By Muhammed Hashim 
Help save us from alphanumeric nonsense and suggest new car names that automakers could use
- Numerous automakers have named vehicles after cities and towns across the globe.
- Examples range from the Dodge Durango to the Volkswagen Taos and beyond.
- Many companies choose names from the American southwest for their rugged, adventurous appeal.
What do Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Volkswagen have in common? Not much, but all four of them have used a city’s name on one of their vehicles.
It’s one of the few common themes among automakers and the Hyundai Motor Group is among the most prolific. As you’re likely aware, Hyundai offers the Tucson, Santa Cruz and Santa Fe, while Kia customers can get a Telluride.
More: What Was The Biggest Automotive Story Of 2024?
Chevrolet has offered the Malibu and Monte Carlo, while the Alfa Romeo Montreal served Canada proud. Volkswagen has the Taos, while Toyota has the Tacoma.
We could go on, but it’s clear city names and car names are interchangeable and, sometimes, a good fit. It’s also a refreshing change from the alphanumeric nonsense some automakers have embraced.
That brings us to our question of the day, what city or town names would also be a good choice for a new vehicle? There’s no shortage of options as the Census Bureau noted there are approximately 19,500 incorporated places in the United States alone.
However, as you’ve likely noticed from the names mentioned above, many automakers use monikers from the western United States. That’s hardly a surprise given the names are often used on trucks and SUVs.
While some city names aren’t a good fit, Mesa seems like a fine candidate. It’s also easy to imagine a Bentley Brookside as there’s already been a Brooklands.
With all that being said, it’s time to dust off those thinking caps and generate some names, so hopefully automakers won’t saddle us with any more disasters like bZ4X.
