Ever wondered what Scion's "iM" name stands for?

26435 Views 12 Replies 5 Participants Last post by SuperchargedMR2, Sep 29, 2017

Patrick.S

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2014

If you’re wondering about the name that lowercase “i” stands for “individuality” while the “M” supposedly represents “modern,” “multifaceted” and “magnetic.”

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Gotcha

· #2 · Nov 21, 2014

A magnetic car? Wouldn't that be a bit dangerous to drive around?

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Filmore

· #3 · Nov 22, 2014

if they're going to walk around with branding like that they better not be thinking about money money money...

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Gotcha

· #4 · Nov 24, 2014

So what you are saying is that the name of the car doesn't exactly broadcast a luxurious and expensive car?

I wonder how they would say that the iM captures the "multifaceted" part of the name.

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Patrick.S

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 24, 2014

I like their meaning behind the name.
Not the best break down of a name but it's good enough

I especially like "magnetic", I see the iM being "magnetic" as in it's attracting people to it.

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Car names nowadays are almost always just a combination of numbers and letters. So say what you will about the inspiration behind the name, if it were truly inspired you'd think they would come up with something other than "iM". You just choose some words that you like that start with the letters 'i' and 'm' and then Presto! you've got a car name.

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Filmore

· #7 · Nov 28, 2014 (Edited)

Gotcha said:
Car names nowadays are almost always just a combination of numbers and letters. So say what you will about the inspiration behind the name, if it were truly inspired you'd think they would come up with something other than "iM". You just choose some words that you like that start with the letters 'i' and 'm' and then Presto! you've got a car name.

its about branding and ease of use. If you're going to criticise the iM you need to criticise all Scion branded cars because that's the strategy. iM is easier to recognize and remember than the Scion Emasculator.

I don't 'care' for the name either, but it doesn't bother me because the car has been named but the name is not the car. If the name carries more weight than the content of the car than you're not really buying the car for you, but as a signifier. You're more worried about what the name projects than about what the car does for you...and that's weird

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Gotcha

· #8 · Nov 28, 2014

Filmore said:
its about branding and ease of use. If you're going to criticise the iM you need to criticise all Scion branded cars because that's the strategy. iM is easier to recognize and remember than the Scion Emasculator.

I don't 'care' for the name either, but it doesn't bother me because the car has been named but the name is not the car. If the name carries more weight than the content of the car than you're not really buying the car for you, but as a signifier. You're more worried about what the name projects than about what the car does for you...and that's weird

Um, I don't see how commenting on the name of the car in a thread about the name of the car makes me care about the name of the car more than anything else. Not sure how you made that jump.

The Scion Emasculator sure does have a ring to it.

I agree that a name doesn't count for much, it's about the content of the car. But if we are talking about names, then shouldn't I get to express my opinion on that?

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SiM

· #9 · Nov 28, 2014

I'm neither a big fan of the name.

Likely when the time comes to take delivery of one, it will be debadged, wearing toyota emblems only.

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Patrick.S

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 29, 2014

i know i will be ordering Auris badges for my iM if i end up getting one.

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Filmore

· #11 · Dec 1, 2014 (Edited)

Gotcha said:
Um, I don't see how commenting on the name of the car in a thread about the name of the car makes me care about the name of the car more than anything else. Not sure how you made that jump.

The Scion Emasculator sure does have a ring to it.

I agree that a name doesn't count for much, it's about the content of the car. But if we are talking about names, then shouldn't I get to express my opinion on that?

The content of your comments...

You Said:

Car names nowadays are almost always just a combination of numbers and letters. So say what you will about the inspiration behind the name, if it were truly inspired you'd think they would come up with something other than "iM". You just choose some words that you like that start with the letters 'i' and 'm' and then Presto! you've got a car name.

Where in my response above was anything said about anything other than the name? Not sure how you made that jump

I said:

its about branding and ease of use. If you're going to criticise the iM you need to criticise all Scion branded cars because that's the strategy. iM is easier to recognize and remember than the Scion Emasculator.

I don't 'care' for the name either, but it doesn't bother me because the car has been named but the name is not the car. If the name carries more weight than the content of the car than you're not really buying the car for you, but as a signifier. You're more worried about what the name projects than about what the car does for you...and that's weird

You're completely welcome to catch feelings, you're also welcome to completely assume that in speaking about general semiotics of the auto industry that I'm speaking directly about you. I was unaware you were the barometer and trendsetter for an entire segment of automotive purchasers, my apologies I will direct my concerns accordingly.

It was never written you didn't get to have an opinion, but if we're going to contend 'opinions' then you can't complain that I have an opinion on your opinion. If that offends or upsets anyone in any way shape or form, well I'm not sorry because that's not my problem...

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Gotcha

· #12 · Dec 1, 2014

You mis-characterized my opinion. You make it sound like the name is all I care about and that is not the case. Respond to my comments, but don't make it seem as though I'm "more worried about what the name projects than about what the car does for [me]." That's not what I said.

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SuperchargedMR2

· #13 · Sep 29, 2017

As soon as I saw the iM I figured it as a 3rd Gen Matrix, hence the "M" in iM. The "i" means little as Scion always used a small letter in their names.

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