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t. PAGE 16, WHJBYFRRPRUS% WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER8, 1i9 c~) by. Jil Mclntosh A rose by any other nme. ... well, it would smeil as sweet, but would it Bell? Thates the dilemma faced by al automakers whenever the question of a new model cornes up. Even the flnest cars will be difficult to selI if the narne isn't poplar with the public. N4aines have corne from fanillies, from mythology, from ships and planes. Today many are computer-generated, but they al share a cominon goal: to grali the pubies attention and get thern into the showrooms. Where do they- corne from? Heres the story on just a few of the thousands of vehicles that have kept manufacturers awake at night, wondering if it sounds jsut right: CHÊYSIÉER - The cars are nained after Walter P.~ Chrysler, who had been president of both Buick and Willys. He was known for his ability to take companies frorn the brink of bankruptcy and maie them successful. He acquired the ailing Maxwell-Chalrners company in 1923 and continued to build the Maxwell, while turning out the first car to bear his naine in 1925. DODGE - Brothers John and Horaoe Dodge were independent mechanics. who built ail of Ford's engines for bis early cars. They held a considerable amount of Ford shares and by 1914 had enough funds te begin a coxnpany of their own. The flrst models were known as Dodge Brothers. They were bought out in 1928 by Walter Chrysler, who paid $175 million for the company. PLYMOUTH AND DESOTO - In the 1920s, Chryslers were luxurious, expensive vebicles and Walter Chrysier wanted a lower-priced lime to compete with Ford and Chevrolet. In 1928, hie brought out two of them. The least expensive, Plymouth, was nanied for the landing point of the Pilgrixns and used the Mayflower sbip as its hood ornament. The sixteenth-century Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto lent his naine to the slightly higher-priced lime and bis helmeted head becarne the cornpany mascot. FORD - Naturally enough, Henry Ford named bis car8 after himself. His individual car limes used alphabet names, but only after considerable thought on the matter since the Model T was originaily nained the "Fordinobile." EDSEL - Basically no better and no worse than any other car, the Edsel suffered frorn being the wrong car at the wrong time. Bult from model years 1958 through 1960, the Edsel's failure cost Ford so much that even today the company wiil not divulge the exact aniount. Many naines were rejected, amnong them Mongoose Civique and Utopian Turtletop of alI things. Finaily someone decided that the new lime would be a fitting memoriil to Henry Fordes only son Edsel, who had died of stomach cancer in 1943. Instead of a mernorial, the Edsel entered Ainerican slang as a terni for a massive flop. MUSTANG - Fordes popular model, introduced in 1964, would seem to be straight-forward. But de *t the chrome pony on the grille, the Mustang is named mot for the horse, but for the Mustang fighter plane. .SEE PAGE A3 1989 new car highlights By Greg Wilsoni Last year, North Anierican car niakers introduced an unusuaily large number of new models. This year, the ernphasis is on îrnproving eisting models. The trend in the 1990 model year is tewards bigger and more powerful engines, more attractive and functional interiors, and more safety features. Convertibles are making a corneback. Safety bas become a major facter in, the purchase of new cars. Autemakers are now installing air bags, rear tbree-point seat belt, standard daytime runnimg lights, anti-lock brake systems, ;;d other technical safety-related features. Not ail new dornestic cars are being introduced this faIl. Sorne manufacturers, such as Ford, will be staggering introduction of their new models throughout the 1990 model year. GENERAL M(YIORS General Motors bas the biggest share of the car mnarket in Canada. Last year, it sold 36 per cent of ail cars and 24 per cent of ail light trucks, including vans and mini-vans. The most important new niodel from, GM in 1990 is the new Chevrolet Lumina APV mini van, and its Pontiac counterpart, the Trans Sport. With sleek styling, roorn for up te seven people, and a stanaard 3.1 litre V6 engine, the Luniina APV and -the Trans Sport hope te capture part of the fastest-growing vehicle market in Canada. GM's mid-size cars, the Oldsmobile Cutlass Suprerne, the Buick Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Chevrolet Lumina, are now ail available in two- and four-door models. The Cutlass Suprerne is also available as a new convertible with a targa-type rol bar. The fuel-efficient' Chevrolet *Sprint and Pontiac Firefly wiil be available as very snappy-looking convertibles, priced at around $13,000. Other new convertibles from GM include. the luxurious two-seater Buick Reatta and the compact Chevrolet Beretta. The Chevrolet Cavalier, Corsica, and Beretta, and the Pontiac Sunbird, and Tempest al SEE PAGE A3 I. #~ -