Slang crosses up GM (Buick LaCrosse to be renamed in Canada; means something nasty in French)

CANOE.ca ^ | 10.16.03 | MARYANNA LEWYCKYJ

[mhking]

It's game over for the Buick LaCrosse in Canada. A General Motors executive yesterday admitted that the future Buick model -- which is set to debut late next year -- will be re-named in Canada after GM learned LaCrosse is a Quebec slang term for masturbation.

The new mid-size sedan, which will replace the Buick Regal, will still go by the name LaCrosse in the U.S.

GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz, who was in Toronto yesterday to address a gathering of GM dealers, said he wasn't aware of LaCrosse's racy roots although he speaks French and spent three years living in Paris.

"I thought I knew every expression existing in the French language for self-gratification, including the crudest ones known to man," said the outspoken Lutz.

He told journalists the proposed name for the new Buick has caused "a slight problem with your francophone fellow Canadians."

This isn't GM's first name snafu. Sales of the popular Chevy Nova stalled when the vehicle was shipped to Spanish-language countries, where "Nova" translated to "doesn't run."

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[As i mentioned, the B/C & JD! lists are going to float into and out of whack over the forseeable future, while I try to cobble a rig back together for myself. My apologies for any incovenience or misunderstandings in this time frame. New signups/removals may be flaky in this time-frame as well; please bear with me, and keep in mind you may have to FReepmail me more than once for me to get it done. Thanks again!]

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Like the Mexican restaurant with the Mexican slang name... Chi-Chi's.

[F-117A]

It's game over for the Buick LaCrosse in Canada. A General Motors executive yesterday admitted that the future Buick model -- which is set to debut late next year -- will be re-named in Canada after GM learned LaCrosse is a Quebec slang term for masturbation.

I always though the French-Canadian word for mastubation was Chrétien.

[9999lakes]

HEY!!!

I live in LaCrosse, Wisconsin!

[martin_fierro]

Call it the "Buick Jagoff" and it'll sell like hotcakes in the 'Burgh.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Here's the governing organization of the gentle stroke...

Play with your own stick

[StriperSniper]

"I thought I knew every expression existing in the French language for self-gratification, including the crudest ones known to man," said the outspoken Lutz.

Figures from a guy who's name rhymes with "putz". ;-)

[Piranha]

Jerkoff.

[JoJo Gunn]

Somebody help my memory - didn't they have trouble selling the Nova in Mexico or Spain?

[El Gato]

Kind of a waste of effort really. How many Buicks are the Quebequois going to buy anyway? Either they can't afford them, or would prefer a Renault, Citron, Puegot, or other froggish type vehicle.

[El Gato]

didn't they have trouble selling the Nova in Mexico or Spain?

And anywhere else where the population speaks Spainish, and probaby other relate languages as well. Nova == No Va == No Go. I wouldn't buy one either. (I did buy one, after the Nova name was attached to the Toyota Corrolla design, but for my daughter, not for myself)

[eddie willers]

I live in LaCrosse, Wisconsin!

Can't beat that!

[tubebender]

It has lines similar to my wifes 95 Riviera except it has two many doors...

[Cindy]

re post no.4.

I looked in the technical French dictionary and you're absolutely correct.

[Dan from Michigan]

ROFL. I thought LaCrosse was only a rough and tough game.

[Koblenz]

This isn't GM's first name snafu. Sales of the popular Chevy Nova stalled when the vehicle was shipped to Spanish-language countries, where "Nova" translated to "doesn't run."

This is a common urban legend, which isn't true. While it is true that No va means doesn't run, no one would think "Nova" means doesn't run, and the Nova actually sold more units than GM projected in South America. If someone sold a Dining room set in the United States, and it was the Notable brand, would no one buy it because they think it has no table?

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

Or maybe you can . . .

[ysoitanly]

But my Toyota "Merde" still runs great!

[July 4th]

We did a whole bunch of stories like these in my business school classes, but they were always older...like at least 10-15 years. Good to see a new one finally came along.