The interesting naming history of the Volkswagen car models doesn’t play out with just the list posted in our previous article. There are many other models that deserve to be mentioned and have their naming explained. It’s always like that with big brands like VW. Here’s some of the car model names that are worth explaining:

VW Phaeton

The first part of this article series was inspired mainly by the naming of Volkswagen Atlas. We can’t deny that Greek mythology is surely a big interest to the VW brand namers, because there is another car model that derives its name from the Greeks. Phaeton was a god who lost control of the chariot that pulled the sun across the sky. In the 19th century, a phaeton was a specific type of carriage, one with large wheels and an open body designed for speed. In the early days of the auto industry, the name was sometimes applied to open-topped, powerful vehicles – and while the Phaeton was never built as a convertible, the powerful sense of the name made it a natural for a luxury sedan and wagon.

VW Phaeton

Tiguan

Ahead of its launch in 2009, Volkswagen teamed with a German automotive magazine to poll readers about what the new compact SUV should be named. The choices included Namib, Rockton, Samun, Nanuk and Tiguan – a portmanteau of the German words for tiger and iguana. It’s also the latest in a series of animal-inspired names, along with Rabbit and Fox.

VW Tiguan, Second Generation

VW CC

The Volkswagen CC has very short and simple story behind its name. The CC is just an acronym for comfort coupe.  The brand decided that the odds of naming the model after its straightforward description would be good marketing. For a high-class sports car it definitely sounds as a good name and probably worked good within the long-term marketing strategy of VW.

Volkswagen CC

EOS

The EOS is another reference to a Greek god – the goddess of the dawn. A curios fact: The Eos stopped production in May 2015. The Eos was a standalone model with all new body panels, although it shared  platform and components with the Volkswagen Golf (Mk5). The wheelbase matches the Golf Mk5 and Jetta.

VW EOS

Do you have a favourite car brand? Do you follow closely how a car brand chooses to name its car models? You can share your observations and conclusions in the comments. We’ll be happy to read it and discuss it together.

Read our previous article about the naming of VW car models.

Read also:

5 interesting facts about the Tesla naming

The fail ing naming Ford’s e-car model

Audi and Volvo – the Latin origin of their names