[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >Bizarrely in the home market they tend towards naming cars - Soarer, Celica, >Landcruiser, Crown etc. Maybe the perception is that we gaijin are more >soulless and require the hoover designations. Also avoids names that don't >travel well - anyone in UK remember the Datsun Cedric? 240Z - a popular car >stateside was Fairlady Z in the home market - not a very macho name for a >sports car.
I was told once that at one time there were actually *laws* in Japan that prohibited them giving their cars (& motorcycles) aggressive names. Obviously, they could only apply this to the home market and call the Honda Benly something like the "Firebreather 99" for overseas sales if they wanted. Could be an urban legend, but it would explain a lot! -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
