Where have all the good car names gone? It seems that every automaker is taking the easy road and simply giving their new cars some kind of three letter designation or a random mix of letters and numbers as a moniker. We don’t know how you feel about it, but we feel a little cheated. A good car name gives owners something else to hold on to and helps establish a deeper connection with their car. While some alphanumeric naming techniques make sense, others (Infiniti) simply confuse customers.
We want car names that are actual words, and automakers wouldn’t even have to come up with new ones. They could simply recycle the old great ones. The cars would have to be worthy of the name of course. Here are the names we’d like to
Acura Integra
Acura’s offerings currently are a little bland and basically rebadged versions of Honda’s lineup. We’d love to see this brand reinvigorated and it should rename the cars when that happens. The Integra needs to be back in the lineup. It’s a good name with a solid reputation and could help pull new buyers into this brand or at least excite loyal buyers.
Acura Legend
Another gem for Acura is the Legend name. If the Legend and Integra were used again, we might think about Acura more than just in passing. The cars they have in the lineup now are good vehicles, but they need something, and a revised, renamed lineup could be just the thing.
Pontiac Firebird
Originally a sexier and more stylized version of the Camaro with enough attitude to satisfy even the most boisterous of drivers, the Firebird deserves a place in the GM sphere, even if Pontiac is no more. We don’t even care what brand this car goes to (although we’d love to see a Pontiac revival) we just want
Dodge Rampage
What would be better than a Ram Rampage? Ram should make a smaller, totally badass off-road pickup that can take on the Ford Raptor. Forget the Rampage being a car with a bed. Make it a wicked fast truck with off-road equipment. The Ram Rebel is cool, and a move in a direction that we like, but it can’t take on the Raptor. Ram needs the Rampage to really go on a rampage.
Chrysler Conquest
A forgotten gem, the Chrysler/Dodge Conquest (AKA Mitsubishi Starion) was a car born from a deal with Mitsubishi back when Mitsu had some serious performance chops. We’d love to see another Conquest pop into Dodge’s lineup as a funky and mean coupe that takes on cars like the Subaru BRZ.
Ford Falcon
We thought about putting Thunderbird on this list, but we think it’d be cooler to leave that on the back burner and bring back the Falcon name. The name conjures up images of compact coupes and sedans with round headlights painted in bright colors. We’d love to see Ford do a new retro-inspired version of this car.
Mercury Cougar
Back in the 1960s, the Mercury Cougar was an upscale Mustang. Although Mercury is no more, we’d love to see a luxuriously appointed Mustang with the Cougar badge and a revised front end. We think there’s room in Lincoln’s lineup. The front of the 1960’s Cougar doesn’t look all that different from the split grille of the new
AMC Javelin
Dodge already has some kickass muscle cars, but we’d love to see the Javelin name revived under the Dodge brand. Make it a coupe or something like a gran coupe and give it lots of
Jensen Interceptor
Jensen disappeared long ago, but it had one of the best names, the Interceptor. It sounds like a warship or a fighter plane. How is it that no automaker has slapped this name on one of their vehicles? We think it’d be perfect for a long, low, hardtop roadster with
Buick Riviera
Buick has some good vehicles, but they’re just a little boring. The Avista Concept was a high point for the company this year, but we have little hope of seeing it come to production. Instead of the Avista, we wouldn’t mind the company bringing back the Riviera name. Come up with a car that rivals some of the German luxury cars and the Lincoln Continental. A new flagship car that catches people’s attention.
