Do Vehicle's NAMES Matter To YOU? WHY? Lincoln Slowly Disposing Of "MK"

Some names sound stupid to me, like "Taycan." But like TomM said (and I agree), if the car is noteworthy, then then the "stupid" name will become synonymous with a noteworthy car. It's why "Mustang" rings icon, "Pinto" smells like singed hair, and "Edsel" is another word for "unqualified failure."

The name does not sell me, though.

It depends on the culture of the brand. For example, Mercedes used numbers and a letter and was able to reverse that order and remain true to their identity. Porsche had a culture of numbers (356, 911, 914, 944...), so Cayenne, Boxster, Macan, and Taycan abandon that naming culture, but it's become ingrained enough that a return to numbers with "718" is nonsensical. When Lincoln abandoned the Continental name for the generic-looking, generically named LS, they gave up identity. Instead of realizing that error, they compounded it with the MK names. Cadillac did the same thing. Both Lincoln and Cadillac had names and should use names.

That said, I think Corsair is too similar to Corvair. Why not use Sentinel from Lincoln's show-car past?

Not to mention the 1958 and 1959 Edsel Corsair.

Mach 1 should not be used for the name of a crossover CUV. Have some respect.

I'd have done raised, "outbacked" Mustang shooting brake with 6 inches added to the wheelbase as the Mach 1.

MDarringer is right. MB, Porsche all have a history with alpha numeric naming. I can understand why other luxury marques want to emulate this from a marketing standpoint, but they also risk losing out on the goodwill associated with those names. Lexus pulled it off, Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Infiniti not so much. The C-Class, 3=Series, 911 all have longevity. Would you rather have a Legend or a RLX? ?

@Jazzyjazz Vigor was a stupid name. In fact, it was so bad that Acura canned Legend and Integra thinking that people had rejected names when really they had rejected the Vigor which was a terrible product.

Crap. I keep finding myself agreeing with MDarringer. I agree. Acura threw out a lot of brand equity with Legend and Integra.
I do think Cadillac may be on the right track to compete with the German trio in China, but be consistent. Just like Infiniti, they keep changing the alpha numeric names, CTS to CT5, SRX becomes XT5?? Can anyone tell me what Infinit's line up actually means?

At the time that they stopped using "legend" it was reported that the NAME had built about $1 Billion in name recognition already - something like that cannot be done with Alphanumercs used by Companies today..

What names that are remembered have - is Built In Advertising value that takes years for a new name to match. And some names can even MAKE a car when otherwise the car was nothing special (Chrysler Cordoba example). THat does not mean that certain Alphanumerics cannot be of value - but it has to be so obviously a part of a particular model that it could not mean anything else (S-class for example )

At least in the case of Advertising - using a name - especially something special to evoke a sense - simply makes it easier to get "name" recognition. But it is by to means a given

I always bring up this example - QUICK- without Looking it up - Badda Book Badda Boom - name the PRODUCT of the commercials.

I believe that you throw out a lot of "goodwill" when you abandon "legacy" naming schemes. What would happen if Ford renamed the Mustang something else, ditto GM / Camaro & FCA / Challenger. Speaking of FCA, I so badly want to say MOPAR

As I said before and I will say it again:
Cadillac, where is the Sedan deVille, Eldorado, Brougham, Talisman, Seville
Lincoln: A Continental has "suicide doors"

Give me the Lincoln Sentinel - always thought that was a cool name, alas it never made production.

I think alphanumeric naming is fine if they're consistent with it. 3, 5, C, S, etc. are iconic. Though BMW seems to be on a tear recently with needlessly complex names. M850i x-Drive anyone? Audi's new scheme in Europe for indicating engine size, A8 55, for example, is just odd. If the number was the kilowatts or horsepower of the engine then OK, but just numbers pulled out of thin air is just weird and confusing. I certainly agree that Acura traded some good names (I once owned an Integra) for meaningless alphabet soup. Cadillac tried too hard to be German which isn't what Americans want in a Cadillac and with that they threw out their iconic names. I don't even know what coupes Cadillac sells now, but who could forget Eldorado or Coupe de Ville?