fascinating origins of some of the most iconic car model names in the industry and uncover the stories behind the names that have become synonymous with driving excellence. We'll skip over the boring alphanumeric names that many car brands have opted for and focus on the ones with a cool backstory.

Let's start with Volkswagen. Did you know that many of their models are named after winds? The Polo is named after polar winds, while the Gulf Stream inspired the name of the Golf. Passat and Scirocco also follow this trend, with the former meaning ‘trade wind’ and the latter being named after the Mediterranean wind Sirocco. And get this: all the vehicles in Volkswagen’s SUV range begin with the letter T, like the T-cross, T-Roc, Tiguan, and Toureg. Fun fact: the Tiguan takes its name from blending the German words for ‘tiger’ and ‘iguana’. The Toureg, on the other hand, was named after a nomadic tribe from the Sahara and the word translates into ‘free folk’.

Moving on to Ford. The Ford Fiesta takes its name from the Spanish word for ‘party’ and was named after Ford opened a factory in Spain. And did you know that the Ford Focus was originally planned to have a different name but was impulsively named Focus after the original name was leaked before its launch? Some Ford models are named after animals, such as the Puma and the Kuga (alternative spelling of cougar), but the iconic Ford Mustang is actually named after the P-51 Mustang fighter plane from World War 2.

Let's check out Seat. Since 1982, all Seat models have been named after cities and towns in Spain. Ibiza, Leon, Arona, and Ateca are all examples of Seat models named after cities and towns in the country.

Vauxhall has some interesting name inspirations too. The Vauxhall Corsa takes its name from the Italian word for ‘race’. The Astra’s name is derived from the word ‘Astralis’, meaning ‘of the stars’. The Vauxhall Mokka takes its name inspiration from the coffee beans of the Coffee Arabica variety – with Vauxhall stating these beans are ‘refined and full of character’, much like this vehicle.

Honda has some intriguing name origins too. The Honda Jazz got its name from the music genre or the type of dance, but Honda has never confirmed which. The Honda Civic takes its name from the word ‘citizen’ as the car was designed to be the perfect car for the everyday citizen. The CR-V was named after the initials of the words “comfortable, runabout, vehicle”, and was given this name as it was designed to be a car that made various driving styles comfortable.

Lastly, let's talk about Renault. Renault has named their smaller, more agile cars after shorter girl’s names, such as Clio and Zoe. The Renault Espace takes its name after the French word for ‘space’, as it is a large and spacious vehicle. The dynamic Renault Twingo takes its name from a word blending of the words ‘twist’, ‘sing’ and ‘tango’.

It's pretty clear that there's no clear-cut formula that car manufacturers follow when it comes to naming their car models. They can be taken from initialisms, foreign languages, and word blends, to name a few. But next time you come across a vehicle with an interesting model name, take a moment to appreciate the thought process that went into choosing it.

If you're thinking of getting a car with a great name, why not get in touch with us today to discuss your salary sacrifice car needs?

Contact us