Is the nomenclature on certain automotive models too "similar" to others? (Audi, Acura)

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

I have heard this sooo many times that finally I said I have to check it out. I bet you haven’t, have you?According to Google, nova in Spanish means....wait for it...nova.

Yes, nova means nova, but no va means it doesn't go. It's a joke. For that matter, van means they go.

[SandyJet]

Stupidest care Name was a car I once owned. A mercedes 450SL

It was a two seater and weighed almost 4,000 pounds.

450 stood for it had a 4.5 liter engine. But SL stood for Super Light. I am WTF. Mercedes still uses SL on a lot of cars ironically the bigger ones.

[SandyJet]

Originally Posted by Sayantsi

You need to ask a Spanish speaker - they will confirm - "no va" means "doesn't go", or "not going", "nova" just means "nova".

The reason the Nova didn't sell wasn't because of its name however. It was a crap car there, just like it was here!

Nova was a great car in the 1960s and sold a ton.

Chevy Nova was later changed to Chevy Citation to make it more popular in Spanish Markets.

[HappyRider]

Originally Posted by SandyJet

Stupidest care Name was a car I once owned. A mercedes 450SL

It was a two seater and weighed almost 4,000 pounds.

450 stood for it had a 4.5 liter engine. But SL stood for Super Light. I am WTF. Mercedes still uses SL on a lot of cars ironically the bigger ones.

How do you know that? I usually associate L with long wheelbase but it does vary from brand to brand.

[Checkered24]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

How do you know that? I usually associate L with long wheelbase but it does vary from brand to brand.

Mercedes started using the SL-class designation on 300SL in the 50's, which stood for Sport Leicht (translated, Sport Lightweight). It was a small, gull wing sports car. Modern SL's are two door touring cars. They are not mamoth, some are massively powerful, but they are not overly small or light weight either.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by engineman

The best was when Chevy sent cars to Latin America where Nova translates to "No Go".

Ahhh, no.

snopes.com: Nova Don't Go

[HappyRider]

I KNEW it. That’s why I decided to Google the translation which translated nova to nova! It is amazing how people simply repeat what they have heard without ever questioning it.

[mp775]

Nova is Latin for new (or nueva).

[mp775]

1960s-1990s - Everything had a Brougham trim level. Then 1987-1992 - Cadillac Brougham.

Start going around the world, and you'll really start to see cross-pollination of model names. How about Dodge Caravan, Chevrolet Caravan, Nissan Caravan.

[Vannort54]

Originally Posted by mp775

1960s-1990s - Everything had a Brougham trim level. Then 1987-1992 - Cadillac Brougham.

Start going around the world, and you'll really start to see cross-pollination of model names. How about Dodge Caravan, Chevrolet Caravan, Nissan Caravan.

Just like the word minivan Chrysler came up with the name and all of a sudden all automakers were calling there small vans minivan.