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10 Incredible Facts About Ducati You Probably Didn’t Know

January 15, 2024 David

Every time we now have to write down one thing about Ducati, phrases stream out of our fingers like magic. There’s simply a lot to speak about. This model has made a mark on the automotive world that few can come near, and its motorcycles are so revolutionary and gorgeous, that a whole lot of bikers would like to personal a Ducati at the very least as soon as of their lives.

Heck, Ducati bikes are simply among the many most desired bikes within the automotive world, whether or not you’re a observe day junkie in Florida or a pupil in Russia. Count a author from Goa in the identical crowd.

The web is already crammed with tons of knowledge and movies about Ducati bikes. You’ll discover 1000’s of Instagram Reels with Panigales in them and YouTube movies of riders letting their Ducatis sing within the canyons or the racetrack. And each automotive publication is raring to get their fingers on Ducati bikes. But what have you learnt in regards to the Ducati model? Here are ten info about Ducati that you simply in all probability didn’t know.

In order to provide the most recent and correct data attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Ducati and different authoritative sources, together with Motorcycle.com, and Motorcyclespecs.co.za.

2021 Ducati Monster Plus doing a burnout

Top 10 Ducati Monster Models That Stole The Show

Credited for saving the model, these are probably the most vital Monsters ever launched by Ducati

10 Ducati Started By Making Radios

Ducati, the most important motorbike producer in Italy, didn’t really begin out with bikes. Ducati was based in 1926 by Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, Adriano, Bruno, and Antonio. Back then, Ducati was often called Societa Scientifica Radiobrevetti Ducati or SSR Ducati, and it produced radio components like condensers and vacuum tubes.

The model was so profitable that it even established some of the cutting-edge factories on this planet in Borgo Panigale in 1935. The manufacturing facility was pressured to provide radios for the Axis forces however was destroyed on 12 October 1944. As part of Operation Pancake, 40 Consolidated B-24 Liberators bombed the manufacturing facility for quarter-hour with over 750 bombs, marking the top of the SSR Ducati.

9 Ducati Was One Of The Good Guys During WWII

Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale Closeup — Ducati

Just as a result of Hitler may pressure Ducati to provide radios, he couldn’t pressure Ducati to activate his facet. During WWII, German troopers would pressure Italian troopers again to the frontlines, however Ducati would soak up troopers who escaped and provides them uniforms and badges with recruitment dates a 12 months earlier than they arrived. Good Guy Ducat.

8 The First Two-Wheeled Ducati Was A Bicycle With A Motor

1948 Ducati Cucciolo 48cc — Wikimedia Commons

In 1944, Aldo Farnelli’s SIATA developed a small clip-on pushrod engine for bicycles, which was provided to the general public a month after Italy’s liberation. This little thumper was called Cucciolo, Italian for a pet, attributable to its sound. Ducati noticed potential right here and began promoting full motorized bicycle items in collaboration with SIATA; collectively, they offered over 200,000 Cucciolos in 1950.

Ducati Cucciolo Specifications

Displacement	48 cc
Engine Type	Four-stroke, pushrod, single-cylinder, clip-on
Max Power	1.5 HP @ 5,500 RPM
Top Seed	31.06 MPH
Weight	98 kilos
Fuel Consumption	200 MPG

(Specs sourced from Ducati)

Here’s What Makes The Ducati Scrambler So Special Even Today

Ducati enters the fashionable traditional motion and creates its best-selling mannequin but

7 Ducati Races On Sunday, Sells On Monday

Ducati could have joined the motorbike world 5 many years after its opponents like Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Honda, and so on., nevertheless it solely took a 12 months to get into the racing world after its inception. Ducati began trending on velocity data in 1951 with the Cucciolo. And in 1954, Fabio Taglioni even based a road-racing program with 100 Gran Sport models.

Since then, Ducati has been an ardent follower of the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” mannequin, and it sometimes spends 10% of its annual income on competitors racing. This has labored out in favor of Ducati — for probably the most half — as Ducati has become one of the formidable forces in motorcycle racing, successful over 400 World Superbike Championship and MotoGP races!

6 Today, It’s The Only Brand That Uses Desmodromic Valves

Ducati is wrongfully credited for inventing the Desmodromic valves, however that’s as a result of it’s the one model that also makes use of this old-school tech. The Desmo system was invented by Gustav Mees in 1896 and was utilized in every thing from boats to Mercedes race vehicles for a few years, because it fastened one main subject with engines on the time: valve float.

But Ducati solely began utilizing Desmodromic valves in 1956, when Fabio Taglioni introduced this function to the 125 Grand Prix motorbike, creating the Ducati 125 Desmo. Since then, the Desmodromic valves have been a trademark of Ducati bikes. Modern springs are tremendous dependable and Desmo valves are largely obsolete, nevertheless it’s commendable that Ducati nonetheless sticks to the custom.

Notable Ducati Engines With Desmodromic Valves

Superquadro Mono
Desmodue
Testastretta 11°
Desmoquattro
Superquadro
Desmosedici Stradale

5 All Ducati Motorcycles Are Built By Hand

Ducati’s bikes are identified for being costly, however why is that? Part of the reason being that they’re fully hand-built bikes. Unlike different producers that use robots for meeting, Ducati makes use of expert employees. An individual is liable for every stage of the meeting course of, and so they test and signal when every stage is accomplished.

Despite being hand-built, Ducati doesn’t take months to assemble a single motorbike. The course of is fast and environment friendly, and Ducati can produce a single Monster each 88 minutes. No marvel the Monster has grow to be their bread and butter, promoting over 300,000 items globally.

Ducati And Motocross? Here’s What’s Confirmed So Far

After dominating street racing, Ducati’s able to tackle the off-road world subsequent

4 Ducati Is Known For Cutting-Edge Motorcycles

red 2022 Ducati Superleggera V4 — Ducati

Motorcycles have come a great distance, and all superbikes which might be produced now are engineering marvels. Even the slowest superbike is loaded with extra options than you’ll ever use, however Ducati sits at the upper end of the spectrum here. Ducati’s superbikes are loaded with tech and options, in contrast to its rivals.

Notable Ducati Innovations

The Ducati 1098 was the primary bike to make use of an IMU
The Ducati Panigale V4 R was the primary road-production bike to make use of aerodynamic winglets
The Ducati 1199 Panigale was the primary bike to make use of a monocoque body
Ducati produces superbikes with mind-boggling power-to-weight ratios, just like the Superleggera 1299 and Superleggera V4

Ducati Superleggera V4 Specifications

Engine Type	Liquid-cooled Desmosedici Stradale V4 with a counter-rotating crank
Displacement	998cc
Max Power	234 HP @ 15,500 RPM with full racing exhaust
Max Torque	87.7 LB-FT @ 11,750 RPM with full racing exhaust
Frame Type	Carbon fiber entrance body
Dry Weight	335.5 kilos with racing equipment
Top Speed	200 MPH (anticipated)
Power to Weight Ratio	0.69 HP/LB

(Specs sourced from Ducati and Motorcycenews.com)

3 But We Love Ducatis For The Design

Ducati 916 and Panigale 30 Anniversario 916 — Ducati

Take a take a look at a biker’s laptop computer and, likelihood is, you’ll discover a Ducati motorbike gracing their dwelling screens. That’s not as a result of Ducati makes cutting-edge bikes, however because it makes gorgeous motorcycles. Ducati’s bikes are beautiful, even probably the most fundamental ones, just like the Scrambler!

Ducati’s design philosophy is actually Italian: sinuous, versatile, and seductive. You take a look at a Ducati and it’s Italian. In truth, Ducati is even credited for making probably the most stunning bike ever, the Ducati 916, which was designed by Massimo Tamburini. This motorbike has grow to be a cultural icon!

Ducati 916 Design Highlights

Tamburini rode the prototypes within the rain to check the water streaks on the fairings
The motorbike featured attractive under-seat exhausts that improved aerodynamics and gave the 916 a cleaner look
The single-sided swingarm facilitated fast tire modifications throughout endurance races
The twin headlights had been probably the most troublesome a part of the design course of, in response to Tamburini

2 Ducatis Are Not Two-Wheeled Ferraris

Ducati Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini — Ducati

Many folks take into account Ducatis to be the two-wheeled equal of Ferraris, however that’s hardly the case. Just as a result of they’re each pink, is that it? You’ll be stunned to know that Ducati, with some of its strikingly aggressive designs, like the Diavel, is extra like a two-wheeled equal of Lamborghini as a result of the latter owns the previous.

That’s proper. On 19 July 2012, Audi’s subsidiary, Lamborghini, acquired 100% shares of the Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A for a whopping $909 million. Funnily, Audi is owned by Volkswagen, so in case you personal a Ducati, you might be primarily driving an Italian, two-wheeled Volkswagen. Reliability points immediately begin making a whole lot of sense, don’t they?

Ducati Ownership Over The Years

1926 to 1950: Ducati household
1950 to 1967: Government Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI) administration
1967 to 1978: Government EFIM administration
1978 to 1985: VM Group
1985 to 1996: Cagiva Group
1996 to 2005: Texas Pacific Group — sure, Ducati was American for some time
2005 to 2008: Investindustrial Holdings S.p.A.
2008 to 2012: Performance Motorcycles S.p.A.
2012 to current: Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., owned by Audi AG

The New DesertX Rally Is Ducati’s Most Adventurous Motorcycle Yet

The DesertX Rally takes the already spectacular DesertX platform to even loopy heights

1 Owning A Ducati Is Unlike Anything Else

2024 Ducati Multistrada V4 Grand Tour Action — Ducati

Owning a Ducati motorbike is in contrast to proudly owning some other motorbike. Ducatis have a personality to them, and irrespective of how refined or high-tech they get, they journey like they’ve a soul. At the identical time, Ducati bikes deserve a whole lot of consideration and love. Owning a Ducati is an interesting expertise that makes you are feeling extra related along with your ardour.

But there’s a draw back, too. Ducati’s bikes are costly to purchase and run. Yes, Ducati bikes are top-of-the-line bikes with superior know-how and parts, however their service and elements prices will nonetheless make you scratch your head in disbelief. There are loads of Reddit threads of Ducati house owners complaining about $1,000+ service payments. But hey, that’s part of owning your dream bike, isn’t it?

News

2024 Africa Eco Race: Tarres Takes Second Stage Win But Cerutti Still Leads

January 11, 2024 David

The phrases “to finish first, you must first finish” may appear a bit trite, however they’re additionally extraordinarily true in rally raids. Since a rally raid consists of a number of levels, endurance is the secret. If you and your bike could make it throughout the end line, even a foul racing day at the moment may simply repay tomorrow.

That’s seemingly what occurred for Pol Tarrés, who took his first stage win of the 2024 Africa Eco Rally on the finish of Stage Six. Sadly for Guillaume Borne, he crashed out on kilometer eight with shoulder and rib accidents, for which he went to the hospital for additional testing.

At the top of Stage Six, right here had been the outcomes for the highest 5 riders:

Racer	Team	Time
Pol Tarrés	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	01:51:53
Jacopo Cerutti	Aprilia Racing GCorse	01:52:50
Alessandro Botturi	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	01:53:35
Alessandro Ruoso	Twinsbike Racing Team	01:53:49
Francesco Montanari	Aprilia Racing GCorse	01:56:11

Stage Seven

Unfortunately for Tarrés, his luck on Stage Six did not carry by means of on Stage Seven. Problems along with his exhaust resulted in his first end out of the highest three riders for any stage of the 2024 AER. At least he’ll go on to trip one other day on this occasion, although.

Cerutti had some navigation points and a small (however fortunately not critical) crash towards the top of the stage, however nonetheless managed to deliver his bike residence in second place. In the top, it was Botturi who gained the day.

Here are the outcomes for the highest 5 riders in Stage Seven of the 2024 AER:

Racer	Team	Time
Alessandro Botturi	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	04:35:20
Jacopo Cerutti	Aprilia Racing GCorse	04:37:20
Francesco Montanari	Aprilia Racing GCorse	04:51:19
Marco Menichini	Solarys Racing	05:02:39
Pol Tarrés	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	05:03:22

Stage Eight

Tarrés as soon as once more proved the facility of merely ending a stage. From fifth place on Stage Seven, he scored his second stage win of the 2024 AER on Stage Eight. As has been the usual for a lot of the levels to date on this 12 months’s rally, Aprilia Racing rider Jacopo Cerutti and Tarrés’ teammate Alessandro Botturi crammed out the remainder of the highest three.

Here are the outcomes for the highest 5 riders in Stage Eight of the 2024 AER:

Racer	Team	Time
Pol Tarrés	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	04:12:50
Jacopo Cerutti	Aprilia Racing GCorse	04:18:38
Alessandro Botturi	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	04:20:41
Francesco Montanari	Aprilia Racing GCorse	04:22:24
Giovanni Gritti	RSMoto Racing Team Honda Oil	04:22:31

Rider Standings Overall After Stage Eight of the 2024 AER

Racer	Team	Time
Jacopo Cerutti	Aprilia Racing GCorse	31:14:47
Alessandro Botturi	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	31:17:50
Pol Tarrés	Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team	31:37:09
Giovanni Gritti	RSMoto Racing Team Honda Oil	34:29:04
Alexandre Vaudan	Casteu Trophy	35:02:22
Francesco Montanari	Aprilia Racing GCorse	35:20:34
Alessandro Ruoso	Twinsbike Racing Team	36:03:22
Attilio Fert	France Road Book	36:14:38
Marco Aurelio Fontana	Honda Genuine Oil	36:24:00
Marco Menichini	Solarys Racing	36:33:14

News

Ducati And Bentley Team Up For Limited-Edition Diavel V4

December 12, 2023 David

When you consider Bentley, chances are high phrases like class, luxurious, and extravagance come to thoughts. Indeed, the British marque is among the many most luxurious within the automotive area, whereas on the similar time boasting spectacular expertise and efficiency. It’s maybe due to these attributes that Ducati determined to crew up with Bentley for an ultra-limited bike.

Now, Ducati and Bentley don’t appear to have lots in widespread. While the latter stands for magnificence and class, you could possibly argue that Ducati is all about aggression, efficiency, and otherworldly energy. As such, it’s attention-grabbing to see Ducati tackle a extra subdued strategy in the case of the limited-edition Ducati Diavel for Bentley. Don’t get me incorrect, only one take a look at this bike makes it clear as day that it means enterprise, nevertheless, the darkish inexperienced motif with complementing silver machined parts give the V4 energy cruiser a refreshing, stylish look.

The Ducati Diavel for Bentley is described as a fusion of Bentley’s craftsmanship and Ducati’s technological acumen. We’re all accustomed to the Ducati Diavel, and in its newest V4 iteration, it units the usual for a performance-oriented cruiser. That mentioned, on the Bentley facet of issues, we see styling impressed by Bentley’s 2024 Batur, a grand-touring coupe that does little to maintain its extravagance hidden. Powered by Bentley’s flagship W-12 engine, the Batur churns out a whopping 740 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque, signifying that it’s simply as critical about efficiency as it’s model.

The Diavel, in the meantime, is powered by a 1,158cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, V4 engine with 168 horsepower on faucet – much more ponies than any cruiser has any enterprise possessing. While the Batur will probably be restricted to simply 18 items worldwide, the Diavel for Bentley could have a barely larger manufacturing run of 500 items – nonetheless fairly uncommon, all issues thought-about. Plus, there will probably be an extra 50 “Mulliner” variants which can be made to match the brand new Batur much more carefully.

From a styling perspective, the Ducati Diavel for Bentley was designed by Centro Stile Ducati and Bentley, and options smooth strains with matching cast wheels completed in dart satin titanium. The scarab inexperienced paintwork from the Bentley Mulliner fits the Diavel fairly properly, too. Furthermore, pink accents on the grill and saddle advert a contact of sportiness into the combination, whereas the Bentley emblem figures prominently on the black Alcantara saddle, a nod to the lavish interiors of Bentley’s cars.

To make the possession expertise much more particular, every of the five hundred Ducati Diavel for Bentley items will include a certificates of authenticity, a passenger saddle, an identical bike cowl, and personalised wood case. The mannequin and manufacturing variety of every bike may also be displayed on a plate for the proprietor to show of their assortment. Last however not least, a capsule assortment consisting of a jet helmet and a jacket in matching colours provides a trendy contact to the limited-edition mannequin.

With all that being mentioned, when you’ve got $70,000 USD burning an enormous gap in your checking account, then you will get in contact along with your nearest Ducati vendor to try to safe a slot for this restricted version beast. Furthermore, if that’s not sufficient, you may spend $90,000 USD on the Ducati Diavel for Bentley Mulliner, of which solely 50 will probably be made.

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Do Honda CT110 And CT90 Trail Bikes Make The Best Adventure Bikes?

December 8, 2023 David

Say the phrases “postie bike” to an Australian, and you may conjure an immediate wave of very particular nostalgia. You see, whereas the Honda CT90, CT110, and comparable path bikes discovered their area of interest in different markets, the Australian Post adopted them as official work autos again in 1971.

Prior to signing up with Honda as their official postal automobile provider, Australian postal supply employees used quite a lot of strolling and common bicycles, additionally known as ‘pushbikes.’ As you’ll be able to think about, adopting a fleet of motorized postie bikes made their jobs so much simpler (although some postal employees may additionally have loved getting paid to train).

They won’t be the quickest straight out of the field, however that is not what you need in the event you’re making frequent stops and traversing uneven, unsure terrain, anyway. You need stable, reliable autos that may carry a good quantity of publish of their saddlebags and high containers. Bikes like Honda CT110s and CT90s, which gained reputations as stable farm bikes everywhere in the globe for very comparable causes.

Then, Postie Bikes Were Retired

Thus, postie bikes grew to become a typical sight throughout Australia for the next many years. Then issues began to alter in 2017, when the nationwide Australian authorities issued a brand new, legally binding Vehicle Standard for bike and moped braking methods.

Under the phrases of the brand new regulation, all new fashions that hadn’t beforehand been bought in Australia from 2017 on would require two-channel ABS (entrance and rear) fitted as commonplace tools. By November 2021, the statute broadened to incorporate any new bikes bought within the nation, together with new variations of current fashions. That, after all, included showroom-fresh variations of the basic Honda postie bikes.

By the time that regulation prolonged to current fashions in 2021, the Australian Government had already chosen a new plan for postie bike evolution. In 2019, it introduced a plan to undertake three-wheeled electrical supply trikes as an alternative.

As is commonly the case when a serious change is made, not all Australian residents were on board with the plan. Still, the truth that the brand new trikes may carry fairly a bit extra publish at a time (particularly packages, which have solely develop into extra common with the rise of on-line buying) was a critical level in favo(u)r of the EV trikes. Some alleviation of rising environmental issues was additionally seen as a profit.

Postie Bikes Weren’t Totally Outlawed; They Just Couldn’t Be Sold New

Your native used bike market will differ drastically relying on the place you reside on this planet, for a number of causes. A fast go searching at on-line used bike marketplaces like Gumtree and Bikesales in Queensland, Australia reveals a variety of outdated postie bikes on the market. They all have varied mileage, and a few are newer than others. Prices may vary from $1,500 Australian as much as over $3K AUD (or about $990 US to someplace north of $1,990).

It won’t precisely be pocket change, but it surely’s fairly shut for a functioning, nearly unkillable bike.

So, Do Honda CT110s And CT90s Make The Best Adventure Bikes?

In this video, three guys from the overlanding and tenting Australian YouTube channel True North Adventures get a trio of outdated postie bikes and begin flogging them on a few of their favourite terrain in Cape York, Queensland, Australia.

Two of the blokes have ridden earlier than, whereas one man hasn’t. In truth, he simply acquired his motorcycle license a couple of days forward of taking pictures this video, as he mentions towards the start. You can see that two of the blokes have correct motocross boots, whereas the opposite man is simply sporting a pair of on a regular basis work boots.

None of that basically issues, although, as a result of all three look to be having an absolute blast. They’re exploring terrain they already know nicely from their earlier four-wheeled adventures, however in a brand new approach. They’ve divided up the objects they wish to carry among the many three bikes, and so they’re simply off having a great time collectively on their bikes.

At the top of the day, is not that what journey driving is all about? Getting out, having enjoyable with your mates, and most significantly, not being wired?

I imply, there is a stable argument to make for a easy, trustworthy, uncomplicated bike that is simple to repair (or to be taught to repair) with a couple of primary instruments. It’s the polar reverse of fancy and complex, however that is all a part of its allure. You will not be doing the Erzbergrodeo on one among these bikes, however laborious enduro is a little more hardcore than path driving together with your buddies, anyway.

Advantages to planning adventures on path bikes like these (whether or not you name them ‘postie’ or not) embrace:

Used ones will normally maintain working in the event you give them primary upkeep, and are easy to work on or be taught on.
They’re typically low cost. As with most used bikes, they will be cheaper the extra work you need to do, so simply watch out to not chunk off greater than you’ll be able to chew, wrench-wise.
Because they’re low cost, the price of entry is so much decrease than it’s for an enormous, correct ‘journey bike.’
Because they’re low cost, you AND your mates can have a neater time all getting your personal so you’ll be able to go do foolish issues collectively.
They’re lighter, much less highly effective, and simpler to deal with than greater bikes, in order that they’re excellent for anybody studying tips on how to be snug doing this sort of driving.
They’re decrease to the bottom, so most riders will really feel extra assured and have a neater time holding themselves upright and shifting ahead.
They’re inexpensive to repair than greater bikes, and components (each new, used, and new-old inventory) are plentiful.

What do you suppose? Have you bought any grand path bike journey plans brewing with your mates for 2024? Let us know within the feedback!

News

K-Speed Has Already Turned The Yamaha PG-1 Into A Custom Scrambler

December 1, 2023 David

Retro. Cute. Purposeful. Maybe even colorful.

Are those some of the words that came to mind when you set eyes upon the Yamaha PG-1 for the first time? (We’re not counting the thoughts of the Honda CT125 Hunter Cub that you probably also had, although they’re almost certainly there.)

Regardless of your answer, one word that probably didn’t occur to you is “mean.” Yet that’s exactly what K-Speed, led by Tanadit, has done with the bike.

This is the K-Speed Yamaha PG-1 Rock Scrambler, and it’s so good. The entire bike is a symphony of black, but with a variety of shades and textures that keep the visual impression dynamic. Even the engine, which comes stock with a silver cylinder head, has been completely blacked out.

Pops of silver show up in the form of the wheels, rotors, a little silver side plate with round holes, and the silver mesh that shows up in the round holes of the exhaust cover. The Yamaha logos get a touch of silver as well, but the scarcity makes those little pops of contrast stand out.

There’s a wide handlebar, a single bar-end mirror on the left side, tiny turn signals, and front and rear fenders that have been both chopped and raised up. The aforementioned exhaust is now a high-mount unit, adding to the overall scrambler aesthetic. As you can hear in the extremely short video (too short, in our opinion; we would have loved to hear more of it), it also sounds very good.

The tail section has been tidied up, and the saddle is now a solo unit that echoes the knobby tires with its own block pattern contrast stitching. Diamond stitch? Who needs it when you can have block stitch instead? Incidentally, the wheels are now 17-inch units, up from the standard 16-inch ones found on the stock PG-1.

For those unfamiliar, K-Speed is pretty well known for two things: Custom full bike builds, and aftermarket accessories that it makes to fit a variety of bikes. It also sells some of the custom bikes that it makes, and the K-Speed Yamaha PG-1 Rock Scrambler is currently listed for preorder on its website at a cost of ¥1,280,000 (about $8,638) including shipping.

K-Speed ships internationally. However, please note that the listing includes a bunch of information about the differences between shipping K-Speed bikes (and parts) within Japan and shipping them to other countries around the world. Things like additional fees (such as customs fees), unavailability of certain accessories in other countries depending on local laws, and more.

12 Photos

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Iconic Car Names And What They Mean

November 3, 2023 David

Naming a car is just as important as the product itself and carmakers, often, create new words just to achieve a nice connotation to a new model’s name. The right name for the car can, often, directly influence a car’s success in the market, and there have been more than a few cases where choosing the wrong name for a car has resulted in a sales disaster. Sometimes, car manufacturers are forced to rename a model for a certain market, due to the original name having a rather negative or hilarious meaning in certain languages.

A case in point was the Mitsubishi Pajero, which was sold as the Montero in Spain, the reason being “pajero” in Spanish slang means “wanker”. That didn’t stop the Japanese SUV from becoming a legend, but others were less fortunate. More often than not, however, car companies nail it when it comes to a car’s name.

Sometimes, a good car name can only consist of a three-digit number, as sports car maker, Porsche has proven in many cases. Others, like supercar maker Pagani, are more dramatic. You probably wondered what some of your favorite cars’ names mean, and we have provided the answer for these epic models, listed below.

To make the article more informative, we gathered detailed performance specifications for each car on the list, from Automobile Catalog’s rich performance database. Models in this list have been arranged based on when they first debuted

RELATED: The Best American Car Brands

10 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

Red 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Berger Double COPO — Mecum Auctions

In the mid-1960s, the Ford Mustang made the revolution, giving young Americans an affordable, fun sporty car. The Pony car segment was born, but GM was not about to let Ford have all the glory. In 1967, Chevrolet unveiled a Pony car of its own – the Camaro. This started one of the greatest automotive rivals in history, and eventually, the Camaro became one of the most popular platforms. The meaning of the name Camaro was not as straightforward as the Mustang.

1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS396 Specifications

Engine	6.4-liter V-8
Transmission	3-speed auto/3-4-speed manual
Drivetrain	Front-engine, RWD
Power	325-375 hp
Torque	410-415 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	6.7-5.4 seconds
Top Speed	126-137 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

The word, itself, had French roots and meant friend/pal. That doesn’t quite explain why the Camaro has what resembles a French flag turned 90 degrees. The brand’s founder, Louis Chevrolet was Swiss-born, which is as close as the French connection with Chevrolet gets. Still, the Camaro was a worthy competitor despite Ford’s Mustang having a head start. In 1977, the Camaro outsold Ford’s Mustang for the first time.

9 1967 DeTomaso Mangusta

1969 De Tomaso Mangusta in gold front 3/4 view — Mr.choppers / commons.wikimedia.org

Another iconic, Italian car name comes from the DeTomaso. Mangusta was the brand’s second model, after the Vallelunga. The Mangusta was also mid-engine and was also motivated by a Ford engine, only this time, it was a 289 V-8, shared with the Mustang Shelby GT350. There was also a more “laid-back” version of the car, powered by a much more conservatively tuned Ford 302 V-8.

1967 DeTomaso Mangusta Specifications

Engine	4.7-liter V-8
Transmission	5-speed manual
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	305 hp
Torque	411 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	4.7 seconds
Top Speed	155 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

DeTomaso was meant to compete with the Shelby Cobra and the name was not chosen by accident. Mangusta was Italian for mongoose- an animal that prays on snakes. Any car meant to compete with the extremely scary Shelby Cobra was no joke, and while DeTomaso Mangusta was one of the fastest cars in the 1960s, the Cobra was lighter, more powerful, and ultimately, the faster car. Still, the DeTomaso Mangusta is aggressive enough to be used as inspiration for the latest Batmobile.

8 1974 Lamborghini Countach

A parked 1985 Lamborghini Countach — Mecum

By all accounts, the Marcello Gandini-designed Lamborghini Countach left its mark in the automotive world. Its 16-year production run certainly contributed to that, but it was more about the styling of the car. The Countach was outrageous in every way – a fact underlined even by its name. While a more literal translation of the name would mean “plague” or “contagion”, Countach was used in a different context when it came to the Lamborghini supercar. In Italian slang, “Countach” was used to express amazement, something like “goodness” for lack of a more subtle expression. Indeed, that was the typical reaction when one saw the Countach or even drove it.

1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Specifications

Engine	3.9-liter V-12
Transmission	7-speed auto
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	370 hp
Torque	266 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	5.1 seconds
Top Speed	186 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

The car entirely prioritized form over function, and you had to stick out of the car to park it. Despite its numerous shortcomings, the Lamborghini Countach is desired by collectors and is still one of the most iconic poster cars of all time.

7 1984 Ferrari Testarossa: Red-Head

Almost all Ferrari models are of legendary status, but one of the most iconic nameplates of the carmaker that stands out is Testarossa. The name was first used on a Ferrari in 1957, on the Ferrari 250 Testarossa. Nowadays, it is mostly associated with the 1984 Ferrari Testarossa as the name is not preceded by a number. The name “testa rossa” means “redhead” in Italian. This refers not to the usual for most Ferrari cars, bright-red paint, but to the red cam covers on the V-12 engine (which was, technically, a flat-12), which was another signature trait of Ferrari cars.

1984 Ferrari Testarossa Specifications

Engine	4.9-liter Flat-12
Transmission	5-speed manual
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	385 hp
Torque	354 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	5.3 seconds
Top Speed	181 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

The 1984 Testarossa may not have been the fastest thing of its day, but it was one of the most striking vehicles when it came to styling. It was certainly brash enough to be the poster car of the 1984-1989 “Miami Vice” TV series.

6 1991 Honda NSX

Silver 2002 Honda NSX — Damian Morys via Wikimedia Commons

Sometimes, the most iconic car names are simple abbreviations. Such is the case with the ground-breaking Honda NSX. The Japanese, mid-engine supercar showed the world, supercars could be reliable and easy to live with, and you didn’t need to have a team of specialized mechanics on stand-by, 24/7. The car’s clever engineering and exceptional chassis, dialed in by legendary F1 driver, Ayrton Senna, made the NSX into a legend.

1991 Honda NSX Specifications

Engine	3.0-liter V-6
Transmission	5-speed manual
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	276 hp
Torque	217 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	5.6 seconds
Top Speed	168 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

The name is well-known among JDM enthusiasts and the three letters stand for “New Sports Car eXperimental”. The experiment paid off since the Honda/ Acura NSX is a desired Japanese sports car even more than 30 years after its debut. Sadly, the second-generation NSX did not enjoy the same success despite, once again, being groundbreaking.

5 1999 Pagani Zonda

Yellow 2006 Pagani Zonda F Clubsport — Norbert Aepli/Wikimedia Commons

Boutique carmakers like Pagani make some truly astonishing vehicles, both, in terms of engineering and finish. The Italian carmaker, based near Modena, is named after its founder, Horacio Pagani. The company name, itself, is derived from a few different meanings and deserves its paragraph. Pagani’s first model, the Zonda, is named after a South American hot wind, which swoops down from the Andes to the Argentine Pampas.

1999 Pagani Zonda C12/ C12 S Specifications

Engine	6.0-7.0-liter V-12
Transmission	5/6-speed manual
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	395-542 hp
Torque	420-531 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	3.7-3.6 seconds
Top Speed	185-208 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

The car is as dramatic as the name suggests, not just, because of the styling, but also because of its very-torquey, Mercedes-derived V-12 engine. Even more impressive is the fact the Zonda could be had with a manual transmission, in times when paddle-shift automatics were starting to take over.

4 2004 Porsche Carrera GT

In 1973, Porsche introduced one of its most well-known model names, the Carrera. This designation was almost always exclusive to the 911, and in more recent years, it signifies the base model of the rear-engine sports car. However, the Carrera name stood on its own, for the first time, in the 2004 Porsche Carrera GT. It is a well-known fact that “GT” stands for Gran Turismo in the car world. Carrera on the other hand, means “race” in Spanish.

2004 Porsche Carrera GT Specifications

Engine	5.7-liter V-10
Transmission	6-speed manual
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	612 hp
Torque	435 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	3.4 seconds
Top Speed	205 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

Even the base-model 911 is quick enough to be a capable racer and throughout the years, the 911 saw great success in a variety of racing series and with different iterations of the car. The Carrera GT was equally worthy of the name due to no small part to its V-10 engine, which was initially developed for Formula 1, later repurposed for Le Mans, and finally put in the production-version Porsche Carrera GT.

3 2009 Porsche Panamera

A Silver 2013 Porsche Panamera S parked at roadside — Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Porsche’s Panamera is one of the more modern entries on the list, with the first generation dating back to 2009. Porsche has been experimenting with the idea of a “four-door 911” for decades, but it finally came to fruition with the Panamera. Porsche also boasts of a proud racing heritage and this new, groundbreaking model had to be named appropriately.

2009 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Specifications

Engine	4.8-liter Twin-turbo V-8
Transmission	7-speed PDK auto
Drivetrain	Front-engine, AWD
Power	500 hp
Torque	516 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	3.8 seconds
Top Speed	188 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

The Panamera name was not chosen randomly as it is a derivative of “Panamerica” – a highway on which the Carrera Americana road race was held. It’s also said to be the longest road, spanning from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, North America down to Ushuaia, at the top of Argentina, in South America. Although this was a luxury, four-door model, it was still a Porsche, and it needed a name that matched its exceptional performance, especially in S, GTS, and Turbo variants. Despite the all-electric Taycan’s recent success, the Panamera will not die just yet.

2 2011 Pagani Huayra

Pagani’s second model, the Huayra, was even more dramatic than the Zonda. The immaculate finish on even the smallest detail along with the impressive mechanicals of the hypercar allowed the Huayra to be as successful as its predecessor, despite early models resembling a deep-sea fish. Luckily, the front end was fixed with later versions that quickly followed.

2011 Pagani Huayra Specifications

Engine	6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12
Transmission	7-speed auto
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	730 hp
Torque	737 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	3.1 seconds
Top Speed	224 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

Propulsion still came from Mercedes AMG in the form of a big V-12, but this time, forced induction was added for even more oompf. That is unless we count the Huayra R, which boasts one of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines. As for the name, it comes from Huayra-tata a South American God of the Wind, revered in the Andes. Interestingly enough, the names was shared by another, much more obscure car – Huayra Pronello Ford – which was Argentinian-made but powered by a Ford Y-Block V-8.

1 2021 Koenigsegg Jesko

Gray Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut — Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg makes some of the most groundbreaking hypercars in the business. Even the first model of the Swiss brand, the CC8S, managed to achieve a higher top speed than the McLaren F1, although the British model ended up with a higher average speed from three trials. While many of Koenigseg’s high-performance cars feature simple designations, made of letters and numbers, the Jesko stands out. If you are from a Scandinavian country, the name may not be as unusual to you.

2021 Koenigsegg Jesko Attack/ Jesko Absolut Specifications

Engine	5.1-liter twin-turbo V-8
Transmission	9-speed LST auto
Drivetrain	Mid-engine, RWD
Power	1,281 hp/ 1,603 hp on E85
Torque	738 lb-ft/ 1,106 lb-ft on E85
0-60 MPH	2.6 seconds
Top Speed	272-300 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)

Jesko was meant to be the ultimate Koenigsegg and the founder, Christian von Koenigsegg named the car after his father – Jesko. While Jesko Attack is built for racetrack domination, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is more “slippery” and set up for top-speed runs. Koenigsegg said Jesko Absolut will be the last model built with top speed records in mind.

News

Iconic Car Names And What They Mean

November 3, 2023 David

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10 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS396 Specifications

Engine	6.4-liter V-8
Transmission	3-speed auto/3-4-speed manual
Drivetrain	Front-engine, RWD
Power	325-375 hp
Torque	410-415 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	6.7-5.4 seconds
Top Speed	126-137 MPH

(Specs from Automobile Catalog)