Thanks to ODDEE for this one. Car companies' marketing teams have dropped some howlers in naming car models by failing to do due diligence on the meanings of those names in different languages. Here are the ten worst:
Mazda LaPuta - in Spanish: 'Whore'
Mitsubishi Pajero - in Spanish: "Wanker")
Nissan Moco - in Spanish: 'Booger'
Buick LaCrosse - in French: 'Masturbating Teenagers'
Chevrolet Nova - in Spanish: 'It Doesn't Go'
Opel Ascona - in Spanish and Portuguese: 'Female Genitalia'.
Honda Fitta - in Swedish and Norwegian: 'Cunt'.
Daihatsu Charade - in English: 'Pretence'
Dodge Swinger - in English: 'Wife-Swapper''
AMC Gremlin - in English: 'A buggy buggy'.
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Comments (18)
What happened to the Toyota MR2 - in French Merde = 'shit'
Posted by nocynic | November 18, 2009 9:13 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 09:13
Thanks, nocynic, a magnificent addition
Posted by David Manners
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November 18, 2009 10:37 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 10:37
Seems that car firms ought to add Spanish speakers to their marketing teams!
Posted by peterchesham | November 18, 2009 10:48 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 10:48
You're right, Peter, the Spaniards seem to have a lot of colourful dirty words.
Posted by David Manners
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November 18, 2009 11:58 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 11:58
While not the worst - Mitsubishi produced the Colt & Lancer but the howler was the Starion (Stallion?)
Posted by Dr Bob | November 18, 2009 2:41 PM
Posted on November 18, 2009 14:41
Thanks Dr Bob, the story goes that the US marketeers did, indeed, want the name 'Stallion' but the Japanese obviously phonetically pronounced it 'Starion'. So Starion it became and, when the mistake was realised (too late to change), Mitsubishi's PR people had to concoct some BS about the nane deriving from a star in the constellation of Orion.
Posted by David Manners
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November 18, 2009 2:50 PM
Posted on November 18, 2009 14:50
I remember seeing a Toyota MR2 at a motor show in Grenoble, but something about the car wasn't right. Took me a while to notice that the 2 was missing from the name, making it the more acceptable MR.
Posted by Ian SMITH | November 18, 2009 8:44 PM
Posted on November 18, 2009 20:44
And how to forget (or forgive) the Ford Pinto? In Brazil, it is an idiom for the male genitalia. The name was changed locally to "Corcel" which means "steed".
Posted by Paolo F. Pugno | November 18, 2009 9:30 PM
Posted on November 18, 2009 21:30
Thanks Paolo, that's a good one.
Posted by David Manners
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November 18, 2009 11:03 PM
Posted on November 18, 2009 23:03
That's a nice story, Ian.
Posted by David Manners
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November 18, 2009 11:06 PM
Posted on November 18, 2009 23:06
David, I seem to remember many years ago Rolls Royce sold a Silver Mist (=shit)in Germany.
It didn't sell well for some reason...
Posted by robert | November 19, 2009 8:41 AM
Posted on November 19, 2009 08:41
Good one Robert, thanks
Posted by David Manners
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November 19, 2009 9:07 AM
Posted on November 19, 2009 09:07
I heard that the Silver Shadow was going to be called the Silver Mist, seeing as how it was the successor to the Silver Cloud.
The car was going to be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show -- badges had been made for the car, brochures and publicity material printed and so on -- when a few days beforehand somebody spotted the blooper, and there was a mad rush to redo everything in time for the show...
Ian
Posted by Ian Dedic | November 19, 2009 10:26 AM
Posted on November 19, 2009 10:26
Brilliant. Thanks, Ian
Posted by David Manners
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November 19, 2009 10:34 AM
Posted on November 19, 2009 10:34
In response to nocynic's MR2, how about the French revenge, the Citroen Saxo? Unfortunately in Japanese Saxo means "let's sh1t"
Posted by Scott | November 20, 2009 11:49 AM
Posted on November 20, 2009 11:49
Lovely jubbly, I like it, thanks Scott
Posted by David Manners
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November 20, 2009 11:51 AM
Posted on November 20, 2009 11:51
Another one to add.
Ford Mondeo, the pronunciation Mon-dae-yo in korean means "what is this" or "What"?
Won't sell in Korea.
Posted by Adrian | November 23, 2009 9:25 PM
Posted on November 23, 2009 21:25
Thanks, Adrian
Posted by David Manners
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November 24, 2009 11:04 AM
Posted on November 24, 2009 11:04