Image via Complex Original
A logo embodies a brand, a culture, a state of mind. It can be a way to remember something unmemorable or memorialize an icon. As car logos go, most are pretty cool – and memorable. Sure there are a few duds (Ford, GM, Honda), but a lot of logos are intricately designed and well thought-out. Today, we offer the 25 coolest logos currently featured on production vehicles. From the iconic Ferrari shield to the lesser-known Peugeot prancing lion, we hit all the bases.
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25. Citroen
You might think the forward-pointing chevron pattern in Citroen's logo symbolizes some kind of advanced, prescient view towards engineering. But actually, André Citroën, the company's founder began his career by building gear wheels, and the twin chevrons are meant to represent interlocking gear teeth.
24. Spyker
As is probably evident, the logo for Spykers is based on a piston engine of a plane, due to the company building aircrafts (including fighter planes in the first world war) in its early years in the early 1900's before going bankrupt in 1925. On the lower portion of the ring is Spyker's motto "Nulla tenaci invia est via", which means "For the tenacious, no road is impassable" in Latin. That's reason enough for it to make this list.
23. Mini
The wings on Mini's logo are meant to symbolize the 'winged sun,' an ancient symbol that is supposed to embody the transportation of the "perfected soul."
22. Infiniti
According to parent company,Nissan, the Infiniti logo expresses the concept of the open road traveling toward infinity. It also pays homage to Mount Fuji, Japan's most famous peak.
21. Bentley
The wings in the Bentley logo come from the company's initial entry into aero engine manufacturing in 1919. When the firm began building cars in the 1920s, the logo was (wisely) never changed.
20. Fiat
Interestingly, Fiat is actually an acronym that stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, which means Auto Fabrication of Torino. The company was founded in 1899 in Italy and has largely kept its cool red logo unchanged through the years.
19. Lamborghini
The Lamborghini logo was created taking inspiration from Taurus (bull), the zodiac sign of the company's founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini. Mr. Lamborghini's passion for bullfighting is also highlighted by the fact that most of the cars are named after famous breeds of bull.
18. Bugatti
The Bugatti logo that adorns production Veyrons pays homage to the company's legendary founder and designer Ettore Bugatti, who died in 1947. We're sure he would be pleased to know his initials are gracing the back of the fastest (and most expensive!) production car ever made.
17. Subaru
The six gleaming stars in the Subaru logo pay homage to Pleiades, a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus. Interestingly, Subaru is Taurus's Japanese name.
16. Aston Martin
Aston Martin like to keep things simple. Their logo is based on a wing pattern that is supposed to suggest to speed. It seems like an appropriate symbol for one of the best car makers around.
15. BMW
BMW used to build airplanes and paint them in the local colors of blue and white. The infamous target sign is supposed to signify spinning white propellers against a blue sky.
14. Ferrari
Instead of going through some long-winded explanation about the Ferrari logo, it's best to hear from the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari, who died in 1989. "The horse was painted on the fuselage of the fighter plane of Francesco Baracca - a heroic airman of the First World War. In '23, I met count Enrico Baracca, the hero's father, and then his mother, Countess Paulina, who said to me one day, 'Ferrari, put my son's prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you good luck'. The horse was, and still is, black, and I added the canary yellow background which is the color of Modena."
13. Rolls-Royce
The British like to keep things simple when it comes to logos. The Rolls-Royce symbol is exactly what it appears to be - two capital Rs. Either way, we'd like to see this symbol in our garage one day.
12. Tesla
Tesla is the hottest company around. Its stock is up 300 percent and things are looking bright for the electric car revolution. Additionally, the company symbol, which pays tribute to the SI derived unit of magnetic-field strength, is easily the best American car logo.
11. Peugeot
Peugeot's prancing lion logo is known as the "Blue Brand." It has been modified roughly six times in the company's 100-year history and is widely recognized as one of the most distinctive logos ever created. Too bad we don't see more of it in the U.S.
10. Mercedes-Benz
According to Mercedes, the three-pointed star represents a trio of aspirations: to make transportation better on the ground, in the air, and on water. Remember, it is not to be confused with the Peace sign, which has an extra line in the lower half of the circle.
9. Volkswagen
The Volkswagen logo was originally designed in 1938, just before the start of World War II. The design was later modified in 1996 and 2000, incorporating color blends and implied three-dimensionality. Either way, it's one of the most iconic (and recognizable) logos in the world.
8. Lotus
The Lotus badge features the initials of the company's founder Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman. Over the years the logo has changed colors and shapes, but has always retained those iconic four letters, ACBC. We love it.
7. Volvo
The logo that adorns today's Volvos is the ancient chemical symbol for iron. It's one the oldest symbols in western culture and is meant to depict modern design. (Contrary to belief, the logo is not a tribute to the male biological sign.)
6. Porsche
Porsche's company logo is based on the coat of arms of Free People's State of Württemberg of former Weimar Germany, which had Stuttgart as its capital and became part of Baden-Württemberg after the political consolidation of West Germany in 1949 following World War II. Despite it being born out of political unrest, we think the Porsche logo is pretty damn cool.
5. Maserati
The infamous Maserati trident was designed by Mario Maserati, who was one the company's founders, in 1914. The logo is based on the Fontana de Nettuno in Bologna, Italy, which depicts the Roman God Neptune holding a trident while directing and stilling the waters.
4. Audi
Much like the Olympic rings, Audi's logo symbolizes unity. The rings are meant to show the merger in 1932 of four previously independent motor vehicle manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. The logo has remained virtually unchanged for the better part of 80 years. If it ain't broke don't fix it!
3. Cadillac
Today's Cadillac logo is basically a modern interpretation on the original logo which was based on the family crest of the man for whom the company was named, the aristocrat who founded Detroit in 1701 -- Antoine de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac. His coat of arms, like many family coats of arms, is borrowed from more prominent families of the time. If you like this logo, you should know that an updated version will be debuting in 2016.
2. Jaguar
The boys at Jaguar like to keep things simple. Instead of a complicated design, they chose the simplest embodiment of power, precision and performance: an animal of prey. Despite a myriad of ownership changes, the company logo hasn't changed much over the years. We would prefer if it stayed that way!
1. Alfa Romeo
The Alfa Romeo badge is one of the coolest automotive logos ever made; it's also the most confusing. Here's a brief explanation: The red cross is the symbol of the Crusades, a Christian symbol adopted throughout Italy during medieval times. Almost every city had a red cross on its crests, including Milan. The Serpent was an honorary motif given to the prominent Sforza family of Milan. The Serpent is devouring the Muslim Saracen and together these symbols depict the Crusader's defeat of the"infidels."