Audi and Nissan Quarrel Over Q
Audi is in a quandary. Just Auto [sub] reports that the German automaker has reached their quota of SUV names starting with "Q." Nissan quarreled over Ingolstadt's use of Q7 for their Toureg/Cayenne-based SUV, claiming it impinged on the quintessence of their Infiniti "Q" model names. Then Nissan quickly reached an agreement to let Audi use Q5 and Q7. But Nissan now wants to quell Audi's plans to add Q3 to their model queue, saying it's time for them to remain quiescent. Audi has no qualms about pressing on, saying they've had quiet discussions about achieving their quest for the Q. Only one question remains unasked: when it comes to increasing the world's quantity of SUV's, why doesn't Audi just quench their plans and call it "Quits?"
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And of course the Volvo numbers had "deep meaning" as well...the 240 was a two-door four-cylinder, the 460 a four-door six-cylinder, etc. Mercedes invented this whole system of meaning in the alphanumerics in the 1920s and '30s--various SSes, 540K, 300SL--and should sue everybody who has piggybacked off it.
It's time to give up on the letter-number and number-letter names. More tourags and uh, crap. Maybe just name them like hurricanes? Adam, Betty, charles...
The Oldsmobile 442 -- what was it, 4-hundred something cubes, 4-barrel, 2 exhaust pipes? Maybe Ford should get the ball rolling by taking a cue from their one of their partners. i.e.: Fusion, Fusion SP1, Fusion SP2, etc. SP = Service Pack Edit: Oh, regarding the article: Quaint.
Originally it meant four speeds, four barrels, dual exhausts. Later, it came to mean 400 cubic inches, four barrels, and dual exhausts. Finally, when the Quad-4-powered Cutlass Calais-based 442 was introduced in 1990, it came to signify 4 cylinders, 4 valves (per cylinder), and dual (overhead) camshafts.