How Manufacturers decide on Model Designations
Discussion
The thread on the Polo "R" got me thinking......(thats twice this year, I really must control myself 
)
Why is it that car designations just work? As an example the old Escort "XR3i" - it just rolls off the tongue. It fits in nicely with "Escort".
Same as the even older Mk2 Escort "RS2000" - it just works, but why does it work?
You had Vauxhall Cavalier "SRi" - again that SRi just sounds good and its easy to say. Imagine Cavalier GYB or Escort QVr....doesnt work does it?
From the 80s onwards you had Ti, GTE, GSi, GT, ie, Si, SR, GTi.
And now we have a raft of models with the letters "R" or "S" somewhere in there. Why those letters? Has some bod decided they give off a better sportier air than any other letters in the alphabet?
Did any manufacturer ever proudly badge one of its cars as "8v"? I cant think of one, yet why did we all love the sound and the badge kudos of "16v"? Is that what it was, Kudos?
All the fast Audi's so S-line, S or RS....
VW with their "R32", R36, Golf R, Scirocco R now Polo R - why not the Polo F or N? (Stop sniggering at the back) What does that little R stand for?
Volvo are a little obsessed with the letter "R" as well.
Ford have the RS and then the ST - does ST stand for anything? Why not BI or SB?
I know how some arrive at their names ie; Vauxhall VXR = Vauxhall Racing and Seats Cupra's = Cup Racing and Fords RS = Rallye Sport and the oft used "GT" is Gran Tourer.
I wonder how much time manufacturers actually spend in coming with and deciding on the designation of a top of the range model? One letter can make all the difference it seems.
Seems the common letters on todays quick cars are basically just G,i,R,S and T.
Any names that really should never have seen the light of day?
)Why is it that car designations just work? As an example the old Escort "XR3i" - it just rolls off the tongue. It fits in nicely with "Escort".
Same as the even older Mk2 Escort "RS2000" - it just works, but why does it work?
You had Vauxhall Cavalier "SRi" - again that SRi just sounds good and its easy to say. Imagine Cavalier GYB or Escort QVr....doesnt work does it?
From the 80s onwards you had Ti, GTE, GSi, GT, ie, Si, SR, GTi.
And now we have a raft of models with the letters "R" or "S" somewhere in there. Why those letters? Has some bod decided they give off a better sportier air than any other letters in the alphabet?
Did any manufacturer ever proudly badge one of its cars as "8v"? I cant think of one, yet why did we all love the sound and the badge kudos of "16v"? Is that what it was, Kudos?
All the fast Audi's so S-line, S or RS....
VW with their "R32", R36, Golf R, Scirocco R now Polo R - why not the Polo F or N? (Stop sniggering at the back) What does that little R stand for?
Volvo are a little obsessed with the letter "R" as well.
Ford have the RS and then the ST - does ST stand for anything? Why not BI or SB?
I know how some arrive at their names ie; Vauxhall VXR = Vauxhall Racing and Seats Cupra's = Cup Racing and Fords RS = Rallye Sport and the oft used "GT" is Gran Tourer.
I wonder how much time manufacturers actually spend in coming with and deciding on the designation of a top of the range model? One letter can make all the difference it seems.
Seems the common letters on todays quick cars are basically just G,i,R,S and T.
Any names that really should never have seen the light of day?
Jonny_ said:
I never understood what LS/GL/GLS/CD/CDX stood for, either.
The base model didn't have any designation (unlike today where it needs some s
tty name).Then comes L - the Luxury model.
LS - Luxury.... somethingsomething.
GL - Grand Luxury.
Erm... I'm sure the others mean something.
I remember a Russell Bulgin CAR column in the early 90's explaining certain manufacturer's trim names and logic. Specifically, I remember that Citroen should have logically had a TRD model, but changed it to TDR for the UK market.
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