Car Model Misnomer

**artpogi** · November 17th, 2003 03:18 PM

Buick Masturbation? Embarrassed GM to Rename Car in Canada

Courtesy of Reuters

Just leave it to those Canadians. General Motors Corp will rename its Buick LaCrosse in Canada because the name for the car is slang for masturbation in Quebec, embarrassed officials with the U.S. automaker said on Thursday.

GM officials, who declined to be named, said it had been unaware that LaCrosse was a term for self-gratification among teenagers in French-speaking Quebec.

GM officials in Canada are working on a new name for the car, a sedan that will go on sale next year to replace the Buick Regal.

The mix-up is reminiscent of another GM vehicle with an unfortunate name. In the 1970s, GM exported its Chevrolet Nova to Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, only to be told that Nova translated into "doesn't go". Despite the name, and contrary to popular folklore, the car sold well.

hehehe

**bardigones** · November 17th, 2003 03:52 PM

hahaha. GM should name it Buick Bate for 'Pinas, in case they launch it here....

**yebo** · November 17th, 2003 03:53 PM

same as the mitsubishi pajero, it is known as the montero in the US and latin america. the name change was due to the fact that "pajero" for the latinos literaly means "one who plays with himself" or "one who masturbates".