Hyundai Ix55: Worst Alphanumeric Name Ever?
Yes, we all hate the alphanumeric nomenclature, snaking over the auto industry like poison ivy. And with only so many letters and numbers, we always expect some repeats (Lexus LS/Lincoln LS, Chrysler 300C/Mercedes C300, BMW X5/Mazda MX-5). Has Hyundai gone a character too far? The car we North Americans know as the Veracruz is being introduced to Europe as the ix55. Not only is this a bizarre thing to say down at the pub (Oh, I drove my ix55), but it’s awfully close to, well, a lot of other cars. Hyundai’s new scheme for European car names is to begin with the letter “i,” because if it worked for Apple, it’ll work for them. Or Mitsubishi’s “i car.” The X we can assume refers to this vehicle being an AWD crossover, and of course the 55 is because it has a 5.5 liter V8. Erm, no. Instead, it sounds to me like a mish-mash of BMW (xDrive 50) and the 55 immediately conjurs memory of a trillion Mercedes AMG cars with 55 at the end, from C55 to E55 to S55 to CL55 to CLK55 to ML55 to G55). Besides, what was wrong with Veracruz?
Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.
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Ack. Taggery... i10 ~ Atoz i20 ~ Getz i30 ~ Elantra Touring ix35 ~ Tucson i40 ~ Sonata ix45 ~ Santa Fe i50 ~ Azera ix55 ~ Veracruz i60 ~ Genesis i70 ~ Genesis+ (aka VI)
@TEXN3 My question is: why would you get this over the Santa Fe? Larger engine I guess? Available V6 diesel (I4 diesel in the Santa Fe) in this and more space (3rd row).
I wonder how GM let the "ETC" name get approved. The classic (fictional) is still the 6000SUX.
I was referring to the original GT500, which was not 500ci or 500hp. Legend goes that it was 500 paces from Shelby's office to some thing or other so he decided that would make a good arbitrary name for the GT350 successor.