The Worst Car Names Ever and the Stories Behind Them

Explore the most unfortunate car names in history — from Mazda LaPuta to Toyota bZ4X — and find out what led to these baffling branding decisions.

Car names are more than just labels — they’re identity markers. A well-chosen name can spark curiosity, carve a place in pop culture, and even become synonymous with elegance or innovation. But when things go wrong, they go very wrong. Some automotive name choices over the years have ranged from baffling to downright disastrous. And it begs the question: what were they thinking?

One major culprit behind the worst car names in history is the cultural and linguistic gap. Take Mazda LaPuta, for example. It may have sounded sleek to its creators, but in Spanish, “la puta” is a highly offensive term. Not the kind of name you want on a global product. Renault stumbled too, with the Renault 14. Marketed in France as “La Poire” — the pear — it unintentionally evoked the slang meaning of “sucker” or “fool.” The result? Mockery and embarrassment, despite the car’s otherwise reasonable merits.

Sometimes the problem isn’t meaning, but awkwardness. Ferrari’s LaFerrari — literally “The Ferrari” — struck some as self-indulgent and redundant. Toyota’s bZ4X left audiences scratching their heads; it’s a mouthful, hard to remember, and almost impossible to say casually. And Kia’s Pro_cee’d? The unusual use of punctuation turned a compact hatchback into a branding puzzle.

Even well-meaning names can misfire. Subaru BRAT, which stands for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter,” may have made sense on paper, but “brat” in English implies a spoiled or annoying child — not exactly a flattering association. Peugeot’s Bipper Tepee Outdoor was another strange choice; the name feels more like a board game than a family vehicle.

The underlying issue? A failure to evaluate how names resonate with real people. In-house teams may grow fond of a concept, but outside those walls, it may confuse or amuse. And there are consequences — damaged brand image, sluggish sales, or a need for rebranding altogether.

Fortunately, modern automakers are starting to learn. Many now screen names through linguistic and cultural vetting, use focus groups, and seek terms that are both original and accessible. The missteps of the past serve as valuable lessons: even the biggest names in the business can get it wrong. And in today’s interconnected global market, a naming mistake can be too costly to ignore.