SUVS

What Does the Letter X Stand for in Most Car Names?

Many share similar body styles, but each has a unique name that stands out. Some are named after animals, such as the Ford Bronco and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Others have nicknames that promise fun and adventure, like the Chevy Trailblazer and . But interestingly, many car names, especially crossover SUVs, include the letter “X”. Let’s look at some of them and what the “X” stands for.

How many car names have an “X” in them?

2023 Lexus RX 350 Premium AWD | Toyota Motor Sales, United States, Inc.

Many have an “X” in their name, starting with the BMW X1. Both the X1 and X2 are compact crossovers, while the X3 and X4 are compact crossovers. The X5 and X6 are midsize, while the X7 is the German automaker’s only large SUV.

, it can travel 348 miles on a full charge. Even the Model X Plaid, with its 1,020-hp powerplant, still boasts an excellent range of 333 miles.

in its SUV names, including UX, NX, GX, RX and LX. Some other luxury automakers, including Acura and Infiniti, also use various letters in combination with an “X”.

For example, with the exception of the C40 Recharge, they have “XC” in the name.

The Cadillac XT4 and XT6 follow a similar trend, although this automaker uses slightly more variety in the naming of its SUVs.

Despite the letter’s prevalence among luxury brands, mainstream automakers also use the “X” in their car names. For example, Mazda produces the CX-30, CX-5, CX-50 and CX-9 crossover SUVs. The Japanese company’s electrified SUVs, including the MX-30 and forthcoming, also adhere to this naming convention.

Also, the Kia Rio sedan is classified as Rio X-Line in Russia and China. And Toyota recently kicked off its lineup of electric SUVs with the .

What’s so special about the “X”?

Typically, “X” is short for “crossover” in car names. While there are exceptions, most models with an “X” in their monikers are crossover SUVs.

The numbers following the “X” are usually indicators of size, as seen in the SUV lines of BMW and Mazda. Lexus’ SUV naming conventions are probably the hardest to follow because the letters before the “X” are adjectives. For example, while “NX” means “Nimble Crossover”.

Also, a handful of SUV names use “cross” instead of the abbreviation. After Mitsubishi discontinued the Cross sedan in 2012, the company introduced the reimagined Eclipse Cross for the 2018 model year. While the Toyota Corolla is still alive and well, it’s the new crossover SUV alternative. And don’t forget the Subaru Crosstrek.

Other car names using initials

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The numbers in a car’s name or trim level can also refer to the engine’s displacement. In many cases, “S” and “LS” refer to sedans and their upscale counterparts. The same is often true of the ‘C’ and ‘CS’ in regards to coupes, ratios.

“GT” stands for “Gran Turismo”, usually the high-performance variant. Some sportier trims have “R/T” (“road and track”) or “SS” (“SuperSport”) in the name.

As new vehicles enter the market, remembering which ones belong to which segments can be difficult. That’s why many automakers use abbreviations, so buyers know.

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