Marketing Euphemisms
Discussion
I was looking up numbers of the Kona N on the road following that story, and noticed the large number of "N-Line" models, which made me think how at some point, manufacturers have agreed that "Line" is a marketing euphemism for "Fake". So "AMG-Line" is a fake AMG, same with N-Line, ST-Line etc.
In the old days you had to buy the looky-likey parts for your base model yourself in the aftermarket and tell your insurance, now you can buy (finance) a car straight from the manufacturer with the big wheels and bodykit to resemble the performance model.
The other common term is "Blue" meaning "Green" or "environmentally friendly", although this is less common now there was a period of Bluemotion, Bluetec, AdBlue etc. In this case manufacturers were legally prohibited from calling a car model "green", since it doesn't benefit the environment, it only has a smaller detrimental effect.
Sniff Petrol wrote an amusing column somewhere on how "Sport" meant "Not as Good" aka sh!t, so the "Range Rover Sport" is a less good Range Rover, etc, although I can't now find it. "M Sport" BMWs could be another example as an alternative to "Line".
I guess recently you could argue that "Assist" is used as a euphemism for "Interfere", e.g. Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Assist etc.
What other marketing newspeak have you noticed?
samoht said:
In the old days you had to buy the looky-likey parts for your base model yourself in the aftermarket and tell your insurance, now you can buy (finance) a car straight from the manufacturer with the big wheels and bodykit to resemble the performance model.
VW saw this as an opportunity and did the Golf Driver which looked very similar to the GTI to the normal person. There may have been examples previously but I can't think of them.I thought "blue" was just "eco" to Germans - they've been using this label for over 45 years;
https://www.blauer-engel.de/en
https://www.blauer-engel.de/en
samoht said:
I was looking up numbers of the Kona N on the road following that story, and noticed the large number of "N-Line" models, which made me think how at some point, manufacturers have agreed that "Line" is a marketing euphemism for "Fake". So "AMG-Line" is a fake AMG, same with N-Line, ST-Line etc.
In the old days you had to buy the looky-likey parts for your base model yourself in the aftermarket and tell your insurance, now you can buy (finance) a car straight from the manufacturer with the big wheels and bodykit to resemble the performance model.
The other common term is "Blue" meaning "Green" or "environmentally friendly", although this is less common now there was a period of Bluemotion, Bluetec, AdBlue etc. In this case manufacturers were legally prohibited from calling a car model "green", since it doesn't benefit the environment, it only has a smaller detrimental effect.
Sniff Petrol wrote an amusing column somewhere on how "Sport" meant "Not as Good" aka sh!t, so the "Range Rover Sport" is a less good Range Rover, etc, although I can't now find it. "M Sport" BMWs could be another example as an alternative to "Line".
I guess recently you could argue that "Assist" is used as a euphemism for "Interfere", e.g. Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Assist etc.
What other marketing newspeak have you noticed?
Mercedes apparently started using the ‘ blue’ tag because they disliked ( euphemism) the Green Party.In the old days you had to buy the looky-likey parts for your base model yourself in the aftermarket and tell your insurance, now you can buy (finance) a car straight from the manufacturer with the big wheels and bodykit to resemble the performance model.
The other common term is "Blue" meaning "Green" or "environmentally friendly", although this is less common now there was a period of Bluemotion, Bluetec, AdBlue etc. In this case manufacturers were legally prohibited from calling a car model "green", since it doesn't benefit the environment, it only has a smaller detrimental effect.
Sniff Petrol wrote an amusing column somewhere on how "Sport" meant "Not as Good" aka sh!t, so the "Range Rover Sport" is a less good Range Rover, etc, although I can't now find it. "M Sport" BMWs could be another example as an alternative to "Line".
I guess recently you could argue that "Assist" is used as a euphemism for "Interfere", e.g. Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Assist etc.
What other marketing newspeak have you noticed?
The more experienced and mature members of this forum (2 euphemisms as a starter) will recall those useful street corner car accessory shops which were a feature of all towns. You could buy - certainly for British Leyland stuff- badges and trim from the “ better/ sporty” models which had, no doubt, been liberated by the enterprising workforce. These were not simply a plastichrome sticker which read ‘Sport’ but the real thing. Interesting that car makers have rendered this obsolete with their R- Line ,etc
samoht said:
I was looking up numbers of the Kona N on the road following that story, and noticed the large number of "N-Line" models, which made me think how at some point, manufacturers have agreed that "Line" is a marketing euphemism for "Fake". So "AMG-Line" is a fake AMG, same with N-Line, ST-Line etc.
In the old days you had to buy the looky-likey parts for your base model yourself in the aftermarket and tell your insurance, now you can buy (finance) a car straight from the manufacturer with the big wheels and bodykit to resemble the performance model.
The other common term is "Blue" meaning "Green" or "environmentally friendly", although this is less common now there was a period of Bluemotion, Bluetec, AdBlue etc. In this case manufacturers were legally prohibited from calling a car model "green", since it doesn't benefit the environment, it only has a smaller detrimental effect.
Sniff Petrol wrote an amusing column somewhere on how "Sport" meant "Not as Good" aka sh!t, so the "Range Rover Sport" is a less good Range Rover, etc, although I can't now find it. "M Sport" BMWs could be another example as an alternative to "Line".
I guess recently you could argue that "Assist" is used as a euphemism for "Interfere", e.g. Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Assist etc.
What other marketing newspeak have you noticed?
More weird PH-groupthink here that has oddly persisted. AMG-Line, R-line etc are not fake anything. There have never (or at least none that I have seen) been any pretences in marketing of these models as to their performance. It’s really quite simple: People may want to have a slightly more sporty/aggressive look to their car the same way people would have chosen an Avantgarde with say wood trim etc. Sometimes this look or “line” (think design lines of a car…) is accomplished with lowered suspension or other things that may also impact the cars driving characteristics.In the old days you had to buy the looky-likey parts for your base model yourself in the aftermarket and tell your insurance, now you can buy (finance) a car straight from the manufacturer with the big wheels and bodykit to resemble the performance model.
The other common term is "Blue" meaning "Green" or "environmentally friendly", although this is less common now there was a period of Bluemotion, Bluetec, AdBlue etc. In this case manufacturers were legally prohibited from calling a car model "green", since it doesn't benefit the environment, it only has a smaller detrimental effect.
Sniff Petrol wrote an amusing column somewhere on how "Sport" meant "Not as Good" aka sh!t, so the "Range Rover Sport" is a less good Range Rover, etc, although I can't now find it. "M Sport" BMWs could be another example as an alternative to "Line".
I guess recently you could argue that "Assist" is used as a euphemism for "Interfere", e.g. Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Assist etc.
What other marketing newspeak have you noticed?
Gibbler290 said:
More weird PH-groupthink here that has oddly persisted. AMG-Line, R-line etc are not fake anything. There have never (or at least none that I have seen) been any pretences in marketing of these models as to their performance. It’s really quite simple: People may want to have a slightly more sporty/aggressive look to their car the same way people would have chosen an Avantgarde with say wood trim etc. Sometimes this look or “line” (think design lines of a car…) is accomplished with lowered suspension or other things that may also impact the cars driving characteristics.
Making cars look a lot like the halo models while having none of the associated performance is essentially the same as making your 1.0 fiesta look like an XR2 in the 80s.They're pretend AMG/M/S models just the same. Oh it's got lowered suspension and massive wheels to deploy the huge power and fit the huge brakes. Nope, it's to look like it has huge power while being less comfortable than the standard one.
This has been going on forever. I recall an Escort Mk 2 Harrier that was less than a Sport.
A Renault 5 GTX that used the 1.7 engine to get some GT Turbo stragglers.
The Fiesta used to have the S version below the ST( back in the original series, there was an S before they launched the SuperSport), Honda Civic had an S version.
So the "Line" is just a more overt link to the halo model.
A Renault 5 GTX that used the 1.7 engine to get some GT Turbo stragglers.
The Fiesta used to have the S version below the ST( back in the original series, there was an S before they launched the SuperSport), Honda Civic had an S version.
So the "Line" is just a more overt link to the halo model.
[/quote]
More weird PH-groupthink here that has oddly persisted. AMG-Line, R-line etc are not fake anything. There have never (or at least none that I have seen) been any pretences in marketing of these models as to their performance. It’s really quite simple: People may want to have a slightly more sporty/aggressive look to their car the same way people would have chosen an Avantgarde with say wood trim etc. Sometimes this look or “line” (think design lines of a car…) is accomplished with lowered suspension or other things that may also impact the cars driving characteristics.
[/quote]
Well the uniformed who buy these and care more about perception than performance, seem to think these line models are the same as the real deal, so I’d agree in a way they are “fake”
There are people who like the look of the performance models, but don't want the full fat version. They don't care, or they aren't willing or able to pay the extra purchase and running costs, may even want to actively avoid things like hard suspension. Seems perfectly reasonable to cater to those people.
It's just choice if you're going to have trim lines then you have to name them and if you're going to name them you might as well appeal to the demographic you're aiming at hence AMG line, S line, M sport to ape the full fat versions, they give you the looks without the performance and costs and the UK seems to like them hence most of the other lines that used to be around have been dropped.
I agree with the Assist vs Interference, as that's exactly what it is.
Not all of these are pretend models though, some are distinct from anything else in the range.
The Aus-spec i30 N Line we’ve got has an engine/gearbox/suspension set up that’s found on no other i30.
With 200bhp (it’s a version of the 1.6T found in the i20N), 6sp manual and independent rear suspension it’s fun and much more i30 N Lite than i30 At The Make-Up Counter.
It was also around 60% of the cost of an N to buy at the time too and it also doesn’t make farty noises all the damn time either!
Can’t offer anything on the others though…
The Aus-spec i30 N Line we’ve got has an engine/gearbox/suspension set up that’s found on no other i30.
With 200bhp (it’s a version of the 1.6T found in the i20N), 6sp manual and independent rear suspension it’s fun and much more i30 N Lite than i30 At The Make-Up Counter.
It was also around 60% of the cost of an N to buy at the time too and it also doesn’t make farty noises all the damn time either!
Can’t offer anything on the others though…
otolith said:
There are people who like the look of the performance models, but don't want the full fat version. .
They are not "performance" models at all, that's the whole point. They're fake. I take your point that people might prefer the look of the real performance model, but it's still living off the kudos of the real thing, ie feeling good thinking others see you in a better car than it really is.Also the thing with the lesser AMGs is they're not. They're produced on the factory line by MB, rather than at the AMG facility where some parts (ie engine) are hand assembled (used to be? Don't know).
samoht said:
Sniff Petrol wrote an amusing column somewhere on how "Sport" meant "Not as Good" aka sh!t, so the "Range Rover Sport" is a less good Range Rover,
Although at least it is a proper Rangie unlike the aspiring Essex permatanned nail 'technicians' fave chariot of choice invariably adorned with a hideous Chavplate for extra bonus points..... the cringeworthy and pretentious cheapo Range Rover Evoque....a prime example of marketing tat over substance.LuS1fer said:
This has been going on forever. I recall an Escort Mk 2 Harrier that was less than a Sport.
A Renault 5 GTX that used the 1.7 engine to get some GT Turbo stragglers.
The Fiesta used to have the S version below the ST( back in the original series, there was an S before they launched the SuperSport), Honda Civic had an S version.
So the "Line" is just a more overt link to the halo model.
Some are quite honest alternatives for those wanting decent power but keeping the car otherwise fairly standard on soft suspension and cheap as chips tyre sizes, an S badged Civic usually had the 2 litre engine from the typeR but in detuned form.A Renault 5 GTX that used the 1.7 engine to get some GT Turbo stragglers.
The Fiesta used to have the S version below the ST( back in the original series, there was an S before they launched the SuperSport), Honda Civic had an S version.
So the "Line" is just a more overt link to the halo model.
I've always been a fan of unpretentious standard looking cars with bigger engines, in the case of Honda 2 litre a superb long lived trouble free vehicle, daughter had 2 04/05 plate Type S Civics which she hammered to hell over hundreds of thousands of miles for her work wiithout the slightest hiccup from either.
popeyewhite said:
otolith said:
There are people who like the look of the performance models, but don't want the full fat version. .
They are not "performance" models at all, that's the whole point. They're fake. I take your point that people might prefer the look of the real performance model, but it's still living off the kudos of the real thing, ie feeling good thinking others see you in a better car than it really is.Also the thing with the lesser AMGs is they're not. They're produced on the factory line by MB, rather than at the AMG facility where some parts (ie engine) are hand assembled (used to be? Don't know).
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