Ever wonder why certain cars have specific or interesting names? Most of us woud love to think that auto manufacturers are simply coming up with completely random thoughts and throwing darts at a dartboard. In all honesty, that sounds like a pretty awesome job! However, there's actually a little bit more involvement than that.
Here are 5 different Toyota vehicles and the story behind their names:
1. Yaris-
Toyota's been producing this economy car since 1999. The name is based upon the Greek goddess Charis, who was a symbol of charm, beauty, and human creativity. It is also tied in to the city of Paris, a cultural epicenter of elegance. They then took the German word for agreement, "Ya", and combined it all together in a sort of automotive blender to create the name "Yaris"!
2. Corolla-
Launched all the way back in 1966 (as a 2-door sedan originally), the Corolla has been a staple of culture. Whether you're American, Japanese, or anywhere on the planet, mention the name and it is instantly recognizable. This car is known for helping to build the Toyota Motor Corporation into what it is today. In fact, it was recently awarded the title of the world's best selling car of all time! The Corolla name is actually Latin for "small crown", which is part of Toyota's tradition of naming their primary models after the word "crown".
3. Prius-
The Prius was the first mass produced hybrid vehicle, appearing in Japan in 1997. Toyota again decided to go with a Latin definition for the vehicle, which translated means "before". The idea behind the name was that the Prius was designed before global warming, environmental awareness, and movies with Al Gore became mainstream topics of social concern. Interestingly enough, there was also a bit of debate as to what to call the plural form of the car. Toyota decided to settle things by asking customers for their input (and ultimately decided on using "Prii")
4. Venza-
Was "venture" the first thing that came to your mind when you thought about the Venza? If so, you're halfway there to understanding the name. First introduced at the 2008 Auto Show in Detroit, Venza combines the word "venture" with "Monza", short for the racing course in Italy, Autodromo Nazionare Monza. The combination of words signify the sense of adventure, and driving performance
5. Sienna-
Going with the Italian theme, the Sienna is also named after a city in Tuscany. Interestingly enough, there is a theory that the car, which was first introduced in 1997, may have influenced people to start naming their baby daughters Sienna! Take a look at this graph and see for yourself. Coincidence? Maybe. One thing is for sure: arguably the best suburban rap video of all time, "Swagger Wagon", was produced thanks to the popularity of the Sienna!
No comments:
Post a Comment