Behind the Badge: Revealing the Historic Porsche Crest’s Inspiration
Why does the Porsche logo look like a coat of arms? Find out!
Porsche has produced some of the greatest luxury sports cars of the last 80 years, and nearly all of its models have borne the same enduring design on their hoods. Where did the German automobile company come up with this unique logo, and what is the history of the Porsche crest? Read about its meaning […]
Behind the Badge: Analyzing Secret Messages in the Toyota Logo!
Learn the origins of the Toyota name and emblem in our brand identity series
Toyota takes a lot of pride in its current logo, even attributing much of the company’s success to the recognizable emblem. This pride is well-founded, as the company’s emblem quickly became one of the most recognizable automotive logos around the globe. The Japanese automaker put a lot of thought into its name and emblem, including […]
Behind the Badge: The Mercury Logo Gives You Wings
Influences on the identity of Ford's upscale line.
Greek and Roman mythology has influenced our culture immeasurably. From the names we use in pop culture to the themes and phrases in our writing, the tales of old have remained with us for millennia. We see these archetypes appear even in the automotive industry. Take, for instance, the Mercury brand. Ever wonder what influenced the […]
Behind the Badge: The Origins of the Lexus Name and Logo
You see automotive emblems adorning the grilles and trunks of vehicles every day, but do you ever wonder where they come from? The latest study in our Behind the Badge series uncovers the fascinating story of the Lexus name and its connection to the Lexus logo. Read on to learn something new about your favorite […]
Behind the Badge: How Dodge’s Logo Became Ram’s Emblem
Plus: Does the RAM emblem look like a uterus and are the Dodge Brothers Jewish?
Few automotive emblems are as recognizable and revered as the ram’s head logo. Although it started off as the badge on Dodge vehicles and has since become the symbol adorning RAM trucks, the history of Dodge logos goes back much further than the horned mammal. Many fascinating, mysterious logos have been used by Dodge throughout […]
Behind the Badge: Mystery of the Missing Oldsmobile Logo!
Remembering the legacy of an automotive emblem which went through an identity crisis
Oldsmobile has the most intriguing story behind its logo compared to any other auto brand. It’s tied heavily to the company’s history, its innovations, and its last-minute attempt at rebirth. The defunct automaker’s 100-year legacy can be traced through its drastically-changing logos. However, all traces of the automaker’s final logo is strangely absent from its models. Can this baffling […]
Behind the Badge: The Stunning Symbolism Behind Mitsubishi’s Mark
This deceptively simple automotive brand logo will blow your mind!
Although the Mitsubishi Group consists of dozens of companies varying in specialization–from banks and chemicals to plastics and aircraft–the corporation has become primarily known for its commercial and passenger vehicles. The automaker’s identity has become synonymous with its iconic logo, and Mitsubishi puts a lot of value in that brand recognition, securing nearly 5,500 registrations of […]
Behind the Badge: Analyzing the Honda and Acura Logos
Learn the history of these two deceptively simple emblems
In the imaginative and diverse world of automotive logos, Honda’s isn’t the most unique. Essentially, it is a big “H”—and it’s not a mystery what the letter stands for. It’s like what Superindendent Chalmers said after realizing the “H” badge had been stolen off his vehicle in The Simpsons episode, “Lisa’s Date with Destiny”: The […]
Behind the Badge: Is Saturn’s Logo More Than What It Seems?
Learn what the Saturn emblem could actually be...
I’ve seen the rise and fall of the Saturn brand, and–frankly–its logo has always stuck out to me. For only being around 25 years, Saturn made waves in the automotive industry. Its short-lived enterprise truly lived up to its slogan of being “A Different Kind of Car Company.” That phrase easily applied to its odd emblem […]
Behind the Badge: Revealing the Secrets of Pontiac’s Emblem
Discover the history of the Arrowhead, an iconic automotive logo
It’s a shame the defunct Pontiac brand didn’t make it out of the Great Recession. After developing a hundred-year legacy of stylish, affordable vehicles, the automaker’s doors were closed by General Motors in 2010. Even though no new Pontiac models are arriving at dealerships anymore, the “zombie” brand still lives on in its recognizable, pointed […]
Behind the Badge: The Secret Meaning of the Hyundai Logo
What does the company's name mean and is the emblem more than the letter "H"?
When an automaker designs its official logo to brand its vehicles, its documents, and its advertisements, a lot of thought is put into the symbol that will represent the company. Some automotive logos are more abstract (like BMW’s) while others seem fairly straightforward–mind you, they only seem straightforward. Take Hyundai, for instance. Everyone recognizes the […]
Behind the Badge: The Fascinating History of the Mazda Logo
Unless you’re a graphic designer, you probably didn’t realize a lot of thought goes into auto brands’ logos. For instance, Mazda’s current badge might remind you of those simplified cartoon sketches of birds in flight. While there’s actually some truth in that observation, the influences and history of the Mazda logo are more subtle–and fascinating–than […]
Behind the Badge: What’s the History of the BMW Logo?
The emblem is commonly identified as a propeller...but is it?
BMW has been around for a century, producing powerful and luxurious vehicles for people around the world–and all those vehicles have the iconic blue-and-white badge front and center. Regardless of what feelings that logo stirs in you, its identity is unmistakable. But what’s the history of the BMW logo, and where did it originate? Celebrity […]
Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Get Blackwing Badge and Manual Transmission
Earlier this week, Cadillac confirmed that its new CT4-V and CT5-V performance sedans will get the Blackwing nameplate. And both models will offer a manual transmission — a rare option for a luxury brand to include on one of its vehicles. An Emission-Free Future: Cadillac aims to have an all-electric by 2030 More details about […]
Cadillac Adds ‘800T’ Badge to 2020 CT6 Platinum
At the 2019 Miami International Auto Show, Cadillac displayed the new 2020 CT6 Platinum. The model had a brand new ‘800T’ badge, which is a result of a torque-based naming scheme. New Features Added: 2020 Cadillac XT5 The reasoning behind the badge Cadillac is planning on using the torque-based naming scheme on future models. The […]
The Story Behind Cadillac’s New Blackwing Twin Turbo V8 Engine
The buzz at Cadillac is it's going electric, but the brand still has plenty of roar with its exclusive 4.2L twin-turbo V-8. Check out this video of the new Blackwing. https://t.co/xAMJkRlPJK @Cadillac @GM pic.twitter.com/rDsqsv4WFK — WardsAuto (@WardsAuto) January 15, 2019 Fans of the new 2019 Cadillac CT6-V might be familiar with its 4.2-liter Twin-Turbo V8 Blackwing […]
2019 Chevrolet Silverado Chassis Cab Trucks Will Wear Flowtie Badge
Back in 2014, Chevrolet introduced its “flowtie,” a slight variation on the brand’s classic “bowtie” badge. The flowtie was designed for the Camaro in an effort to increase air flow to the engine to keep it cool. By removing the gold interior of the bowtie badge, engineers were able to send up to three cubic […]
Chevrolet to Offer the Special Edition Heritage Bowtie Badge as a Standalone Accessory
First featured on the 2018 Chevy Silverado Centennial and Colorado Centennial models, the retro badge will be able to come equipped with other Chevy vehicles
2018 marks the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet’s lineup of trucks. Late last month, the automaker revealed how it planned to celebrate this momentous occasion: the 2018 Chevy Silverado Centennial and Chevy Colorado Centennial. Among the many features equipped to the special edition pickups, perhaps the most notable is the Heritage Bowtie Badge, a throwback to Chevy’s […]