Car Names That Got Lost in Translation
Naming things can be extremely difficult. We mostly understand when parents find it difficult to choose a name for a new child but wonder why some car companies face the same dilemma. Unfortunately, some car names chosen don’t translate well when spoken in some languages, and not always English. Let’s explore.
The Isuzu GIGA Light Dump needs no translation
Do you remember making fun of other children for their names or them making fun of you? The Isuzu GIGA Light Dump is one of the many commercial vehicles from this brand, which signifies a lightweight dump truck. This truck has an unfortunate name that might make you think of taking a quick trip to the restroom.
Canadians hate the Buick LaCrosse name
Although Canadians speak English, their slang is much different from that of Americans. One of the car names that translates poorly is the Buick LaCrosse. This full-size sedan didn’t bother anyone below the Canadian border, but many dealers to the north requested Buick change the name. In Canada, LaCrosse is slang for onanism.
The French wonder why Audi uses the e-tron name
Audi uses the e-tron name to signify the electric models coming from this luxury brand. While most countries aren’t upset by this name, it makes people in France wonder why a luxury brand would choose such a name. In French, Etron translates to “turd,” which is something you wouldn’t want to drive. This makes us wonder how well the Audi e-tron sells in France.
The Daihatsu Scat is universally wrong
One of the worst car names in the auto industry that doesn’t need any translation is the Daihatsu Scat. The word scat identifies animal droppings by many trackers. Strangely, the word scat is part of other models, including the Dodge Charger and Challenger that used the Scat Pack name. Although the name was terrible, the car was pretty good.
The Mitsubishi Pajero name was changed in some countries
Mitsubishi recognized that the Pajero name is one of those car names that doesn’t translate well. In Spanish-speaking countries, this SUV sold as the Montero because the word “pajero” doesn’t translate positively in Spanish. This is one of the most unfortunate car names.
Is there something wrong with the Hyundai Kona?
Most people associate the Kona name with coffee and an area of Hawaii, but that’s not the case in six countries. This little SUV is the Encino in China, but we don’t know why. However, in Portugal, it’s the Kauai because the word Kona sounds like cona, which is a pretty foul word in Portuguese.
These are only a few of the car names that translate poorly and show how various cultures can feel about some vehicle names.
Source: Goodwood
