From flowers to Greek mythology, Toyota model names have drawn inspiration from some interesting places. We take a look at the meanings behind some iconic Toyota names of models, and outline how each one fits the character of the cars that they have graced.
Toyota names of models explained – Yaris meaning
Yaris is an amalgamation of words from Greek mythology and German. In Greek mythology, ‘Charis’ was a symbol of beauty and elegance. Toyota swapped the ‘Ch’ with ‘Ya’ – German for ‘yes’ – to symbolise the perceived reaction of European markets to the car’s styling.
Toyota names of models explained – Supra meaning
Supra is a Latin word meaning ‘above’. The name is apt for a car that was able to punch well above its weight in magazine road tests – it famously defeated a Porsche 911 Turbo and an Aston Martin DB7.
Toyota names of models explained – Celica meaning
A heavenly smooth drivetrain and linear power delivery were always staples of the Celica. Fitting, then, that the name is Spanish for ‘celestial’.
Auris meaning
Auris takes inspiration from the Latin noun ‘aurum’, meaning gold. It is also inspired by the English word ‘aura’ – the two combine in a car with a ‘golden aura’. The concept version of the car – unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show – was finished in a striking gold hue symbolic of the global importance of the model in terms of sales.
Corolla meaning
A ‘corolla‘ is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. The name was intended to evoke the image of a beautifully styled, eye-catching small family car.
Prius meaning
Prius is Latin for ‘prior’ or ‘previous’. Its name can be interpreted as a reference to the fact that at the Prius’ Japan launch in 1997, there had never been a mass-produced hybrid car prior to it.
Corona meaning
The Corona was the first Toyota model to be exported to the UK, way back in 1965. Its name is routed in astronomy; the corona is the ring of pearly light around the sun. The name was a reflection of the robustness of the car – like a light at the end of the tunnel for motorists saddled with less reliable European cars at the time.
Camry meaning
What is the meaning of Camry? Camry comes from the Japanese word ‘kanmuri’, meaning ‘crown’. It’s an apt name for the car, which as the best-selling car in America for 12 years straight, really can claim to be a jewel in Toyota’s crown.
Avensis meaning
What is the meaning of Avensis? Avensis is derived from the French verb ‘advancer’, meaning ‘to advance’ and is indicative of the step forward that the model represented over its predecessor – the Carina E – when it arrived in 1997.
Previa meaning
The name ‘Previa’ is derived from the Italian word ‘previdenza’, which means providence or foresight. The Previa was the world’s first MPV with a mid-mounted engine to maximize cabin space – no other manufacturer before Toyota had had the ‘foresight’ to fit a mid-mounted engine into an MPV.
Hilux
The name ‘Hilux’ is an amalgamation of the words ‘high’ and ‘luxury’. Its name can be interpreted as a reference to the model’s sophisticated, car-like underpinnings at launch in Japan in 1968.
The model used double wishbone/coil spring front suspension and featured a column-shift, four-speed manual gearbox that delivered power to the rear wheels.
2000 GT
The number 2000 in 2000 GT is indicative of the model’s 2000cc engine; GT stands for ‘Grand Tourer’. Imagine cruising along the Cote d’azur in one. Bliss.
Carina E
A Carina is a Southern constellation of stars, while the ‘E’ simply stands for ‘Europe’, signposting the fact that the Carina E was not conceived as a global model. The model was famed for its robustness and reliability; one could say that its star shone brighter in this area than any family car rival of its era.
RAV4
RAV4 means ‘Recreational activity vehicle, four-wheel drive’. The name was devised to symbolise that the model was creating a new segment at its launch in 1994 – the modern compact SUV. The RAV4 was developed for people who occasionally need off-road capabilities in order to pursue an outdoors lifestyle.
MR2
MR2 stands for ‘Midship runabout two-seater’. The ‘midship’ is a reference to the model’s mid-engined layout, while ‘runabout’ is indexical of the fact that the car wasn’t conceived as an out-and-out sports car, but was designed to appeal to the ‘sporty commuter’.
Hiace
Hiace takes the suffix of its predecessor – the Toyoace – and adds the prefix ‘Hi’, meaning ‘High’, to symbolise that the van far surpasses the model it replaced. ‘Ace’ is connotative of the van being the best vehicle for the job.
Dyna
Dyna is a shortened version of the lexeme ‘dynamic’. The name was chosen by Toyota employees in Japan as part of an internal competition.
GT86
The name ‘GT86’ references two of the most important sports cars in Toyota’s history – the 2000 GT and the Corolla GT Coupé (AE86). It also comes from the car’s development code ‘086A’. What makes the name particularly clever though, is the fact it’s also a nod to the boxer engine’s 86mm x 86mm square bore and stroke, and the 86mm diameter of the model’s chrome-tipped twin exhausts.
Tercel
Sold for a brief period in the UK during the early 1980s; the ‘Tercel’ got its name from the peregrine falcon. The name is appropriate for a car styled to move through the air as smoothly as possible. Aerodynamic features included moulded resin bumpers and non-standard-shaped headlights that could sit flush with the body.
iQ
The ‘i’ in ‘iQ’ stands for individuality, and hints at the broad range of personalisation options that are available for the car. The Q stands for quality, and also alludes to the model’s cubic form.
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