Strange Car Names 2011

Strange Name Number 1:

Hyundai Equus

Image from Hyundai

The new Hyundai Equus is Hyundai's most expensive and luxurious car. It is supremely quiet, has a presidential-size back seat as well as a long list of VIP features. These include; A recliner for rear passengers offering the utmost comfort as well as a massaging/vibrating chair, a coolbox to keep those drinks extra cold, rear foot lamps, a table for rear passengers that pulls out and a 12 way adjustable driver seat, just to mention a few. 

And to make you feel like an extra special VIP, Equus is Latin for "Horse"... 

No, we don't get it either. 

Strange Name Number 2:

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke means to fake someone out of their position, like in football. The noun means a "a roadside cafe or bar, especially one with dancing and sometimes prostitution". Interesting...

Image from Nissan

Strange Name Number 3:

Mini Countryman

Image from Mini

The Mini Countryman is the first and only vehicle with four doors and the option of 4 wheel drive. 

Countryman means "an inhabitant or native of a specified country" or "one living in the country or marked by country ways".

Strange Name Number 4:

Scion iQ

Image from Scion

According to Dictionary.com the word Scion or Sci-on means a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one for grafting or rooting. It can also mean a descendant or heir to great wealth, riches or fame. Considering this looks remarkably like a smart car and has been marketed as a 'premium micro-subcompact' we'd say that perhaps the car is acting almost like 'the next generation' of smart car, with 'iQ' suggesting that it is much smarter than previous smart car's. How so I hear you ask? Well the Scion iQ has extra room in the back for those extra small passengers, a small pet, a weekly shop etc.  

Image from AutoGuide.com

Hmmm...very smart or very cramped? You decide.

Strange Name Number 5:

Nissan Leaf

Images from Nissan 

Nissan Leaf is the first electric car from Nissan. The sub-compact car will happily accommodate 4-5 adults, with roomy space in the back for storage, packages and the weekly shop. It takes approximately 1/2 an hour to charge fully at one of the 3 phase charging stations dotted across the country and takes 16 hours to charge with a standard household plug. 

The word leaf conjures up images of the environment, trees, freedom and basically makes you think 'green', all things that Nissan probably wanted consumers to feel about their vehicle. Of course out of all the names they could have chosen, naming their vehicle after a leaf was perhaps one of their most random choices. Who knows? maybe in a few years time, naming vehicles after woodland objects may become the norm. 






Some other particularly peculiar names we have found in the past are: Honda Life Dunk; Daihatsu Naked; Mazda Bongo; Fairlady Z; Suzuki Cappucino; Volkswagen Thing; Prairie Joy; Rinspeed X-Dream; Toyota Deliboy; Toyota Toyopet; Mitsubishi Pistachio; Mysterious Utility and GIGA 20 Light Dump, just to name a few.