Top 15 Most Exciting Sounding Car Names

A car's name has a direct psychological impact over our perception of the car itself. Whether it be an evocative name, an exciting name, or a mundane denotation of horsepower, the name has a certain amount of influence over what we think of the car.

Of course, a name isn't directly connected to any tangible or intangible greatness - but if a car has an expressive name, it intrigues us more than if it were simply allocated a number or acronym at birth. In this blog, I'll be aiming to collect and arrange some of the most exciting sounding car names from all of automotive history - with the inclusion of some tuned cars. But, as is the way with such things, I must set a number of provisos that nobody's going to take any notice of anyway...  

What I express here is merely my opinion, and at no point am I deciding on behalf of everyone what is the most exciting sounding car name of all time. I expect everyone to disagree, but if you feel like resorting to the insular and fragile platitudes of telling me I'm wrong because my opinion isn't yours, don't bother, because arrogance – no matter how infinite – is not a weapon to be used to change the subjective nature of this topic, or any.

Of course, you won't actually be reading this, because you'll have already scrolled to the bottom, and you'll already be preparing to scorn me with shallow insults for daring to disagree with you. But that's enough clauses for the internet's simpletons to ignore – it's time to count down what I think are the top 15 most exciting sounding car names. Starting with...  

15: AC Cobra 

Credit: Driveheat

Credit: Driveheat

There's only one thing that can possibly come to mind when hearing the word "Cobra", and that's a particularly deadly type of snake. When you apply that affinity with the word to a car, you know it's going to be something frightening – and that makes it exciting.  

14: Alfa Romeo C52 Disco Volante 

Credit: Old Concept Cars

Credit: Old Concept Cars

The Disco Volante name has seen use on a couple of Alfa Romeos – but the C52 of the early 50's is where it landed first. Emphasis on the "landed" part of that sentence, because "Disco Volante" is Italian for "Flying Saucer". It is a car of such exquisite beauty, it can turn legs of steel to jelly. And its name is one that evokes as much excitement as its body makes a person gasp.  

13: Pagani Zonda

Credit: Pagani

Credit: Pagani

I remember when I first heard the words "Pagani Zonda". My eyes widening, my jaw falling, my very being shaking as I frantically needed to know what kind of a spaceship could deserve such an exciting name. Indeed, upon seeing the Zonda, it didn't disappoint. It is, to me, one of the definitive poster cars of the last 20 years, and its name is consistent with the furor the exterior radiates.  

12: Dodge Viper 

Credit: Dodge

Credit: Dodge

If there's one thing you can guarantee the Americans will do well, it's name a car. The Dodge Viper is one of, if not the most iconic supercar America has ever produced. Last year, it was taken out of production, with some saying that it'll never return. But the sound of its name will forever echo in our minds, intoxicating us with its danger.  

11: Dodge Rampage

Credit: CarGurus

Credit: CarGurus

Whereas the Viper lives up to its dramatic name with a V10 punch, the Dodge Rampage lifts people's expectations to drop them from a great height. The sum of its components could potentially be a great cure for insomnia – but regardless, its name has the ability to enthral, again, with its connection to danger.  

10: Mercury Marauder 

Credit: Mercury

Credit: Mercury

A name briefly resurrected from a bygone era, the Marauder is essentially a Ford Crown Victoria with a 335bhp engine. If the car itself doesn't resonate with sufficient excitement, the name certainly inspires thoughts of something demonic. And that is exciting!  

9: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Credit: Chevrolet

Credit: Chevrolet

The word "Corvette" on its own is fairly enticing – but when followed by "Stingray", it's creates a truly magical combination. A name that first found itself referencing the C2 now poetically bewitches today's C7.  

8: Dodge Challenger/Charger Hellcat 

Credit: Dodge

Credit: Dodge

While I may be a limey, I absolutely adore the Hellcat. It unapologetically lacks sophistication for the benefit of fun, and that's something that appeals to me. It's arguably the most stereotypical American car of the modern era, and its name is a perfect reflection of its manic personality.  

7: Jensen Interceptor 

Credit: swadeology

Credit: swadeology

I'm sure I'm not the only one here who can remember Jeremy Clarkson saying "shall we take the Interceptor tonight, darling?". Interceptor is a wonderful name anyway, but when put in that sentence, it somehow makes it sound even more fantastic!  

6: Shelby Mustang SuperSnake

Credit: Road&Track

Credit: Road&Track

The words "Shelby Mustang" conjure truly mesmerising thoughts on their own, but when aggrandised with "SuperSnake", the excitement intensifies to an all new level. It is enough to inspire images of a deadly snake launching at its prey like the car can launch you down a road.  

5: Ford Thunderbird 

Credit: NetCarShow

Credit: NetCarShow

Any name with "Thunder" in it is going to be a winner, as long as it doesn't precede the word "fart". Thunder and Bird are two seemingly unrelated objects that when joined in a single word, roll off the tongue and into the soul, triggering emotions that have to be felt to be understood.  

4: Bowler Nemesis 

Credit: CarBas

Credit: CarBas

"Nemesis" is almost the sort of thing that you'd imagine a particularly terrifying ride at the theme park would be called. The sort of thing that makes people queue for an eternity just so the coaster can – as the more uncouth amongst us would describe it - make it come out of both ends. While the Bowler Nemesis thankfully doesn't have that effect on the body, its name sends the chills of adrenalin down the spine by its very sound and nature. 

3: Hennessey VelociRaptor 

Credit: Hennessey

Credit: Hennessey

The Raptor name alone is capable of creating a frenzy within a person, but once John Hennessey has taken the car and turned it into a VelociRaptor, that's when every sensation it imbues gets cranked up to the max. To my ears, it's one of the most phenomenally exciting car names of all time.  

2: Aston Martin Vanquish 

Credit: Aston Martin

Credit: Aston Martin

The names of many of the cars in this blog can be described as exciting because of their link to something ominous, dangerous, or perhaps even downright evil. The Vanquish however is the antipode to those things because it signifies the defeat of evil; the slaying of danger. But beyond what we may associate with it psychologically, the moment you say the word "Vanquish", you're abundantly aware of why it's such a fantastic name for a car.  

And now our runner-up has been announced, it's time for us to once again go through a list of honourable mentions...  

Maserati Quattroporte 

Credit: Maserati

Credit: Maserati

Lamborghini Aventador 

Credit: Lamborghini

Credit: Lamborghini

Detomaso Mangusta 

Credit: Top Speed

Credit: Top Speed

Rolls Royce Phantom 

Credit: Rolls Royce

Credit: Rolls Royce

Lancia Stratos 

Credit: NetCarShow

Credit: NetCarShow

Buick Roadmaster 

Credit: NetCarShow

Credit: NetCarShow

Oldsmobile Toronado 

Credit: Wikipedia

Credit: Wikipedia

Bugatti Veyron 

Credit: Bugatti

Credit: Bugatti

Dodge Demon 

Credit: Dodge

Credit: Dodge

1: Aston Martin Valkyrie 

Credit: Aston Martin

Credit: Aston Martin

Originally called the AMRB001 – a name which rolls off the tongue like a square-wheeled bike rolls down a hill – the Valkyrie name was chosen in keeping with Aston's tradition of naming their cars words beginning with "V".  

The car then found itself being referred to under the code name "Nebula" - which many speculated would become the car's production name. In actual fact, the "Nebula" name was an acronym denoting the first two letters of the surname of the car's main designer (Adrian Newey), the company who was mainly responsible for creating the idea and designing it (Red Bull), and the company who gave their name, image, and money to help bring the car from a design to the road (Aston Martin).  

Valkyrie has a particularly special meaning, for it was the name of a Norse Goddess who got to choose who lived and died in battle. Considering it is Aston's attempt at making THE ultimate hypercar, the Norse origins of the name may find themselves poignantly translating to the automotive world.  

Really and truly however, the evocative sound of the Valkyrie's name is something that doesn't really need explaining with reason or poetic drivel, for its very sound as it leaves your lips describes itself to perfection. Valkyrie. 

Written by: Angelo Uccello 

Twitter: @AngeloUccello

Tribe: Speed Machines

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