Brownie, squid, Indian... What does it mean and why do some cars have that name?

In Spain, it's common to use different names for the various vehicles in the automotive market . Sedans, all-terrain vehicles, SUVs, electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, "brown cars," "squid cars," or "Indian cars," among others, are some of the names you've probably heard throughout your years as a driver.

However, despite having these names in mind every day, many users don't really know the meaning of some of the strangest nicknames, so we'll explain most of them below. However, those related to new electric cars , such as the aforementioned hybrids, pure electrics, or plug-in cars, are much easier to predict.

What are the strangest names?

First, we'll focus on the so-called "brown" cars . Yes, you read that right: brown. And many will wonder, why are they called that? Well, they're the typical vehicles that, due to their appearance, tend to be more conspicuous and, logically, are "easier" for traffic officers to stop during a routine check . A priori, these tend to have a more malicious appearance, attracting the attention of the Civil Guard.

On the other hand, we have the squid car , which refers to those diesel-powered vehicles that, when they accelerate to the maximum, leave a kind of cloud of black smoke that, logically, bothers cars traveling meters behind.

What does the 'Indian' car mean?

When we hear the term "Indian car," we might think of Atlético Madrid fans' cars. However, this is far from the truth, as it's a designation that reflects the owner's habit of usually keeping the tank on reserve.

This situation is delicate, as you could be stranded on the road at any moment and unable to continue driving. You could also face possible fines if you are caught by the various traffic officers who roam freely across our country's roads in pursuit of greater road safety.

What is the origin of this term? Well, it originates from the Wild West, when cowboys used to confine Native Americans to reservations. From that very moment, this appellation was born, and over the years, it has become increasingly common in our society.