Lost In Translation: Silly Car Names

The Japanese are a cheerful bunch, aren’t they? Through a series of misinterpretations and a strong Engrish accent, they came up with model names like “Mitsubishi Lettuce.”

Names are usually aspirational. The Dodge Dart wants to dart around. The Ford Mustang thinks its a stallion. The GMC Sierra thinks its a mountain range.

The Mitsubishi Lettuce aspires to be a vegetable.

Here’s a few more from all over the world:

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Chevy Citation, US
wpid-citation-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
You should be cited for driving something so awful.

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AMC Gremlin, US
wpid-1970-AMC-Gremlin-white-A-640-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A gremlin is “an imaginary gnomelike creature to whom mechanical problems, especially in aircraft, are attributed.”

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Nissan Prairie Joy, Japan
wpid-pic_nissan_prairie_joy_7263-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
I like this one. Its a perfectly competent utility wagon that would be right at home in the prairie. Not sure how much joy it brings.

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Subaru Gravel Express, Japan
wpid-Image-Subaru_Impreza_Gravel_Express_no2-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
Its the predecessor to the Legacy Outback. As silly as this name is, its impressively direct.

CORRECTION: Known as Subaru Outback Sport, not Legacy.

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Toyota Synus, Japan
wpid-1998-Tyota-cynus-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A sporty looking coupe with a nasal infection.

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Suzuki Van Van
wpid-SuzukiVan-Van-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A sharp little motorcycle that’s been named “van” twice. Its like calling the Camaro a “Chevy Truck Truck”

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Suzuki Alto Afternoon Tea, Japan
wpid-10551007_199006-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A combination of music and afternoon tea. This isn’t bad at all.

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Renault Le Car, France
wpid-R5_LeCar_Canada-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
Its “the car” and if you ask most people who encountered one, it was “the worst car.” The Le Car makes a mild comeback as Sue Sylvester’s chariot of choice on Glee.

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Suzuki Every Joypop, Japan
wpid-28le7w0-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
Its a turbocharged miniature box van. Makes me want to put glitter on everything.

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Mitsubishi Mum 500 Shall We Join Us, Japan
wpid-1993_Mitsubishi_MUM_500_Concept_01-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
I don’t know, Mom, shall we?

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Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme, Japan
[no photo, but its probably another microvan]
A pantry boy is a low-level house servant.

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Big Thumb Harmonizer
wpid-bigthumb-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg

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Honda Life Dunk, Japan
wpid-1712143_2-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
Another weird little microvan with an inexplicably optimistic name. Probably too small for basketball players.

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Mazda/Autozam Scrum Stand Off Truck, Japan
wpid-70006018112010111000100-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A minitruck/microvan that engages in standoffs with scrum. Take that, scrum.

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Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard, Japan
wpid-6-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A midsize SUV with magical powers. Maybe it casts spells too.

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Sbarro Assystem, Switzerland
wpid-76f43f55e5716cbdbdab95263ace830e-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
I can’t think of anything snarky to say that could outdo the awfulness of this name. The vehicle itself is awful too.

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Daihatsu Charade Social Poze, Japan
wpid-daihatsu_charade_social_13011-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A charade, an act, done on a social scale. Not much posing going on though.

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Daihatsu D-Bag, Japan
wpid-daihatsu-d-compact-xover-manu-06-01-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
[best guess photo]
A name that might be more appropriate for the BMW 3-series.

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Mazda Proceed Marvie Wild Breeze, Japan
wpid-0160090801G400082801900-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
“Proceed” is an interesting one, suggesting forward movement. I don’t know who Marvie is, but he apparently breezes wildly.

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Mitsubishi Lettuce, Japan
wpid-800px-Mitsubishi_Minica_198-2011-02-26-07-45.jpg
A car waiting to be placed between slices of wheat bread. Any modern Mitsubishi, except for the Evo, is better off in a sandwich than on the road.

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Toyota Cist, Japan
[concept car, no photo]
Really, a fitting name for all modern day Toyotas.

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I guess this is why Europeans stick to innocuous combinations of letters and numbers.

6 Responses to Lost In Translation: Silly Car Names

  1. Matt says:

    Friend of mine owned a Citation, or I should say his parents. It was a 2.8L V6. We got it up to 82mph once. Downhill. We got to his parents house and smelled antifreeze. The upper rad hose had cracked covering the engine bay with antifreeze.

    Too bad it wasn’t the fuel line, it would have been sweet mercy for the car.

  2. BlkBumperBandit says:

    the Gravel Express is known as the Subaru Outback Sport….its not the Legacy Outback due to its size ( the outback sport is really a rebadged impreza wagon thats been forced to wear that horrible plastic clading)

    Also that Mitsubishi lettuce looks oddly similar to the Subaru vivo

    actually i would like to see you mention some more of the more awsome names or cars with simular names….like the Dodge Lancer vs the Mitsubish Lancer
    or the mitsubish GTO vs the Pontiac GTO

  3. Matt says:

    There was a Shelby Lancer. Carol Shelby modified the old Dodge Lancer from the ’80s with more go-fast goodies, handling stuff, some interior changes, etc. Not exactly an Evo but it was intended to make it more luxurious and faster with a nice stereo.

  4. jesda says:

    And then there was the Ferrari GTO

  5. Philip Croff says:

    F14CRAZY from GMinsidenews…you forgot the Wagon R RR…Type R!

  6. jesda says:

    LOL, pirate edition

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