Among the many cars in India, there are some whose names can be considered as off-beat or unusual. While the list has not been arranged in any particular order, it only comprises models that are in production and currently on sale in the country. Several cars mentioned here are popular and well-liked amongst buyers, with their quirky names having little to no bearing on how well they sell.
1. Mahindra Thar Roxx
The Mahindra Thar Roxx was simply known as the Thar 5-door prior to its launch. This could have been an opportunity for Mahindra to revive a legacy nameplate like Armada, owing to its family oriented status quo. However, the brand chose the name ‘Thar Roxx’, which Mahindra says is a combination of “solid as a rock” and “the personality of a rockstar”.
2. Mahindra BE 6
Mahindra clearly likes quirky car names, with the BE 6 not being an exception. Where ‘BE’ stands for Born Electric, the original ‘6E’ suffix did not play out as well as originally intended, with a low-cost airline having claimed the title several moons ago. Even though this event had no bearing on the EV’s sales, it has since been renamed the BE 6.
3. Kia Carens
The Carens name is an amalgamation of ‘car’ and ‘renaissance’, according to Kia. Where the first part is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, the latter may take a little more convincing. There is far less confusion, however, when it comes to the commercial success of this MPV.
4. Hyundai Venue
The Hyundai Venue has been one of the brand’s strongest performers in terms of sales. A quick peek at this compact SUV and its sub-4-metre length will explain why it makes for a great runabout in our modern but congested cities. It will also not disappoint when you have to attend a friend's wedding or a family get together at a grand location in or out of the city.
5. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso
The S-Presso is a mini-SUV that exhibits its purpose through a bold design and choice of fuel-efficient petrol and CNG powertrain options. While the bright orange colour featured here and the caffeine drink-inspired name initially had the desired effect of attracting customers, sales figures have not shot up in recent times.
6. Tata Tiago
While it was still under development, Tata planned to name this hatchback Zica (pronounced ‘zee-ka’). The brand had to rethink this as a Zika virus outbreak swept through Africa in 2016. Tata Motors eventually announced ‘Tiago’ as the car’s official name – named after then global brand ambassador Lionel Messi’s eldest son.
7. Mahindra Scorpio N
Sometimes mispronounced as the Scorpion, the ‘N’ suffix is simply meant to denote this as the ‘New’ Scorpio. Mahindra also got creative with how the Scorpio N title and the car's various exterior details appear. A quick glimpse at the name, front-lower LEDs and rear-side window trim, would be sufficient cues for most to draw parallels to an arachnid with a similar-sounding name and body structure – one that is often depicted in mythological scripts and biology textbooks.
8. Tata Curvv
Being a coupe-SUV is a full-time job that requires looking suave and sporty in an effortless manner, while convincing others that it is not difficult. With the Curvv, Tata Motors achieved almost all of that without missing a single turn.
9. Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Three-box sedans have always evoked a sense of admiration and longing from prospective buyers. When the second-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire entered the scene, it disrupted traditional notions of what was once considered the only way of designing a sedan. But keeping the length to under 4 metres while still retaining that beloved form factor remains an ever-present challenge. Nevertheless, the Dzire is one of Maruti Suzuki’s bestselling cars in India.
10. Citroen Basalt
Named after a type of rock that forms after molten lava is cooled too quickly, the Basalt is Citroen’s answer to the Tata Curvv. The French automaker has since added an ‘X’ suffix, dislodging any doubts regarding the quirky but interesting name of this car.
11. Toyota Taisor
Joining the growing members of the Urban Cruiser family, the Taisor name was first trademarked in 2022. While at first it may sound like an electronic device of deterrence with a similar pronunciation, the Toyota Taisor is actually closely related to the Maruti Suzuki Fronx.
12. BYD Seal, Sealion 7
Part of BYD’s Ocean series of cars, the Seal and Sealion 7 are (unsurprisingly) named after their namesakes in the marine ecosystem. While the Chinese brand’s Blade battery technology is state-of-the-art and designed to survive some submersion, the cars have been performance-tested extensively on solid ground.
13. MG Hector
Unlike some cars on this list, the ‘Hector’ name isn’t random. MG Motor deliberately chose it in honour of a British-origin biplane of the 1930s. Interestingly, the makers of that aircraft named it after a Trojan war hero from Greek mythology.
