| Names of luxury cars sold in America, over | | | | Nissan's version answer to Lexus and Acura, |
| the last few decades, have made a slow but | | | | and came with their own model-line and engine |
| steady shift from actual names to an alphabet | | | | displacement name scheme, spawning models |
| soup of acronyms and letter series/engine | | | | such as the G35, M45 and Q45. |
| size codes. | | | | |
| | | | It wouldn't take long for the American luxury |
| It doesn't really have a start point, because | | | | brands to follow suit. A fresh new image to |
| manufacturers had been doing it since the | | | | help American buyers forget their stodgy old |
| beginning of automotive time. After all, | | | | country-club images was just what was needed |
| Cadillac started out with names like "Model | | | | to get potential buyers in the showrooms. |
| C" and "Series 452." | | | | |
| | | | Cadillac retired the legendary Eldorado and |
| After World War II, the American automobile | | | | Fleetwood in favor of three-letter names such |
| industry came out with car after car with | | | | as the CTS, SRX and XLR. There was some |
| high style and a stylish name to match. The | | | | continuity, as the STS and DTS names had |
| Lincoln Continental and the Cadillac Eldorado | | | | previously been used as trim level |
| the are just a few examples. There were | | | | designations on the Seville and deVille, |
| exceptions, notably the Chrysler 300 series. | | | | respectively. |
| | | | |
| European cars, however, especially the | | | | Lincoln has also gone the way of the |
| higher-end European cars, were already a mix | | | | three-letter name with the MKX and MKZ. The |
| of codes and numbers, with early legends such | | | | MKZ actually replaced the resurrected Zephyr |
| as the Jaguar XK 120, BMW 2002 and the | | | | name, a moniker from Lincoln's storied past |
| Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Ferraris came with both | | | | that came back...for just one year. |
| names and number designations. Lamborghini | | | | |
| was a notable exception, however. | | | | The shift to these types of model names has |
| | | | filtered down to the common car now. Pontiac |
| Thus the stage was set for a dramatic shift. | | | | had toyed with numeric designations back in |
| Acroynm and coded names were found on | | | | the 80's with their 1000 and 6000, and have |
| high-line sports and luxury cars, regular | | | | returned to the alphanumeric with the new G5, |
| names were found on family sedans. It | | | | G6 and G8. Scion's entire short existence |
| wouldn't take long for American and Japanese | | | | has been with the models xA, xB and tC. Â |
| car companies to try and freshen their | | | | Chevrolet's SSR roadster truck and the retro |
| lineups' images with letter-and-number names. | | | | wagon HHR also join the group. |
| | | | |
| One of the first to try it was Lexus. | | | | The momentum is towards even more |
| Toyota's Lexus was the second Japanese luxury | | | | letter-and-number names in the future. But |
| brand created (Honda's Acura was the first) | | | | all is not lost for the automobile name, |
| to try and sell luxury cars to Americans that | | | | because just as luxury car names are |
| normally wouldn't pay big money for a Honda | | | | evolving, other cars are resurrecting the |
| or a Toyota. Lexus came with models such as | | | | storied names of the past. While the |
| the ES250, LS400, GS300. More would follow. | | | | legendary Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette |
| These cars all had "normal" names in Japan | | | | have survived the decades, others from the |
| and elsewhere, but when they were sold as | | | | glory years of American muscle are making |
| Lexus they shed those names in favor of a | | | | comebacks. Pontiac sold a new GTO from |
| code: letters for the model line, numbers | | | | 2004-2006, and Dodge brought back the Charger |
| designate engine displacement. For example, | | | | and Magnum. After a short hiatus the Ford |
| the Toyota Altezza with a 3-liter engine | | | | Taurus and Mercury Sable names are back, |
| became the Lexus IS300 when shipped to the | | | | which shows some recognition of the power |
| United States. | | | | names have in selling a vehicle. The Dodge |
| | | | Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro are next up |
| Acura eventually dumped their Vigor and | | | | for resurrection. The Chrysler 300C |
| Legend names in favor of names like the CL | | | | straddles both trends, being both a numbered |
| and TL. Eventually even the Integra became | | | | car and a returning name from one of |
| the RSX when it was redesigned (it's still | | | | Chrysler's all-time best cars. |
| the Honda Integra in Japan). Infiniti was | | | | |