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How Do They Come Up With Those Automotive Logos?

Have you ever wondered was your car logo meant, or how they arrived at that seemingly unrelated design?

Some are pretty obvious, others are pretty dated, and some we frankly have no clue. We know some are related solely to the founder, while others are  cloaked in obscurity, but there is a bit of history behind each of them waiting to be discovered if you take the time to look.

 Here are a few of the not so obvious to ponder on your quest:

 Lamborghini: The Raging Bull

Did you know that the Lamborghini charging bull stands for the founder's, Ferruccio Lamborghini, zodiacal sign the Taurus?

 

 

 BMW: The Airplane Propeller

How about BMW’s propeller image had its origins in World War I, when the Bavarian Luftwaffe flew planes painted in Bayern blue and white, affording the pilot a view through his propeller of blue and white segments. This inspired the stylized design.

 

 
Lexus: The Lexus "L"

Or better yet when someone on the branding team of Toyota heard the "Alexis" proposal. Well it seems the person didn't hear a woman's name but "a Lexus" instead. And the name stuck from that point on, and all models sport the now iconic “L”.



 

 

So take a look at your favorite and tell us if you think the logo and history are befitting the brand name. 

Some of them may surprise you!


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How Do They Come Up With Those Automotive Logos?



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ShredmoShredmo - 2/15/2008 1:45:20 PM
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You have a great point, but most products that are marketed have logos as well as a font that is just as easily recognized as a logo. It is part of branding. Think of Addidas, Mc Donalds, etc.

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lexusis350lexusis350 - 2/15/2008 2:45:36 PM
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I think it's to make the back of the car look more balanced. There's the Logo on the top, and then the model insignia on one of the sides which leaves the other side empty and unbalanced looking.

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VISOVISO - 2/15/2008 2:49:33 PM
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I think it is tradition. All Asian brands list name and logo while European brands on have their logo. For example, Hyundai does both while VW does only logo. I do not think it has anything to do with recognition. Europeans love to de-badge their cars (you can order them that way), so no one knows the type of series you may have.

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lexusis350lexusis350 - 2/15/2008 2:52:41 PM
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Honda doesn't do it. And I think Toyota stopped too.

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BimmerFanBimmerFan - 2/15/2008 3:40:47 PM
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Lexus plasters its name on the car because people will just assume its a Toyota.

To be fair, My BMWs have roundels on the front, rear, steering wheel and all 4 wheels. My M roadster in particular has roundels covering the side blinkers! In total, I have 8 visible roundels on the car! Overkill? Probably. Im not even going to mention all the roundels stamped on just about every component under the hood.


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enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 2/15/2008 6:42:11 PM
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yes, lexus needs to WRITE 'lexus' on every car so that it's not mistaken for a toyota.



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lexusis350lexusis350 - 2/16/2008 4:15:56 AM
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You people are sad. Are you seriously judging a car by how many logos they use? Grow up, for the sake of us all.

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DoctorInfinitiDoctorInfiniti - 2/18/2008 3:39:00 PMView My AgentSpace
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for the neophytes:.....

LEXUS means "luxury export united states"

Infiniti logo is the "omega" symbol signifying Intinity
not Mt. Fuji

bonzai !!!!

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lexusis350lexusis350 - 2/18/2008 5:59:31 PM
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I can guarantee you that Lexus doesn't stand for Luxury Export United States. Lexus IMPORTS to the United States. I'm 100% sure that the word Lexus comes from the German word for luxury, which is "luxus". I read that on Lexus.com.

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MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 2/15/2008 1:51:04 PM
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Actually Lexus is derived from the German word "luxus". Still sounds better than BMW or Audi, which sound like gibberish to me. I mean they don't sound as expensive or classy like Lexus or Mercedes when you pronounce them. I'm not saying they are bad cars but you gotta agree with some of my points at least.

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Agent009Agent009 - 2/15/2008 1:54:41 PMView My AgentSpace
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I think there are several variations of the origin of the Lexus name and logo.


MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 2/15/2008 1:57:48 PM
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I'm a huge Lexus fan and I recall reading that Lexus admitted that they took the word luxus and changed it to Lexus. My memory might be a bit shaky here but I am almost positive it's true.


MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 2/15/2008 2:05:29 PM
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I'm saying Lexus and Mercedes sound upscale and classy. BMW and Audi don't.


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 2/15/2008 2:15:58 PM
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Congratulation's YOU WIN - dumbest comment of the day.


MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 2/15/2008 2:25:05 PM
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Geez you Euro fanboys need to take a chill pill. Don't like my opinion, live with it.


VISOVISO - 2/15/2008 2:55:17 PM
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Dude, get real! What's so special about the Lexus name as compared to Audi and BMW. BMW stand for something specific as Bavarian Motor Works which was initially based on building airplane engines. Audi means "listen" in latin and is derived from the German "horch" which meand to hear. Horch was the name of the Audi founder and this automobile name goes back to the late 19th century when Audi was named Horch. Both Audi and BMW names signify a long standing heritage of automobiles. Unlike Lexus, these names have substance to them


Htay7500Htay7500 - 2/15/2008 3:51:13 PM
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and history too.


MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 2/16/2008 7:40:15 AM
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Why was I deboosted so badly? Man you Euro kids need to seriously lighten up. I didn't exactly slam your precious brands, I merely stated an opinion. What happened to the respect?


BFABSBFABS - 2/15/2008 2:03:57 PM
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I think Lexus made their name start with an L because if you are searching for Mercedes in a Drop-down list you will always see Lexus as well (quite a good piece of marketing). Because after L comes ....M. Acura is trying to say Acurate....in design, build quality and engineering.

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w209w114w209w114 - 2/15/2008 2:05:05 PMView My AgentSpace
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Or better yet when someone on the branding team of Toyota heard the "Alexis" proposal. Well it seems the person didn't hear a woman's name but "a Lexus" instead. And the name stuck from that point on, and all models sport the now iconic “L”.


If this is true, then its pathetic.

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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 2/15/2008 2:17:54 PM
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How did this, like just about everything on Autospies become an Anti-Lexus rant, which then rurns into a Lexus vs BMW argument?

This site is infuriating.

Can we just be grateful to 009 for posting such a cool link that will waste way too much of our workdays.

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Agent009Agent009 - 2/15/2008 2:45:56 PMView My AgentSpace
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They spent a lot of time researching all of this information.


VISOVISO - 2/15/2008 2:58:53 PM
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It was started by the ignorant, meant to put-down comments of MichaelTaylor. So, Euro Trash didn't start it, but the Rice Boys did.


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 2/15/2008 3:07:58 PM
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actually it was started by xdrive's brand recognition comment, but thanks for keeping it up.


jgf330xijgf330xi - 2/15/2008 2:25:47 PM
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Here is the offical Storie(s) of the Roundel

______________
The BMW Roundel, one of the world's most recognised and revered commercial symbols, celebrates its 90th anniversary this month.

In July 1917 Franz Josef Popp registered the name Bayerische Motoren Werke, thus distancing the new company from the Rapp Motorenwerke. This was a necessary move if the new company was to find new clients and prosper. The name was registered but as yet there was no new logo…

It was on 5 October 1917 that the BMW trademark was registered with the Imperial Trade Mark Roll under No. 221388. It featured the circular design of the Rapp logo but with the letters BMW at the top of the outer ring. The inner featured quadrants in the Bavarian Free State colours of blue and white - but in the opposed order - as it was illegal to use national symbols in a commercial trademark.
The design was not in any way connected with aircraft engines or propellers. The idea that the blue and white had anything to do with spinning propellers comes from a 1929 advertisement, which featured aircraft with the image of the Roundel in the rotating propellers. This advertisement came at the beginning of the Great Depression, which coincided with BMW acquiring the license to build Pratt & Whitney radial aircraft engines. The advertising department used the Roundel and BMW heritage in an attempt to increase sales of the new radial motors.

......



http://www.bmwmotorrad.co.za/bikes/news/default.asp?Id=812&tier=search


______________-




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Agent009Agent009 - 2/15/2008 2:44:25 PMView My AgentSpace
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Interesting you uncovered an urban legend. One of many I assume..


jgf330xijgf330xi - 2/15/2008 3:04:19 PM
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http://www.motorcycle.com/images/news/bmwround01.jpg


w209w114w209w114 - 2/15/2008 3:07:14 PMView My AgentSpace
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You leave me speechless sometimes Josh. I admit I dont know what to make of you. Are you even real?

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RupertRupert - 2/15/2008 7:57:12 PMView My AgentSpace
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I'm alive I'm real I guess

That's quite a butchering of cogito ergo sum isn't it?

Descartes would be spinning in his grave...

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PlanBPlanB - 2/15/2008 3:00:07 PM
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Whoever put the logo site together did a great job.

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Agent009Agent009 - 2/15/2008 3:01:37 PMView My AgentSpace
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It is one of the best I have seen


VISOVISO - 2/16/2008 1:14:39 PM
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I don't think Josh can comprehend what you mean Rupert. That is above his head at this time. Remember he still in Junior High.


dumpstydumpsty - 2/15/2008 3:57:02 PM
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Interesting piece about the FIAT name and logo. Lexus, not so interesting.

Most older car companies have names that either mean something or was a founder's name...which makes sense. The younger companies have fabricated names to aid with the marketing for their particular brand of product.

The most interesting names are those that have withstood the test of time and are still around today.

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M35MTM35MT - 2/15/2008 5:45:36 PMView My AgentSpace
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I always thought "Lexus" came about from "roLEX"us...everyone knows Rolex, and it has serious cache...someone had to think of that.

Acura = classic Japanese branding in the 80s and 90s:

ACURA Acurate
INTEGRA Integrity
LEGACY Legacy
LEGEND Legend
VIGOR Vigorous
Impreza Impressive?

I'm sure there's others...


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jeffgalljeffgall - 2/15/2008 7:24:05 PM
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Latest research indicates that the BMW logo isnt actually the propeller as most think, but a throwback to the Bavarian flag which has blue and white checks of the same color.

On another note, my 2006 Mustang GT doesn't say "Mustang" on the outside. The only place where "Mustang" is printed on the entire car is on the door sills, which you can't see from the outside or inside when the doors are closed. The brand relies solely on the prancing horse logo on the grille and trunk.

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AE86AE86 - 2/15/2008 7:41:26 PM
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I like how Toyota, Lexus and Scion logos are all interchangeable. Toyota Production System in action!

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huu76huu76 - 2/15/2008 9:57:34 PM
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I like Peugeot's.

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eric452eric452 - 2/15/2008 10:22:29 PMView My AgentSpace
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i luv peugeot
especially the 206


AMGC55AMGC55 - 2/16/2008 12:22:55 AM
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Just to throw this in there.... I really like how the corvette uses its own badge and not the chevy bowtie... I think it really makes it feel more exclusive than just another chevy... i think the mustang cobra does that too... i kinda like that

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RupertRupert - 2/16/2008 7:25:53 AMView My AgentSpace
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in Europe the Corvette isn't actually badged Chevrolet anywhere, nor is sold through Chevy dealerships. In Britain at least it's sold through Cadillac dealers.


ShredmoShredmo - 2/16/2008 9:23:41 AM
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The (Chevrolet) bow tie does appear on the Corvette logo however, it is on one of the flags that comprises the logo.

On another note, Rupert, again you add great info to this site. In all honesty, I am beginning to think you are one of the most informative members on auto spies. Thank you for your contributions.


RupertRupert - 2/16/2008 11:31:41 AMView My AgentSpace
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Aww shucks, you're making me blush.
Don't embarrass me. :P


guambombboyguambombboy - 2/16/2008 1:23:44 AM
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Subaru is Japanese for Pleiades, a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus. So when you look at their logo, it is a logo of a cluster of stars.

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MichaelTaylorMichaelTaylor - 2/16/2008 7:43:11 AM
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What! Now you're comparing me to the forum retard? I'm no fan of Josh. Sometimes he says something meaningful but most of the time he talks gibberish. So please don't compare a serious poster like me to some retarded kid.

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mwrmmgmwrmmg - 2/16/2008 2:16:29 AMView My AgentSpace
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BMW double kidney - that's Hitler's moustache
FIAT -Fiat Is Always Trouble

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EnnNorakEnnNorak - 2/21/2008 10:26:15 PM
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Are you suggesting that BMW is a Nazi car?


huu76huu76 - 2/16/2008 5:22:50 PM
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BMW3, Xdrive,
What a lame attempt at diminishing the competition's image.
Anyone want to clarify what the BMW on top of their propellor represents? It can't be their to remind ppl what they're driving right? (since BMW has brand recognition unlike Lexus who has to spell out their name).

BigManWheels maybe?
BreakdownsMaterializeWeekly?
BotoxMen&Women?
BringMeWrench?
BackagainMondayWithsameproblem?
I know, it stands for BlandMediocreWashedup.

I wouldn't have to guess if they just left the BMW off their emblem.

Maybach must have no recognition either.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Maybach_62_rear.jpg/800px-Maybach_62_rear.jpg

Some older Ferrari's have the name spelled out on them. Some logos had the name written right on it. Like nobody knows what the black stallion is.

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huu76huu76 - 2/18/2008 12:44:05 AM
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I guess Maybach hasn't made it then, nor have Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

It's probably just the 3-stooges saving a few cents by cutting back on letters.

Perhaps its just me, but most of the time I don't even notice the names on the back of an Infiniti or a Lexus once I see the logo, but I have a brain.

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