This is old product naming news, but I forgot to blog about it until just now. At the end of last year, Chrysler (formerly DaimlerChrysler, formerly Chrysler Corporation) showed off a new concept car, the Dodge Avenger Tuner – Stormtrooper (shown at left, all white and shiny and spiffy).
Scott Anderson, designer of the car, posted this at the official Chrysler blog:
When I began to design the Dodge Avenger Tuner – Stormtrooper, I wanted to do more than create a cool-looking custom ride. Granted, the Star Wars™-influenced aesthetics has gotten great feedback (and mentions on non-automotive blogs like c-net). However, I was mostly concerned with creating something that was as futuristic inside the cabin as it was in its styling.
The visual influences are apparent. I was a big Star Wars fan as a kid, so the styling was heavily influenced by the George Lucas aesthetic. When we started working on the fascia design and applied the bright pearl white paint coat, the project totally took on a life of its own — we had a Stormtrooper, menacing grin and all.
So while I respect his Star Wars-geekism, I have to say that the level of aggressiveness in this car’s name really bugs me. You already have a fairly testosterone-y name in Avenger – and hey, I’m a comics geek, I respect the Avengers and especially Iron Man as played by Robert Downey Jr., and that Hulk movie was pretty good too. I think an Avengers movie will be awesome! But we’ll have to wait till 2011 for that, or so the Intarwebs have it. Who do you think should play Captain America? All I can say is that they better cast someone who can ACT.
Well, I seem to have wandered a bit. So, yes, Avenger. But Stormtrooper? I suppose that the resonance of the Nazis and World War II just hasn’t entered the consciousness of the Younger Generation. Although the Stormtroopers of the Star Wars universe have become iconic, I doubt that George Lucas meant to strip the word “stormtrooper” of its evil, terrifying connotations.
But who knows? Maybe this whole thing is a set-up to tie in to the Captain America movie! In 2011 they’ll have a red, white, and blue car called the Rogers that kicks the Stormtrooper’s ass!
