International Car Makers & Models Quiz

Answer: Ferrari

The name 'Ferrari' is synonymous with the idea of the ultra-desirable, super-fast, super-sexy super-car; preferably in red. Ferrari's 2008 models include the 612 "Scaglietti", 599 "Fiorano", and 430 "Scuderia".
The famous 'Dino' wasn't strictly speaking a Ferrari at all, even though it is commonly known as such, but was intended as a distinct brand name to be used by Ferrari for cars with less than 12 cylinders. The name "Maranello" comes from the company's famous home in Maranello, Italy.

Answer: Porsche

The Porsche 911 is one of the world's classic sports cars. By introducing an SUV, Porsche received criticism from some areas that it wasn't being true to its badge's status as a legendary sports car manufacturer.
While most car makers have scrambled to produce SUV's (if they weren't already) to meet the ever-growing market demand, specialist, performance or prestige makers have generally chosen to resist in order to maintain their aura of prestige and cachet. Ferrari, for example, stated emphatically that they would never produce an SUV. Obversely, presumably before current trends were apparent, Lamborghini produced an SUV, the LM002, from 1986-1993.
Incidentally, the "Cayenne" takes its name from the chili pepper from French Guiana (Cayenne pepper, in turn, takes its name from the French Guianan capital city).

Answer: Suzuki

Smart is a Japanese multinational corporation. Holden is based in Australia and provides some models for foreign markets under the Pontiac badge. Swedish maker, Saab has been wholly owned by GM since 2000.

Other GM brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo (Korea), GMC, Hummer, Opel (Europe), Pontiac and Vauxhall (UK).

Answer: Citroen

The iconic Citroen 2CV was produced from 1948 to 1990! Its simple platform, quirky design and reliability made it one of the world's legendary vehicles. The DS, or "Goddess", was one of the most technologically advanced cars in the world when it was introduced in 1955.

It featured headlights that looked around corners (a feature available on some models today) and hydropneumatic independent suspension which gave Citroen its famed "magic carpet" ride.

Answer: Mercedes

Several car makers work together with either outside performance specialists or in-house performance arms to produce specialist versions of models in their product ranges. AMG (majority owned by Daimler-AG since 1999) and Brabus (which remains an independent company) are two such specialist firms.

As a rule, companies such as these add their own after-production body kits and upgrade performance aspects of the vehicles. AMG also provides engines for the Italian super-car, Pagani. Brabus also works with Smart and Maybach vehicles.

Answer: Nissan

The car-maker we know as Nissan began as DAT in 1914; the name derived from the three company partners' family names. The name then evolved to "Datson" (son of DAT) and later, "Datsun". The Nissan name existed as early as the 1930's. It became the name used in most export markets in the 1980's. In 1989 Nissan launched its prestige brand, Infiniti, for the North American market. In 1999, Nissan entered into an alliance with French maker, Renault.

Answer: Mazda

The Eunos brand was an attempt by Mazda to produce a more up-scale brand similar to what Toyota had done with the Lexus name. Mazda produced Eunos cars for the Japanese market (as well as Australia) from 1989-1996. Due to stress on its production lines, confusion in the public, and a not altogether positive response, the experiment was abandoned. Mazda experimented also with other niche labels such as Autozam, Elfini and Amati.

Answer: Chrysler

While the 'new' Beetle, Mini and "Bambino" (Fiat 500) represent the return of classic cars of the past given updated styling and using modern technology, the Chrysler PT Cruiser approaches nostalgia in a different way: rather than reviving a former classic model, its design evokes that of classic American hotrods of the 50's.

Answer: SsangYong

SsangYong literally means "double dragon". The Korean maker began an association with Mercedes in 1991 which meant that their Musso was re-badged in some regions as a Mercedes and sold by Mercedes dealerships. SsangYong also had access to Mercedes engines and underpinnings for some of their models.

Answer: De Tomaso

De Tomaso was founded by the Argentinian, Alejandro de Tomaso in Modena, Italy in 1959. In the 70's, De Tomaso took control of another great Italian marque, Maserati. The Maserati Kyalami was based on the De Tomaso Longchamp. Due to dwindling sales and financial difficulties, the De Tomaso brand essentially disappeared in the early 90's but continued on producing hand-made cars in relative obscurity. The company went into liquidation in 2004.

Answer: Bugatti

When it was released in 2005, the Bugatti Veyron (named after French racing driver, Pierre Veyron who drove for Bugatti) was the fastest production car ever made. That mantle has since been taken by the Shelby SSC Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo. The Veyron remains, however, a breathtakingly impressive vehicle. I'll let the figures speak for themselves:

Engine: 4 turbo W-16; 1001 hp; 927 lb/ft torque
Price: approx. US$ 1,440,000

Top Speed: 407 km/h (253 mph)
0-100 km/h: 2.5 seconds (0-200/300 km/h: 7.4/16.7 seconds)
0-60 mph: 2.46 seconds
Braking from 400 km/h to Standstill: less than 10 seconds

Answer: Renault

Bristol Cars began as an offshoot from Bristol Aeroplane Company (the name "Blenheim" was both a BAC bomber and, later, a model produced by Bristol Cars). Bristol, which still produces hand-made cars in small numbers, claims to be the only remaining wholly British-owned car maker.
Saab (Svenska Aeroplan AB = Swedish Aeroplane Limited) produces military and civil aircraft. Saab fighter jets (with names such as the Viggen, Draken, Gripen) have been primarily used by the Swedish Airforce but have found their way into foreign airforces as well.
The famous Mitsubishi Zero was the Japanese Navy's main fighter during World War II. It is particularly associated with kamikaze pilots and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Answer: Bristol

Bristol Cars was founded in 1945 in England, and survived as a small-volume motor manufacturer into the 21st century.

Peugeot produces motor scooters (as well as cars and bicycles).
Suzuki is, of course, a famed motorcycle manufacturer and is active in bike racing around the world. Indeed, it is surely more strongly associated with its motorbikes than it is with its small cars and SUVs.
BMW, while largely known for its cars, does also produce road bikes. It did, in fact, make motorbikes (1923) before it started making cars (1928).

There is a completely separate company named Bristol Motorcycles, set up in 2018 in the Philippines, but this is totally unrelated to Bristol Cars.

Answer: Lamborghini

Ferruccio Lamborghini started making cars after an encounter with Enzo Ferrari. Ferruccio, who owned a tractor making company, had bought himself a Ferrari but, after problems with the clutch, complained in person to Enzo Ferrari. Enzo dismissed him arrogantly and told him to stick with tractors. Lamborghini was so enraged that he vowed to beat Enzo Ferrari at his own game.

The rest is, as they say, 'history'. He probably never did 'beat' Ferrari, but he did establish one of the most famous sports car marques in the world.

Answer: Lada (Russia)

Skoda is part of the Volswagen Group and is undergoing something of a resurgence in quality, sales and critical acclaim in recent years.
Malaysian maker, Proton, exports cars to the UK, Australia and South Africa, as well as other markets primarily in South-East Asia. Proton has owned the famous Lotus brand since 1996.
Tata introduced the Nano in 2008 which is claimed to be the world's cheapest car (at about US$ 2,500). Also in 2008, Tata purchased the Jaguar Land Rover group from Ford thus priming them for an opening into US and European markets. Previously, Tata acquired Daewoo Commercial Vehicles (Korea).
Lada, part of the giant AvtoVAZ company, is Russia's largest car maker. One of Lada's claims to fame is that its vehicles can be found on every continent on the planet, including Antarctica, where Russian scientists use Nivas at their research station!

Some information for this quiz was obtained from Wikipedia.