A new Instagram filter will help drivers feel more connected to their cars – by giving their vehicle a name.
The tool, which is available at the @VolkswagenUK Instagram account, lets motorists scroll through a list of common car nicknames, until they find one that suits their own car.
Some of the top comedy nicknames given to vehicles include Deeney, Bumble, Dreadnought – and The Beast. And other bizarre monikers include The Flying Banana, The Mystery Mark, and Kentucky Fried Ostrich.
It comes as a survey of 1,500 drivers found that one in three have christened their car – with 34% saying a motor without a moniker is “missing something”.
Some of the top sources of inspiration when choosing a car name include its paint colour, its licence plate, and its make or model. For instance, common nicknames include “Tig” or “Tiggy” for a Volkswagen Tiguan, and “Idris”, for an ID.5.
Meanwhile, others have taken inspiration from TV or movies with one naming their vehicle “Gandalf the Grey Golf”, while another opted for “Pamela Vanderson”.
The research was commissioned by Volkswagen ahead of National Name Your Car Day on October 2. The manufacturer has arguably one of the most famous named cars of all time – a Beetle known as “Herbie: The Love Bug”.
A spokesman for Volkswagen said: “Naming your car isn't just a tradition, it's a celebration of the bond you share. It's like giving your trusty steed a name before embarking on a grand adventure.
“Every car has a story, and giving it a nickname is like writing the first chapter of a lifelong novel filled with road trips, memories, and more.”
The research found 32% believe a car can have “a real personality” – with 31% of nickname-givers naming theirs as soon as they get it.
But 37% will give it a few weeks and wait for inspiration to present itself, as they get to know their new pride and joy.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) even claim to feel more protective of their vehicle once they’ve given it a name to know it by. And 70% of those polled, via OnePoll, often think back on old cars they owned in the past, and the quirky nicknames they had.
To give people inspiration for their own car names, the carmaker has produced an Instagram filter at @VolkswagenUK, that lets you scroll through a list of common nicknames until you find one that fits your motor.
The Volkswagen spokesman added: “Your car is more than just a machine, it's a loyal companion that's there for you through thick and thin.
“It’s clear to see, from how many car owners bestow a nickname on their car, how dear to the nation’s hearts cars can become. So, if your four-wheeled friend doesn’t have a nickname yet, this checklist for inspiration could help you come up with one.”
Sue Smith, 49, from Porthcawl, South Wales is an avid nicknamer of cars. She said: “Every car we've owned has had a name. My husband's car when we met was Emily the Escort – our daughter Emily is named after her.
“A G-plate 1.8l diesel automatic was named after my grandmother, Dorothy, as she had been her car – and when we got our first Passat, my husband kept calling her Dotty, which we changed to Potty.
“I've always given my cars names and talked to them. It was always a dream to own a Beetle – they are classic cars, and I've wanted one ever since watching the Herbie movies in the 70s.
“Kitty was my belated 40th birthday present after a terrible year when our then two-year-old Tommy was diagnosed with cancer on his second birthday.
“After nearly a year of chemo, and a major spinal op, we felt we could celebrate at last, and I ordered my dream car. Tommy insisted she was called Kitty, so I could hardly refuse.”
TOP 10 COMEDY CAR NICKNAMES:
- The Mystery Mark
- Flo
- The Flying Banana
- Deeney
- Bumble
- Noddy
- The Beast
- Kentucky Fried Ostrich
- Dreadnought
- Hotty Totty
BRITS' TOP 10 INSPIRATIONS FOR CAR NICKNAMES:
- Its paint colour
- Its model/brand
- A celebrity
- A fictional character
- Its size
- Alliteration
- Rhyme
- Its licence plate letters/numbers
- Friends
- Family
