Can You Name All These Cars Named After Animals?

By: Beth Hendricks
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Name All These Cars Named After Animals?
Image: Wiki Commons by JoachimKohler-HB

About This Quiz

Do you believe cars have personalities? No, we don't mean like "This Ford is happy" or "That Chevrolet is mad." But rather, personalities based on their names? Think about it. Would a big, bad muscle car be perceived differently if it were a Dodge Kitten? Do you think you'd question the speed of a Chevrolet Cheetah? What if it were called a Chevrolet Sloth? Changes things, doesn't it?

There's importance in names, and not just for people. Auto manufacturers go to great pains to select just the right moniker for a vehicle. They have trademarks to consider, negative connotations of words or awkward translations to think about and, quite frankly, the "coolness" factor. Does a vehicle's name convey that it's rugged, powerful, fast or luxurious? 

It's no secret, then, why automakers choose animals to represent their new rides. Nothing says "speed" like a Roadrunner or a Leopard. When you think of something "unusual," your attention might turn to a Beetle or a Panda. You might equate ruggedness with a Ram or a Bronco. Nothing is cuter than a Bluebird or a Rabbit. (OK, maybe those last two are bad examples.)

Can you think of auto manufacturers who have turned to the animal kingdom to inspire their product line? What four- (or more) legged creature has found its way to the back of your vehicle? From Barracudas to Wildcats, we've got a wild list of cars named after animals. See how many you can catch!

1 - Beetle
Wiki Commons by Lothar Spurzem
If someone punches you after seeing one of these cars, don't take it personally. That's just how the game goes. Which vehicle inspires this friendly competition?
Cockroach
Spider
Beetle
Scorpion
26 - VW Rabbit
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
These little guys can multiply quickly ... just like the name for this VW car. Which one is it?
Charger
Buck
Fox
Rabbit
40 - Hudson Wasp
Wiki Commons by Jeremy
This manufacturer was famous for the Hornet, so why not add another stinger? What did they name it?
Deer
Wasp
Squirrel
Fly

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8 - Dodge Viper
Wiki Commons by IQRemix
This Dodge model's name was selected to play off of a competitor's "Cobra." What did they name it?
Viper
Rattler
Constrictor
Anaconda
24 - Ford Raptor
Wiki Commons by RL GNZLZ
Ford went historic - prehistoric, that is - when selecting a name for this truck. What is it?
Falcon
Raptor
Vulture
Eagle
31 - Hudson Hornet
Wiki Commons by Herranderssvensson
Wanna race? Which of these Hudson classics dominated early stock car racing?
Hornet
Wasp
Fly
Ladybug

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32 - Ford Thunderbird
Wiki Commons by Morven
Technically a mythological creature, we're still calling the Ford vehicle named after this supernatural being animal-influenced. What is it?
Trail Hawk
Eagle
Thunderbird
Vulture
6 - Chevrolet Impala
Wiki Commons by Fietsbel
Behind this car's name is an animal whose speed can reach 50 miles per hour. Luckily, the car itself can go even faster. Which one are we talking about?
Camry
Sedona
Impala
Tacoma
23 - Buick Skylark
Wiki Commons by SsmIntrigue
This Buick's styling changed a lot during its five decades, just like the song of the bird it's named for. Which one of these is it?
Albatross
Swan
Flamingo
Skylark

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4 - Corvette Stingray
Wiki Commons by Tuner tom
This car's sleek design is reminiscent of the predatory ocean creature it shares a name with. What is it?
Ford Manatee
Whale Mustang
Camaro Barracuda
Corvette Stingray
27 - Dodge Colt
Wiki Commons by dave_7
It's a "young" name for a small car. Which of these Dodge vehicles shares its name with a young male horse?
Vixen
Colt
Pup
Cub
38 - Ford Pinto
Wiki Commons by dave_7
Ford's subcompact car, sold during the 1970s, sounds more like a food than the horse for which it's named. What is it called?
Appaloosa
Puma
Thunderbird
Pinto

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13 - Mercury Cougar
Wiki Commons by Bene Riobó
When this car first came out, Lincoln-Mercury advertised it as a car "for the man on his way to a Thunderbird." Which one is it?
Dingo
Cougar
Cheetah
Leopard
18 - Mustang
Wiki Commons by Vauxford
It's a horse! It's a plane! It's this popular member of the Ford line-up. Which is it?
Thunderbird
Charger
Mustang
Thoroughbred
22 - Chevrolet Bison
Sherwood Park Chevrolet via YouTube
You can off-road in this vehicle, which is appropriate given the name it shares with a large animal that likes to roam the plains. What is it?
Giraffe
Elephant
Bison
Bongo

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25 - Jaguar
Pixabay by Jarkko Mänty
An animal that means "he who kills with one leap," lends it name to one entire brand of vehicles. Which one are we talking about?
Bobcat
Jaguar
Barracuda
Hellcat
33 - CMC Gazelle
Wiki Commons by BrokenSphere
If a 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK roadster is too rich for your blood, this kit car named after a swift antelope might fit the bill. What was its name?
Ostrich
Gazelle
Puma
Pinto
30 - Plymouth Barracuda
Wiki Commons by Sicnag
It was the world's first pony car, sharing its name with a snake-like fish. What did Plymouth name it?
Barracuda
Dolphin
Stingray
Shark

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28 - Buick Wildcat
Wiki Commons by dave_7
This car has a feline name that's also favored by sports fans in Kentucky. What is it?
Wildcat
Panther
Jaguar
Leopard
20 - Leopard
Wiki Commons by Tennen-Gas
This animal can't change its spots ... but the manufacturer that created it changed its status to "discontinued" in 1999. What is its name?
Hawk
Leopard
Lion
Cobra
39 - AMC Eagle
Wiki Commons by CZmarlin
American Motors Corporation chose an iconic American animal for the name of which of these cars?
Ostrich
Eagle
Condor
Swan

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37 - Mercury Sable
Wiki Commons by David Brooks
A mash-up of a planet name and the name of a small weasel-like mammal indigenous to Russia gives you which of these vehicles?
Otter
Sloth
Sable
Beaver
19 - Road Runner
Wiki Commons by Thomas Vogt
Plymouth paid for the rights to a cartoon character of the same name to advertise this car. Wile E. Coyote got nothing. What car are we referring to?
Coyote
Road Runner
Wildcat
Taurus
10 - Fiat 124 Spider
Wiki Commons by Vauxford
Creepy-crawly! Which of these vehicle names dates back to horse-drawn carriages?
Honey Bee
Tarantula
Spider
Hornet

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5 - Fiat Panda
Wiki Commons by Pava
Don't try to power this car with bamboo ... despite its name. What is it called?
Polar Bear
Koala
Panda
Grizz
29 - Sunbeam Tiger
Wiki Commons by Steve Brown
Agent Maxwell Smart gave this car its stripes, driving it frequently in the "Get Smart" TV series. What was it?
Bear
Tiger
Lion
Zebra
12 - Lamborghini Urus
Wiki Commons by Kevauto
The people at Lamborghini dug deep to find this name for its SUV, an extinct type of cattle. What name did they choose?
Bongo
Marlin
Skylark
Urus

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3 - Ford Bronco
Wiki Commons by RL GNZLZ
If you're of a certain age, you'll probably remember this vehicle for a famous "chase" involving "The Juice." What vehicle is it?
Raptor
Bronco
Charger
Pelican
36 - Cheetah
Wiki Commons by Matthew Lamb
This Bill Thomas-built sports car had a large cat name and a Corvette engine. What was it called?
Antelope
Puma
Cheetah
Zebra
15 - Volkswagen Fox
Wiki Commons by Matthias93
A subcompact choice, a bunch of these VW models in one place might be called a "skulk," after their animal alter ego. What is it?
Hyena
Frog
Fox
Hornet

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21 - Dingo
Wiki Commons by Toyotacoronaexsaloon
Say the name of this vehicle in your best Australian accent. What animal is represented?
Emu
Koala
Wallaby
Dingo
2 - Porsche Cayman
Wiki Commons by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)
Later, gator! Which member of the reptile family did Porsche choose for one of its models?
Cayman
Crocodile
Alligator
Iguana
17 - Datsun B210 Honeybee
Yo Soy via YouTube
This scaled-down Datsun B-210 was made to appeal to to budget buyers; its black-and-yellow striping was a fun add-on. What was it called?
Horsefly
Wasp
Hornet
Honeybee

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11 - Dodge Charger
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Nothing says "rugged" like a horse trained to do battle. Which vehicle bears a name meaning the same?
Challenger
Charger
Bison
Bronco
16 - AMC Marlin
Wiki Commons by CZmarlin
This car, like the fish it's named for, was relatively rare, in production for only two years under the Rambler and AMC names. Which one are we talking about?
Shark
Stingray
Barracuda
Marlin
34 - Mazda Bongo
Wiki Commons by TTTNIS
It sounds like it's named for a musical instrument, but it's actually named for a type of antelope. Which one are we talking about?
Pronghorn
Wildebeest
Jackrabbit
Bongo

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14 - Porsche Macan
Wiki Commons by Vauxford
In the market for a new car? This one conveys power and an air of mystery, with a name that translates to "tiger." Which is it?
Macan
Toucan
Penguin
Hellcat
35 - Reliant Robin
Wiki Commons by Charles01
The TV show, "Top Gear," famously rolled this car ... not so reliant, after all. What is the model?
Robin
Cardinal
Blue Jay
Hummingbird
7 - Datsun Bluebird
Wiki Commons by Jeremy
Datsun, a now-defunct auto manufacturer, elected to name this model after a territorial winged creature. Which one did they choose?
Parrot
Sparrow
Cardinal
Bluebird

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9 - Dodge Ram
Wiki Commons by Whydoesitfeelsogood
Dodge produced this truck, naming it after an animal with up to 30 pounds in horns alone! Which is it?
Gazelle
Ram
Bison
Antelope