Automotive brands are among the most well-known, powerful, and well-known in the world. The best automobile car logos and names become badges of pride, as well as signifying the quality of design and engineering when they are emblazoned on the front and back of one of the most expensive single purchases we make.
Many of them are over a century old, yet they, like all great logos, have weathered the test of time and earned a position in the logo design hall of fame. Continue reading to learn about the unique and unusual backstories behind seven of the best car logos ever created.
We find a strong tendency towards sleek, basic design in elegant silver, futuristic and ecologically friendly blue, and passionate, racy red in the luxury car logos of today’s prominent car corporations. For maximum impact and versatility, most businesses use independent or integrated combination marks that combine rich symbols with clear typography. Others opt for a pure logotype, which is ultra-sleek.
Top Car Brand Logos
Car brands logos are frequently inextricably linked to the image they project. Even if the vehicle firm diversifies its production models or even enters a new industry, the car brand logos image can be difficult to change. All car logos’ originality and unique design are largely what gives them an advantage, but it’s also how they demonstrate their strength and integrity to customers. Let’s go through some of the iconic car logos lists.
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Mercedes-Benz
The three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz is now a powerful statement of efficient German engineering and luxury craftsmanship, but it has a more delightful history. Gottlieb Daimler, the technical director of Deutz, sketched a star above his house on a postcard of Cologne and gave it to his wife in 1872, promising that the sign would one day grace his own business.
In 1909, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft registered the three-pointed star as its emblem. The firm was renamed Mercedes-Benz after a merger in 1926, and the Benz laurel wreath was acquired, which was later simplified into a plain ring in 1933. Of course, Mercedes-Benz isn’t simply a vehicle company, and the three points are claimed to signify the company’s motorized domination over the sea, air, and land.
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Audi
Another well-known emblem is Audi’s four rings, which represent the union of four previously independent vehicle companies: Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer. August Horch, regarded as one of the pioneers of vehicle engineering, founded Horch and the then-standalone Audi. In the case of Wanderer, the company first entered the automotive market with bicycles and motorcycles before moving into vehicle production in 1913. DKW, the fourth company, was originally a bike manufacturer before expanding into automobiles in the 1920s.
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Ferrari
On the side of a First World War fighter jet flown by ace Italian pilot Count Francesco Baracca, Enzo Ferrari first saw the prancing horse that would later grace his famous sports cars. Ferrari’s parents persuaded him to use the symbol as his sports car logo, believing it would bring him luck, as it had for their son. When he founded the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in 1929, he did so with the addition of canary yellow to honor his hometown of Modena.
If luck equals profit, it certainly paid off: Ferrari-branded goods now generate almost as much revenue as the cars themselves. It became one of the best sports car logos. Count Baracca, on the other hand, was not so lucky, as he was killed in action later. Ferrari made the horse black, rather than red, as it was on the jet, as a token of respect for the ace pilot who inspired the renowned car company logos.
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BMW
Despite popular misconception, the BMW “roundel” is not a spinning propeller, but rather a symbol of the Free State of Bavaria’s national colors. Because of legal restraints, BMW continued to use the same roundel but with the mirrored hues of Bavaria. BMW was founded by a firm called Rapp Motor Works, which utilized a roundel with a black horse as its emblem.
The idea that BMW’s roundel represented a plane propeller arose from a 1929 advertising in which the roundel was impressed into the propeller of a plane.
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Lamborghini
Lamborghini has one of the most expensive car logos in the world. Ferruccio Lamborghini’s Zodiac sign was Taurus, or “bull,” and the famous Italian sports car manufacturer’s badge reflected this, as well as his love with bullfighting. The sports car logo’s gold denotes quality and a long history, while the black represents strength, prestige, integrity, and elegance.
Lamborghini has a long history of naming its high-end vehicles after famous bullfighters. According to legend, Ferrucio Lamborghini visited the Seville ranch of Don Eduardo Miura, a well-known breeder of Spanish fighting bulls, in 1962 and was blown away by the majestic Miura creatures. He was so taken with the ‘raging bull’ that he decided to use it as the emblem for his new automotive company.
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Porsche
In the 1950s, Ferdinand Porsche, his son Ferry, and the company’s trusted executives desired a new logo. The car company logos are supposed to have been invented on a napkin by Ferry Porsche, however, another legend claims that it was the brainchild of a Porsche engineer, Franz Xaver Reimspieb.
What is certain, however, is that it was influenced by the Stuttgart coat of arms. Stuttgart translates to ‘stud garden’ in German, owing to the town’s history as a horse-breeding center, as evidenced by the rampaging horse on the car logos.
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Jaguar
The ‘leaping jaguar’ is one of the famed European car logos, which represents speed, strength, and power. Black, metallic grey, and gold are common colors for the feline insignia.
Jaguar is supposed to represent elegance, integrity, and high performance in black, while metallic grey and gold represent sophistication, modernity, and perfection in metallic grey and gold. Until recently, the leaping jaguar was represented by a lovely hood ornament, which was eventually phased out due to pedestrian safety rules.
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Volkswagen
This is unquestionably one of the best car logos of all time. The origins of the VW symbol are a source of debate, with some stating it was developed by Martin Freyer and others alleging it was created by Porsche employee Franz Xaver.
The blue color in the emblem, on the other hand, is commonly regarded to reflect the company’s excellence and class, while white indicates purity and charm. In 1996 and 2000, the iconic sign was updated to add color mixes and three-dimensionality.
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Ford
Since its inception in 1903, the Ford emblem has undergone numerous changes, but the present typographic letterforms have remained constant. Henry Ford’s signature, framed by an oval blue crest, influenced the writing of “Ford” in 1912.
To be honest, the Ford car logo’s ability to remain consistent over decades is one of the reasons I appreciate it. The present car logo is the same as the one used in the 1960s, but with a slightly fresh coat of paint. The Ford logo, which is easily and instantly recognizable, identifies the vehicle as dependable and all-American. It is one of the best car logos with names.
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Bentley
Bentley, another British vintage automobile maker, is associated with extravagance, celebrity lifestyles, and ultimate luxury. Bentley Motors, based in England, was founded in 1919 by W. O. Bentley but was acquired by Rolls-Royce in the 1930s.
The Bentley car logo is quite simple in concept, consisting of a bird’s wings and tail feathers with a capital “B” in the middle. As a result, with the exception of a few visual modifications to the design and layout, it has stayed constant over the decades.
The idea of car logos with wings can be interpreted to indicate speed and grace, similar to how a bird soars through the air swiftly and gracefully. The use of a limited color palette of black, white, and silver in the logo demonstrates refinement in monotone and elegance in silver.
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Renault
The current Renault emblem was created about 1925, despite the fact that the company was founded in 1899. The company has gone through various car logos and names before then, ranging from the founder’s initials to a tank!
The diamond form was adopted in 1925, with the name emblazoned across the middle.
The Renault insignia as we know it now first appeared in 1971 when Hungarian-French designer Victor Vasarely was hired to redesign and refresh the Renault logo. In 2005, Renault marked its presence in Asia. Out of all car brands in India, Renault is one of the most popular car brands.
The yellow color, which is prominent in Renault branding, is thought to symbolize happiness, optimism, and prosperity.
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Vauxhall
A British car manufacturer logos that are associated with the German firm “Opel,” which is owned by the American corporation “General Motors.”Founded in 1857, they didn’t start making vehicles until 1903, after focused on naval engines for the first several years.
The Vauxhall emblem above isn’t their most recent version (created in 1998), which I find over-stylized, but it still features the iconic Griffin carrying the Vauxhall flag. This version ran from 1989 to 1997, and I recall seeing it etched in mirror form on the windows of an old Vauxhall Vectra we used to own.
This rendition, which is well balanced, iconic, and in a powerful shade of red, I believe, is an improvement over the current image. It applies to the simpler and more appealing concepts of ‘flat design.’
The essence of Car logos
The image of a brand new luxury car remains one of society’s most frequent symbols of indulgence, and most automakers understand that their customers’ need for comfort, safety, and luxury is what drives the bottom line.
The world’s top vehicle manufacturers need perfect branding to stand out in a brutally competitive global marketplace, and their desire to be viewed as ultra-modern means they are a wonderful case study in premium design. Audi, BMW, and other companies know how to use design to their advantage, whether it’s in their car logos, websites, or automobiles themselves.