It’s quite simple – You can’t put an awful name on a cool car or a cool name on an awful car. That’s why car makers are always extra careful when naming car models. A car’s name can inspire feelings of wealth, power, sophistication, sport, adventure, ruggedness, or even danger. All things car-related fascinate us at Way.com. We’ve come up with what we think are the 25 coolest car names in the history of the automotive industry.
We aren’t sure who all needs to approve a car name, but we figure it’s a large list. The naming of a new model typically involves feedback from the CEO, the CMO, and the product marketers. Anyhow, several automakers have come up with truly innovative brand identities. Whether intimidating, scary like Dodge Viper, or sweet like Volkswagen Beetle, the names given to cars in America or elsewhere are always creative. You’ll find a list of the 25 most cool car names below.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
Image Courtesy: https://media.astonmartin.com/
There are plenty of worthy names in Nordic mythology. However, Aston’s choice of Valkyrie as the name for its 1100-plus horsepower hypercar got it on our list of cool car names. The automobile is jam-packed with F1 technology. The engine features titanium conrods as well as F1-spec pistons and a crankshaft. The Valkyrie has a top speed of 250mph and can accelerate to 60mph in 2.5 seconds. Every surface on the automobile works as an aerodynamic surface. This allows it to obtain maximum G-force around curves and then smoothly bleed off the aero when you exit the corner at high speeds. The aerodynamics are extraordinarily ridiculous. In fact, during development, the car produced so much downforce at low speeds that they had to vent air out.
McLaren Senna
Source: https://cars.mclaren.com/
The McLaren Senna pays respect to one of the greatest professional drivers of all time, Ayrton Senna. According to Ayrton Senna’s nephew, Bruno Senna, the McLaren Senna is named after his uncle because its build focuses on the driver and their ultimate relationship with the vehicle. In naming their car after one of the world’s best racers, McLaren took a risk. But we believe they pulled it off, and that’s why it finds a spot on our cool car names list.
Lamborghini Diablo
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
We think the Lamborghini Diablo (in production from 1990 until 2001) is a pretty cool car name. Its clever name comes from the Spanish word for “devil.” With an imposing appearance and a V-12 engine housed in the back, there is no doubt that this is a beast of a car.
Jeep Gladiator
Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There were whispers that the Jeep Comanche name would come back just before the Gladiator came out. However, we are relieved that Jeep chose a vintage Jeep moniker instead! This name is distinctive and perfect for a pickup truck like the Gladiator. It may not be as quick as the Raptor. But it is exceptional at navigating off-road terrain. It also has one of the most impressive car names conjuring up imagery of brutal and no-nonsense raw power!
Ford Raptor
Source: https://www.ford.com/
We cannot get enough of this car or its uber-cool name! The Raptor is an outstanding off-roader and a modern-day icon. It can plow past obstacles and jump over obstacles like they’re nothing. Ford’s meanest and most intimidating off-road truck has one of the coolest car names ever. The Ford Raptor’s name was inspired by birds of prey and the velociraptor, of course.
Dodge Stealth
Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Dodge Stealth’s unique appearance belied its name – you won’t exactly fly under the radar in a Stealth! The Stealth (1991-96) was a conventional badge-engineered effort. Mitsubishi provided the motor and Dodge handled the appearance. Together they created one of the most distinctive automobiles available from a local dealership. Although it did not invent each of its head-turning characteristics, it would bring them all together for the first time in a package that would presage the future of high-end automotive performance.
Rolls-Royce Wraith
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There’s something spooky about the word ‘wraith’ even if you don’t know what it means. The Rolls-Royce Wraith isn’t as scary as its ghostly moniker suggests. Unless, of course, it’s the price that’s scary! It is, however, a well-known luxury car thanks to its iconic suicide doors and body shape. In addition, it lays claim to be one of the most intriguing car names in automotive history.
Land Rover Defender
Image Source: https://www.landroverusa.com/
The Land Rover Defender is one of the most iconic off-road vehicles in the world. We love how the car’s name conjures mental pictures of something powerful, honorable, and reliable. Also, the 2023 Land Rover Defender has a wide range of capabilities. It’s well-mannered on paved roads and invincible off-road. It is also aesthetically pleasing all around. So there isn’t much to gripe about in the Defender unless a third row is a must-have.
GMC Syclone
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance SUVs and pickup trucks are no longer an anomaly on suburban streets these days, but GMC was well ahead of the curve with the Syclone in the early 1990s. The Syclone’s turbocharged V-6 accelerates it to 60 mph in less than six seconds. The car’s name alludes to the powerful spinning force of the turbocharger; the Typhoon, the Syclone’s SUV sibling, was named similarly.
Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Yup, this car was named after a cartoon! Plymouth paid Warner Bros. $50,000 to use the Road Runner name and cartoon character for its back-to-basics muscle car, which debuted in 1968. It even reportedly spent $10,000 designing a ‘meep meep’ automobile horn. The Road Runner, which shared a platform with the Belvedere and Satellite, was also available with the famed 426 Hemi. So what would you call a speedier Road Runner? Superbird, of course, with a huge decal on the wing of the cartoon bird carrying a racing helmet.
Volkswagen Beetle
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The name, like the car itself, is kinda adorable and cute. This little bug exudes a quaint charm. Unfortunately, Volkswagen has decided to end production of the iconic Beetle car after its long and successful run. The Volkswagen Beetle was an economy automobile with a rear-mounted engine. It had little space for five people, but its dependability and endearing appearance contributed to its widespread appeal. The vehicle came to be known as the Vocho in Mexico, which is Spanish slang for “bug,” We think that is a pretty interesting name for a car.
Dodge Viper
Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It is one of the more well-known sports vehicles that’s no longer in production. It was one of the most exciting and affordable supercars available on the market. Not just that, it has a name that is absolutely perfect for a car. Unfortunately, the production of the Dodge Viper ended in 2017.
Lamborghini Huracán
Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A name like that would only work for a select few cars. That’s because the Spanish word huracán literally translates to “hurricane.” Luckily for us motorheads, this Lambo pulls off the name, and how! Huracán is one of the coolest ever car names, and it suits the car very well. It has a 5.2-liter V-10 engine, 602 horsepower, and can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds.
Porsche 911 Carrera
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This Porsche lives up to its name, Carrera, which in Spanish means “race.” The name originates from the Carrera Panamericana event. The event took place in Mexico and was extremely successful for Porsche. Since then, the Porsche 911 Carrera has had a long history of providing enthusiasts with driving dynamics comparable to those found in races.
Plymouth Prowler
Ildar Sagdejev (Specious), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Feel like stalking your prey in the wild? Not in this car, you couldn’t. But it’s still a cool name for a rather interesting car. Critics have roundly panned the Plymouth Prowler since its introduction. Back in 1997, when it first came out, it was panned for having a 3.5-liter V6 in a body that begged for a V8. These days, it’s Syd Mead retro-futuristic style is out of favor. After Plymouth’s bankruptcy, the Prowler was rebadged as a Chrysler and produced until 2002.
Triumph Spitfire
Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite being named so, the Triumph Spitfire did not, in fact, spit fire 😮 . The original Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane had a massive supercharged Rolls-Royce V12 engine. In addition, it was outfitted with up to eight machine guns, allowing it to spit fire from its engine exhausts and weapons. On the other hand, the Triumph Spitfire car featured a small four-cylinder engine, no machine guns, and only fired if the engine was out of tune, causing a backfire in the exhaust. It was, however, considerably less expensive to acquire, far less expensive to run, and a lot of fun.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
“2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon” by Automotive Rhythms is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Is there a more appropriate name for a muscle car that can produce 840 horsepower and complete the quarter-mile in fewer than ten seconds when it is fresh from the assembly line? This beast of a Challenger is powered by a 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 that has been supercharged to produce 808 horsepower. Dodge produced the Demon, a street-legal drag car, in 2018. The Demon was designed for the 1/4 mile drag strip, where it displayed its ferocious strength. It ran the quarter mile in 9.9 seconds. But then, the NHRA went ahead and banned this car. What for? For being too fast. That and not having the necessary roll cage for safety.
Shelby Cobra
Ermell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The story goes that the name “Cobra” came to Carroll Shelby in a dream! However, regardless of when the name “Cobra” first came to someone’s mind, its versatility makes it one of the best choices for a car. We are, of course, referring to the AC-bodied Cobras that were produced originally. Since the 1960s, Ford has made liberal use of the Mustang moniker on various vehicles. Still, modern Mustangs are a long cry from the curvaceous yet venomous roadsters that caused problems for owners of Corvettes during that time period.
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
Cloverleaf II, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every seemingly banal word or phrase sounds better in Italian, as demonstrated by the Disco Volante. ‘Disco Volante’ translates to ‘Flying Saucer’ and was the name given to a series of experimental, low-drag racing cars created by Touring. The goal was to reduce aerodynamic drag as much as possible by utilizing Alfa Romeo 1900 mechanicals in a spaceframe chassis. The five cars created have lenticular (lens-shaped) body forms when viewed from the front and sides. With their wheels removed, these cars appear capable of hovering above Area 51.
Jensen Interceptor
Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It is common practice to adapt aircraft names for road vehicles; for example, the Ford Mustang was named after the P51 fighter rather than the wild horse, and Triumph sold the Spitfire two-seater for nearly 20 years. Contrarily, Jensen took inspiration from a category of aircraft for the name of their 1950 sports vehicle. Who wouldn’t want a car with a name like that—it denotes speed, agility, and fearsomeness. The Interceptor, which had a straight-six engine and was built of aluminum and steel on a wooden chassis, was a quick vehicle for its day. With a Chrysler Firepower Hemi V8 installed by the legendary Briggs Cunningham, it was second only to the powerful Mercedes 300SL of its day.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
Rico Heil, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Automakers have spent decades working to infuse their vehicles with feelings of serenity and grandeur; yet, Rolls-Royce is one of the few automakers whose brand name is as illustrious as any of their vehicles. This automobile is of the highest quality, and it is comfortable. It is important not to confuse the Silver Cloud with its more well-known successor, the Silver Shadow, because the Silver Cloud harkens back to a time when old money hadn’t yet totally lost its luster. The name is suitable for a car with the appearance of an old bank building on wheels and roughly the same size as such a building.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Any car name can be made more appealing by adding the word “super.” More so if the car is a Ferrari. And just to amp it up, add the word “fast” at the very end. One of the most intriguing car names is the Ferrari 812 Superfast, a super-fast Ferrari with a V-12 engine producing 789 horsepower. The name also ranks among the most interesting automobile names.
Bugatti Veyron
Car enthusiasts put much stock in the Bugatti brand name. Hence, it is necessary to have a brilliant model name distinct from the “EB” designation for the marque to do well. Nevertheless, despite what you would believe, one of the best automobile names is not necessarily disassociated with the manufacturer in any way. The name “Veyron” was given to the vehicle in honor of Pierre Veyron, a wheelman for Bugatti who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1939.
AMG Hammer
Jiří Sedláček, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Before AMG became a Mercedes company, it was building its successful formula of packing massive V8 engines into cars barely big enough to contain them. AMG now has the engineering prowess of Mercedes at its disposal and can do amazing things with chassis tuning, turbocharging, and even hybrid powertrains for the upcoming AMG One hypercar. However, thirty years ago, the concept was considerably simpler: pack as much power as possible into the W124 saloon and coupe, lower it a little, and give it exceptionally fat tires to outpace supercars. You could say it’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, hence the name.
Pontiac Firebird
MerlinS.69, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The name “Firebird” is apt for a powerful and stylish automobile. To this day, the Pontiac Firebird remains one of the most iconic domestic enthusiast vehicles in American history, thanks to its high-performance engine options and eye-catching design. The life of the Pontiac Firebird has been one with high-speed racing, widespread media attention, and numerous film appearances. Unfortunately, General Motors stopped manufacturing the Camaro and Firebird in 2002, and Pontiac shut down in 2008.
Whether your car has a cool name or not, you still have to make sure it has adequate coverage. The best way to do that is to use Way.com as your go-to auto insurance partner for the best coverage at the most affordable rates!
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