King Marketing

AJ Kandy
Creative Director

AJ brings over 17 years' experience to KMA+C.

Previously in charge of Branding, Interactive and Creative at telecom software maker Interstar Technologies, AJ also served as Art Director at magazine publisher EMG Media. He's also worked on projects for Power Corporation, Air Canada, Merck Frosst and BCE Teleglobe.

AJ is a graduate of Concordia University's Communication Studies program.

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They’re running out of good car names

The US is sometimes described as an “empire” these days, and it’s often noted that there’s an increasing class divide in that country. Two prototype cars unveiled at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show don’t help dispel that notion.

Buick (warning: Flash) unveiled a concept SUV called the Enclave; the usual PR flacks stated the name was all about safety. This, on the heels of reports stating that SUVs are actually less safe for children to ride in, due to their propensity to roll over. Or maybe they were trying to go for an air of exclusivity - in which case, may I suggest the Buick Gated Community?

The last time I heard ‘enclave’ in any common currency, it was discussing pockets of Serbian or Croat villages during the Yugoslavia conflict…bad choice, Buick.

Chrysler unveiled its new hautebourgemobile, the Imperial. It’s a nicely retro-futuristic design that blends a bit of Rolls Royce into the current Mercedes/Maybach-lite look. That said, with the country involved in a costly, bloody war over oil, er, WMD, er, securing democracy in the Middle East, is that really the best name for something that’s probably not gonna be a gas-sipper?

January 10, 2006 10:33 AM

Comments

I agree, but half the shoe stores and hair salons in this city are called Prestige. I think the desire to be affluent or show affluence is inherent in any society. It’s just that the divide in the US keeps getting bigger.

wrote Frank on January 10, 2006 1:15 PM

Depends on the society. I guess there are different levels of social tolerance for ostentation…I just find it funny because when an empire is on the skids, they tend to wrap themselves and their cultural artifacts in lots of terms of continuity and self-reassurance, when in fact life objectively becomes more turbulent, dangerous and prone to disintegration.

By contrast — not saying it’s better, just interesting — look at the names of Japanese vehicles, how nonthreatening and unassuming they are:

  • Civic (do your civic duty)
  • Accord (everybody get along)
  • The new Honda Fit (fit in)
  • The Yaris (a sort of nonword)

wrote AJ Kandy on January 10, 2006 4:12 PM

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