By Justin Berkowitz
August 25, 2008 -
There isn't a whole lot to say here. Daihatsu has just revealed a special trim edition of its "Move" Kei car, calling it the Move Conte. To this writer at least, it sounds like something that a rapper would yell at other cars out the window of his Escalade. Or, in the words of one forum commenter, "What cupid stunt thought this was a good name?"
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August 25th, 2008 at 11:36 am
It’s Japanese domestic market; compared to the Mazda Bongo Friendlee, this is pretty standard fare.
You may as well complain about American sedans named after tracks and courses that the cars themselves have no business being on (Sebring? Bonneville?) animals they don’t resemble (Cougar? Impala?) or gun etymology (anything from Dodge).
Then there’s the Mazda Prescription-8, Honda Agreement and Toyota Frozen Wasteland.
The more I think about it, the more I like names like 9-3, C230 or 335i because, even if they’ve the passion of a slide rule, they aren’t silly. Though even those are getting stupid (C230 has a 1.8L, the 328 and 335 both sport 3.0L’s)
August 25th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Get used to this kind of offering. It’s what you get with the cry for more mileage, and lower vehicle cost.
It’s firmly attached to a physics thang “enthusiasts” might not grasp.
You can only shape the mass of a lightweight high mileage vehicle in so many ways. A cylinder, a cube, a rectangle, a triangle, and a circle. throw them into a blender and viola!
It looks more utilitarian than a Smart.
It’ll grow on you!
August 25th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Guys,
You’re missing the point of the post. I know it’s just a standard kei car. I’m talking about the name.
I agree that words make better car names than letter or numbers.
What I’m talking about is that it’s curiously close to being vulgar.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:49 am
This should be called the BCD, or Birth Control Device.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Well, it can be pronounced conté, too, that meaning being a type of crayon.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am
It’s actually a pretty nontrivial task to find a car name that’s pleasant, not too many syllables, and not close to a rude word in any major world language. Rude words tend to be easy-to-say mono- or disyllables. So do made-up names. Case in point, at least according to Wikipedia, the Honda Fit was hastily renamed from its original “Fitta” when this was found to be a rude word for the female genitals in Swedish. So, don’t give such a hard ride to the Conte.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am
In this spirit, might we retroactively nickname our old Tribeca the “Subaru Conte”?
August 25th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Thanks Justin I get it now that is funny
August 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I was pronouncing it “cont-eh” (like the crayon) in my head.
I blame allergy meds and a toddler who fights sleep for my humour impairment.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
For that to be more pertinent, it would have to be “Move OVER Conte.”
(Mascara in one hand, cell in the other).
August 25th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Ironically, the Japanese naming convention bows to the English language - or at least their interpretation of it. Alphanumeric names don’t exist in Japan, with the exception of Lexus, which is a very recent entry, and influenced by Europe. Therefore names like “Sunny” and “Fairlady” and “Every”, which make no literal sense, are popular.
Puns aside… it can’t be worse than the Chinese. Yesterday I saw a “ST 150 Super Charge YX 150XR” (yes, TWO count ‘em TWO references to the displacement) moped. I still don’t know who made it.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
The “Honda That’s” has always made me chuckle. But this one… I don’t get the joke. Maybe 26 is too old for these things.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
The Honda Fit is the Honda Jazz in other countries. I don’t know why. I do like Jazz as a name better than Fit.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Okay, you can’t fool me. That’s an XB/XD! Looks like a 1930’s gangster getaway car. Ya dirty rat!
“What cupid stunt thought this was a good name?”
Oh wow, my brain instantly translated that, with no hesitation. That’s remarkable because I don’t use language like that; not even inside my head!
I continually surprise myself. Maybe I’m finally ready to take on a new language…
August 25th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Too many jokes… Brain exploding.
I can just see the special editions…
A version with fur seats, the Hairy _____.
A special air freshener version; the Smelly ______.
Oh man, I leave it to your imagination what to call one that was leaking oil…
If any story on this blog has been ban bait… This is it.
August 25th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
How do you say “brick” in Japanese?
August 25th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Is there going to be a John McCain special edition?
http://wonkette.com/376849/john-mccain-called-wife-awful-word-that-rhymes-with-hunt-and-punt
August 25th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
@foobar:
My favorite one remains Lacrosse=French Canadian fap slang. I remember thinking it was a bad name because it was the same as a fairly obscure team sport.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:55 am
The travel company Eagle Creek makes a series of travel pouches: The Sac, the Large Sac, The Jumbo Sac, and of course the Extra-Small Sac.
I’ll say about this care what I said about that product:
NONE of the people involved in the naming process had a 15-year-old?!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Foobar:
“So, don’t give such a hard ride to the Conte.”
I saw what you did, there ;-).
Why not name it the “DaiHOTsu bOx”?
ooo.