I don’t really know the process manufacturers follow to name a car, but I’m sure the approval protocol involves a long list of people. CEOs, CMOs, product planners—all have some kind of input in creating the name of a new model. And some carmakers have come up with brilliant names over the years that have helped shape the automotive industry. From menacing names like Huracán to cute names like Beetle, there are many interesting car names in the U.S. and around the world. Here’s a list with 15 cool car names, plus three of the best car names we can find south of the border.
Lamborghini Diablo
Ford Raptor
Ferrari Testarossa
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jensen Interceptor
Lamborghini Huracán
Ferrari 812 Superfast
Jeep Gladiator
Land Rover Defender
Suzuki Samurai
The cute, cheap, and capable off-roader made it to America in 1985, but its production came to an end just a few years later. The Suzuki Samurai didn’t win many battles, but it carried a cool car name that stood out in the industry.
Volkswagen Beetle
The name is cute. The car is charming. The Volkswagen Beetle has unfortunately ceased production after a long and iconic life. A rear-engine economy car, the Beetle was very tight for five passengers, but its reliability and adorable looks made it popular. In Mexico, the car became widely known as the Vocho, Spanish slang for “bug,” and that’s a cool car name, too.
Dodge Viper
Named after the beloved Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna, the McLaren Senna pays tribute to one of the best professional drivers ever. As Bruno Senna, Ayrton’s nephew, said, “The McLaren Senna honors my uncle because it is so utterly focused upon the driver and their absolute connection with the vehicle. This engagement, these sensory cues that the driver responds to and relies upon, the whole immersive experience, has been at the heart of the development from the very start.”
Ford Cortina
OK, this may not be one of the most brilliant car names, but I always joke that the Ford Cortina was named after my family. Although the Cortina was named after the famous Italian ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo, its name is among the coolest (for me, at least).
South of the Border Cool Car Names
Chevrolet Tornado
Not to be confused with the Oldsmobile Toronado, the Chevrolet Tornado is a small utility truck sold in Mexico for light-duty jobs. It’s unfortunate that Chevy Mexico chose a cool car name for such a tiny pickup.
Ford Lobo
For years, the Ford F-150 has been sold as the Lobo in Mexico, but the truck is just the same. Lobo means “wolf” in Spanish, and the name applies perfectly to the F-150. In fact, the F-150 should be called that in America.
Seat Tarraco
The Spanish-brand Seat has a wise nomenclature for its models. Every model is named after a Spanish town—León and Ibiza are two of the brand’s most popular models. The Seat Tarraco, however, is named after the Catalonian town of Tarragona, which is located on the Mediterranean coast, south of Barcelona.