Funny Japanese Car Names
Posted September 26, 2009 
Comments(0) Every month, some or the other car gets launched in the Japanese Car market so differentiating each of them on the basis of their looks becomes difficult as most of them have similar looks. Car makers love to differentiate their car models by naming them with unique names. Japanese car makers try their best to sound different or unique and so land up naming their car with names that sound funny rather than nice, and at times they may mean the exact opposite!
Japanese auto makers have left behind all other countries by giving some of the wonderful car names to their car models. Japanese auto manufacturers are more concerned about “mouth feel” or how good would certain combination of words sound and so neglect relevance and grammar while arriving at new car names for markets other than the United States. Japanese car names have been a source of humor in International motoring circles.
One example of this name combination is Mitsubishi Chariot Grandio Super Exceed which sounds like a grand name, but this vehicle is used more for carrying groceries.
There are many more examples like this which the Japanese car makers have created to give some extraordinary name to their model, but are supper funny car names! or at times sound the exact opposite.
Have you heard of Mazda Bongo/Bongo Friendee/Bongo Brawny? Latin singer Ricky Martin made ‘bongo’ famous by using it in most of his songs and then there is a famous jeans company by the name “Bongo”. Considering this fact Mazda wanted to cash on the Bongo’s inherent prestige, so Mazda introduced a small-van called as Mazda Bongo. Apart from this standard form, Mazda also manufactured its sub model which is called as Bongo Brawny and Bongo Friendee. The name sounds so musical and affirming masculinity at the same time!
Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard is one is a sport-utility vehicle, but it brings up the image of some mysterious old man who has some magic tools than that of an SUV. And, Isuzu Big Horn Truck sounds like it is for people who like the sound of big horns instead of those little beep-beep horns. Isuzu GIGA is a series of heavy duty trucks with high capacity, and are mainly used to perform heavy duty task such as carrying cargo. Considering its name Isuzu GIGA 20 Light Dump, it may sound like some small truck used for carrying dump.
Honda Life Dunk has an engine which is turbocharged. Seeing at its name it sounds like your life is going to dunk after driving this car. This is clear example of how funny Japanese Car names can be. And, you may not have heard that Yamaha made any cars, but one of their cars is named the Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme. It is a supreme compact van, but we wonder where the pantry boy came from? Nissan Elgrand Homy is not at all like a home as it is a luxury minivan. Perhaps, they should have named it as homey – a trusted companion.
Daihatsu Charade Social Poze sounds like a dance craze of the 1980’s with semi-naked girls. And, Daihatsu Rocky also named as Daihatsu Rugger in some countries, bring up the image of boxers, rugby players, or rocky mountains. And, I am sure you would need to have some guts if you are planning to buy a Naked Daihatsu!
Mitsubishi has come up with some of the silliest names for their cars and trucks. If you think of Mitsubishi Mirage, you would dream of driving in a desert where there is no one else but you. Mitsubishi Townbox sounds like a children’s toy car, but it is a 5 door hatchback. And there is a sillier name like Mitsubishi MUM 500 Shall We Join Us? That a question mark in the name would really make us wonder if it is some sort of joining proposal by group of 500 Moms! And how can we join ourselves?
Technorati Tags: Japanese Car, Japanese auto makers, funny car names, Mazda Bongo, Isuzu GIGA, Mitsubishi
