[Nick]

Have you noticed that many manufacturers are bringing back model names from their legacy? There's quite a few now that I've seen and I'm interesting in your thoughts. Why do you think they're doing this? Are the new versions as good as, better, or worse than their older versions?

Some examples:

* Ford Capri
* Vauxhall Frontera
* Renault 5
* Honda Prelude

Let me know your thoughts on this trend.

[Drivingforfun]

I really don't understand this but there's surely some quite educated people who've judged it to be a good idea?

The way I see it, the revived names tend to be put onto cars which regardless of them being decent cars, bear no resemblance to the original model, and are often modern EVs and/or SUVs. The typical person who remembers / cares about the old names tends to be older, more conservative with regards to the industry, sceptical about EVs or really any automotive high-tech, and not into "fashionable" cars (like SUVs)

The younger people who will buy them surely don't care about the heritage. In fact I wonder if they may be put off by the car being named after their dad's, or maybe even granddad's, car from his youth...? 😆

[Beelzebub]

I can understand re-using the Capri and the R5, which were very popular in their day.

But the Frontera? As far as I remember, it was a re-badged Nissan, and didn't sell all that well. I borrowed one for a weekend once to see if an SUV would suit me, and found it a bit agricultural.

[Nick]

I was quite interested in the Frontera to be honest - I drive a Grandland at the minute and wouldn't mind going up a size - I thought this would fit that bill, based on what I knew of the car from it's previous incarnation - however it sounds as though it's more of a replacement for the now retired Crossland, which was a size down from the Grandland.

I'm looking for that affordable large SUV/4x4 as a possible next move. The Jeep Wagoneer is a pipe dream for me as I like big cars/trucks as opposed to cars - the Wagoneer is another example of a legacy vehicle making a comeback, albeit only in the US at the minute as far as I can tell.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

I really don't understand this but there's surely some quite educated people who've judged it to be a good idea?

The way I see it, the revived names tend to be put onto cars which regardless of them being decent cars, bear no resemblance to the original model, and are often modern EVs and/or SUVs. The typical person who remembers / cares about the old names tends to be older, more conservative with regards to the industry, sceptical about EVs or really any automotive high-tech, and not into "fashionable" cars (like SUVs)

The younger people who will buy them surely don't care about the heritage. In fact I wonder if they may be put off by the car being named after their dad's, or maybe even granddad's, car from his youth...? 😆

I think there's a line in here that could work for some of the younger buyers in the market as well though... the ones that aren't blinded by the comparison to the previous versions of these cars, who will take it for what it is in the here and now - that could work for some of these models I think.

Also, there are too many cars these days coming out with a series of Upper/Lower case letters and numbers as a model name, presumably in a bid to look modern and trendy. I'm all for bringing back car models with proper names - and I don't mean names like Jeff and Dave!

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Nick

I don't mean names like Jeff and Dave!

Cedric and Gloria were good enough for Nissan, so don't rule out Jeff and Dave!

[Rolebama]

Personally, I think it shows a lack of imagination. Much like the film industry with their sequels/prequels and remakes, or the music industry with cover versions, remixes and the like.

[olduser]

This made me think of the car names that went wrong but being lazy I asked AI (well it's going to save save humanity!) to show a few.

"There have been several instances in automotive history where car names have not resonated well with consumers, either due to cultural misunderstandings, negative connotations, or sheer awkwardness. Here are a few examples:

1. **Mitsubishi Pajero** - The name "Pajero" means "wanker" in Spanish-speaking countries, leading to a name change for those markets to "Montero."

2. **Nissan Moco** - While "moco" means "mucus" or "snot" in Spanish, it didn’t have the same connotation in Japan, which led to some confusion and unintentional humor in international markets.

3. **Chevrolet Nova** - In Spanish-speaking countries, "nova" translates to "doesn't go," which wasn't the best marketing for a car.

4. **Ford Fiera** - In Latin American markets, the name translates to "wild," but it sounds very close to the Spanish word "fiera," which can mean fierce or ferocious, giving some consumers the wrong impression.

5. **Toyota MR2** - Pronounced "MR two," it can be misread as "MR to," which in French sounds like "merde," meaning "shit." This led to unintended humor among French speakers.

6. **Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard** - Known as the MU, the full name in English is quite an odd choice and has led to mixed reactions.

7. **Volkswagen Thing** - The name played on its utilitarian design, but it didn't resonate with consumers looking for an appealing, attractively named vehicle.

8. **Chevrolet Chevette** - While intended to be a catchy name, it doesn't translate well and can come off as less than impressive.

These names illustrate how cultural context and language can significantly influence the perception of a product."

[Rolebama]

Reminds me of the story about Ford When they wanted to introduce the Si. Sierra Si, Escort Si and the Ka Si. Got a little upset when they learnt the connotation of the Ka Si.
I don't know what R3enault were thinking withe Clio RTS. Made worse by the actual badging.

[Beelzebub]

[QUOTE=olduser;144455

5. **Toyota MR2** - Pronounced "MR two," it can be misread as "MR to," which in French sounds like "merde," meaning "shit." This led to unintended humor among French speakers.
[/QUOTE]
Nearly. In French MR2 is actually pronounced "Em Er Deux", which does actually sound like "merde".