[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-names-no-longer-make-sense\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-names-no-longer-make-sense\/","headline":"Car Names No Longer Make Sense","name":"Car Names No Longer Make Sense","description":"Car model names now include numbers with no meaning behind them and it\u2019s just sad Call me old fashioned but what happened to the time where car names were related to the car itself. Specifically, I\u2019m talking about the numbers. If you have ever purchased a TV or a new washing machine then I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve already experienced pointless names in the consumerist world before but why did this have to make its way into cars? Sure, my TV is […]","datePublished":"2019-12-03","dateModified":"2019-12-04","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Car-Names-No-Longer-Make-Sense-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Car-Names-No-Longer-Make-Sense-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-names-no-longer-make-sense\/","about":["BLOG","Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":801,"keywords":["Car Manufacturer","Car Names"],"articleBody":"Car model names now include numbers with no meaning behind them and it\u2019s just sadCall me old fashioned but what happened to thetime where car names were related to the car itself. Specifically, I\u2019m talkingabout the numbers. If you have ever purchased a TV or a new washing machine then I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve already experienced pointless names in the consumerist world before but why did this have to make its way into cars? Sure, my TV is called the \u2018XUL73WP613\u2019 and it makes no sense whatsoever. Now, car model names are one step away from being as pointless as my TV\u2019s model name. Yes, it\u2019s tiresome, you\u2019ve heard this beforeand the argument is getting old but honestly, this issue will always berelevant. Forgive the cliche, but back in \u2018the good old days\u2019 times weresimpler. No, we\u2019re not talking about how cars used to be \u2018more solid\u2019 butactually were less safe, or how cars had \u2018proper engines\u2019 even though they wereless efficient and underpowered. We\u2019re all for hybridisation, for car safety and all for smaller engines that are more efficient than their predecessors. What we, as car buyers and drivers, should not stand for is how the naming system has lost all sense of order and common sense. Why call a 2.0-litre petrol turbo a 330i? Whycall 2.0-litre hatchback a TFSI 300? Why call a 3.5-litre hybrid an LS 500h?The short answer is: because these names hold the reputation of previous, larger engines.The BMW 330i used to have 3.0-litre I6 engineand isn\u2019t just known for its good looks, but also for its engine. Up until theearly 2010s, the 330i always had a 3.0-litre engine, hence the name 330i.Nowadays, this model of 3 Series houses a smaller, but still very potent,2.0-litre engine. The same pattern can be observed for manyother cars as well, mostly from luxury manufacturers such as Mercedes, Audi,Lexus and BMW. Numbers have become meaningless. Unfortunately, if car manufacturers stayed thecourse and kept naming their cars after the size of the car\u2019s engine, consumerswould likely be unhappy. Today\u2019s Mercedes AMG A45 would actually be called anA20, the Lexus IS300h would be called an IS250h and the BMW M240i wouldactually be an M230i. Now, that may not sound like much of an issue right now, but as the years continue to elapse and engines continue to become more refined, the names will likely continue to get smaller. Let\u2019s say back in 1990, Megan owned a meaty328i, which was a 2.8-litre car. In 1997 she upgraded to a fresh new 330ci,which was a 3.0-litre car and in 2009 she bought the new 330i which was also3.0-litres. Now, in 2015, she wanted to buy an F30 330i but this time, the carwas sold with a 2.0-litre engine. If the car was now called a 320i, would Megan, or anyone, now turn their nose up at the idea of owning a 3 Series with a lower number attached to it, even though it would still be more powerful, more luxurious and faster than her previous E90 330i? I don\u2019t think so.Maybe it\u2019s just because we\u2019re all carenthusiasts here at Motor-Vision, but it\u2019s just too hard to believe that thenumbering system had to be ruined to keep consumers buying cars. You see a Mercedes GLE 300d on the road and think how this large SUV must be packing a 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet. Nope. It\u2019s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, actually. Oh look, you\u2019ve just seen the new BMW 750i. It\u2019s massive and looks mean, the \u201850i\u2019 must refer to its 5.0-litre engine. Nope, wrong again. It\u2019s not always numbers that don\u2019t make sense either. For instance, the worst recent offender is Porsche\u2019s new Taycan Turbo S. Could anyone kindly let us know how a fully electric car, such as the Taycan Turbo S, can have a turbo in it? How does that work? What\u2019s next, Ford putting the EcoBoost badge on a Ranger pickup truck that emits 171g\/km of CO2 and does around 25 mpg? Stop tricking consumers with your clevernaming tricks and make them make sense again! The kind of people that careabout badge prestige should also be knowledgeable enough to know that a smallerengine does not mean a slower or weaker car. Just name the car after what itis, for goodness sake. Let us know if this annoys you in the same wayand which particular model names grind your gears! If you enjoyed this, we reckon you\u2019ll like to read about BMW\u2019s new M8 Competition Gran Coupe."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Car Names No Longer Make Sense","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-names-no-longer-make-sense\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]