Subaru apologizes for the faux paw concerning the peculiar initials for one of the Forester models on display at an auto show in Singapore. Subaru claims they had nothing to do with the blunder, but some are not so sure about that. The faux paw has garnered its share of free publicity.
My favorite faux pas is still GM marketing using the Nova name in Mexico & other Spanish language markets. Demonstrated true tone deafness.
Always thought Citroen for English language culture folks who know French was worth a chuckle, not that I wouldn't love to own a DS palais (and have a capable mechanic on retainer).
FORD (FixOrRepairDaily)did ok in the USA in spite of its name. Concerning the Nova, I've heard that it actually means "new star" rather than "don't go" in Latin American countries, but who knows for certain.
Citreon: Many years ago I rode in an old Citroen and it did have a magic carpet ride to it. Not the prettiest of cars, though.
Complete and total urban legend.
Yes, "no va" means "it doesn't go", but "nova" (one word) means the same thing, in Spanish, as it does in English.
No tone deafness, whatsoever.
Too funny:
Maybe there are some folks who would consider all that fancy stuff to be quite 'sexy'.
As for me our prior, very plain looking XS was far preferable (as well as being more practical...).
And yet nonetheless they are pronounced the same and the name was considered a running joke.
la nova - no vuh / no va - noh vah
Close enough that I could never tell a difference from a native speaker anyway.