Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 11:18:53 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject: Re: [ev_update] VW to replace my Eurovan
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Absolutely! It is all about marketing and the name can make or break
the entire marketing campaign. "Variant" is a good example, this word
does not have a good connotation, and would be impossible to build an ad
campaign around. "At your dealer's now the new 2000 Variant" just
doesn't cut it!
Names have to be pulled out of thin air in order to be copyrighted.
"Vanagon" was concocted to create the image of a combination station
wagon and van. Station wagons were still the choice for families then;
the Vanagon pre-dates Chrysler's invention of the mini van and was the
first small van to have true car-like handling characteristics, or at
least compared to cars of that era.
There were some notable naming mistakes in the past. The first one that
comes to mind was the Porche 914. This car was a big hit in the US but a
dud in Europe, most likely because it was badged as a Volkswagen and
sold through VW dealerships there. Here in the US it was an affordable
Porsche, even though it was had the 2.0 aircooled VW engine underneath
the skin!
However, I will never understand some of the Japanese names: Camry,
Corolla, Tercel, Solara, Gallant, Maxima? What's with those? And what
is the rational behind "Golf?" Sounds like a golf cart.
Then there is my all time favorite, the Acura Vigor! Who in their right
mind would be seen driving a "Vigor?" Apparently not very many, Acura
has now gone mostly to alpha numeric designations.
You'll never see the American's coming up with stupid names like those!
Umm, well, then there was the "Pacer" (a bit slow maybe?) and I can't
quite come to grips with "Lumina" either!
Per Lindgren wrote:
>
> Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> > You are basically correct. All foreign manufacturers began selling cars
> > in the US by setting up distribution centers, since US franchise laws
> > prohibit direct manufacturer to consumer new vehicle sales. Foreign
> > manufacturers can only enter our market by selling franchises to
> > independent dealers, hence the need for distribution facilities.
>
> Is this also the reason why you (the north American market) got so many
> cooky names for the different VW models?
>
> I give examples:
> Vanagon = Transporter and Caravelle T3
> Eurovan = Transporter and Caravelle T4
> Rabbit = Golf A1
> Dasher = Passat B1
> Quantum = Passat B2
> Superbeetle =1302 and 1303
> Fastback = 1600 TL
> Squareback = 1600 Variant (Variant is VWs designation for a wagon, just like
> Audis Avant. Even Golfs and Passats are called Variant when the wagon model
> is described)
> Audi Fox = Audi 80 B1
> Audi 4000 = Audi 80 & 90, B2
> Audi 5000 = Audi 100 & 200, C2 & C3
>
> Sometimes, we got the cooky names,
> Vento = Jetta A3
> Bora = Jetta A4
>
> Why they ever dropped the Jetta name here, when it first was established has
> always made me wonder...
>
> Seasons greetings,
>
> PerL
> 87 Syncro 112i
--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext 208
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