Anybody know what the meaning behind "Fiero" (the word) is ? Sounds like it would be something in another language.
Thanks !
DLD
UPDATE : It seems to translate to "fierce" in spanish and italian. Is that what they meant to do ? You HAVE to ask .. because of the whole "nova" fiasco
[This message has been edited by RacerX10 (edited 06-05-2005).]
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03:03 AM
PFF
System Bot
MilleniumFiero Member
Posts: 1225 From: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii USA Registered: Dec 2002
the official meaning that pontiac gave was "proud". Fiero is the itallian word for Proud.
incedentaly, the pegasus that adorns the hood of the car is left over from the cars original name, the Pegasus. Another name that was considered was the Fiama.
First of all, the phrase "no va" (literally "doesn't go") and the word "nova" are distinct entities with different pronunciations in Spanish: the former is two words and is pronounced with the accent on the second word; the latter is one word with the accent on the first syllable. Assuming that Spanish speakers would naturally see the word "nova" as equivalent to the phrase "no va" and think "Hey, this car doesn't go!" is akin to assuming that English speakers woud spurn a dinette set sold under the name Notable because nobody wants a dinette set that doesn't include a table.
Although "no va" can be literally translated as "no go," it would be a curious locution for a speaker of Spanish to use in reference to a car. Just as an English speaker would describe a broken-down car by saying that it "doesn't run" rather than it "doesn't go," so a Spanish speaker would refer to a malfunctioning automobile by saying "no marcha" or "no funciona" or "no camina" rather than "no va."
Pemex (the Mexican government-owned oil monopoly) sold (and still sells) gasoline in Mexico under the name "Nova." If Mexicans were going to associate anything with the Chevrolet Nova based on its name, it would probably be this gasoline. In any case, if Mexicans had no compunctions about filling the tanks of their cars with a type of gasoline whose name advertised that it "didn't go," why would they reject a similarly-named automobile?
This legend assumes that a handful of General Motors executives launched a car into a foreign market and remained in blissful ignorance about a possible adverse translation of its name. Even if nobody in Detroit knew enough rudimentary Spanish to notice the coincidence, the Nova could not have been brought to market in Mexico and/or South America without the involvement of numerous Spanish speakers engaged to translate user manuals, prepare advertising and promotional materials, communicate with the network of Chevrolet dealers in the target countries, etc. In fact, GM was aware of the translation and opted to retain the model name "Nova" in Spanish-speaking markets anyway, because they (correctly) felt the matter to be unimportant.
So the Greek for Fiero would be 'hubris' which means 'pride' and which the protagonist in a 'tragedy' always suffers from. Hence the adage 'pride goeth before a fall'.
And actually the also suggested Pontiac name 'Fiamma' which means fiery would have been more appropriate.
------------------ Notchbacks RULE
"Let a man drive a Fiero and he'll own one. Teach a man to fix a Fiero and he'll own eight."
[This message has been edited by Fierobruiser (edited 06-06-2005).]
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12:08 AM
Fastback 86 Member
Posts: 7849 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Sep 2003
I just came back from Italy this morning and I asked some people there: "Proud" is definitely it.
quote
Originally posted by v8fiero2004:
A spanish-speaking friend told me fiero most closely translates to "steel", which is ironic as it is one of the few cars to have a non-metallic body.
------------------ www.yellowfiero.com/fiero.html 17" DEZENT T wheels with 215/40 tires front and 235/45 rear, KONI shocks, EIBACH lowering springs, drilled/slotted rotors, SS brake hoses. PU dog bone, all bushings and engine mounts, K&N air and oil filters, OZELOT exhaust, Mercedes SLK yellow paintjob, Mr. Mikes leather seats, door skins, shift and e-brake boots. MP3 deck and custom subwoofer behind passenger seat, F355 style front. Fiero Store rear swaybar, strut tower brace, black carpet, air intake. Rodney Dickman's competition short shifter, SS vacuum lines and deck lid strut. Billet aluminum dash kit from Kitcarman.
