The Ultimate Car Logo Challenge
Car logos are some of the most carefully designed symbols in the world. Each one carries decades of history, engineering pride, and brand identity. But can you identify these automotive brands from descriptions of their logos alone? From luxury marques to everyday brands, this quiz covers the full range.
The Quiz
1. A prancing black horse on a yellow shield background.
Reveal Answer
Ferrari
Fun fact: The prancing horse (Cavallino Rampante) was originally the personal symbol of Count Francesco Baracca, a World War I Italian fighter ace. After Baracca was killed in combat, his mother gave the emblem to Enzo Ferrari, saying it would bring him good luck. Ferrari added the yellow background because it's the color of Modena, his hometown. The same prancing horse, from a different source, also appears on the Stuttgart coat of arms — which is why Porsche uses a similar horse emblem.
2. Four interlocking silver rings arranged horizontally.
Reveal Answer
Audi
Fun fact: Each ring represents one of the four companies that merged to form Auto Union in 1932: Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. The name "Audi" is the Latin translation of the founder's surname, Horch — both words mean "listen." The four-ring design was almost abandoned in the 1960s but survived because customers loved it. In 2024, Audi introduced a flat, two-dimensional version of the rings for the digital age.
3. A raging bull on a black shield background.
Reveal Answer
Lamborghini
Fun fact: Ferruccio Lamborghini was a Taurus (his zodiac sign was the bull), and he was passionate about bullfighting. Almost every Lamborghini model is named after a famous fighting bull or bullfighting term: Miura, Diablo, Murciélago, Aventador, and Reventón were all legendary bulls. Lamborghini started the company specifically to rival Ferrari after Enzo Ferrari dismissed his complaint about a clutch in his Ferrari.
4. A three-pointed star inside a circle.
Reveal Answer
Mercedes-Benz
Fun fact: The three points represent Mercedes-Benz's dominance on land, sea, and air. Gottlieb Daimler originally drew the star on a postcard to his wife, marking the location of their home, and predicted it would one day mark his factory. The "Mercedes" name came from a girl — Mercedes Jellinek, the daughter of an important Daimler customer and businessman who insisted the cars be named after her. She was 11 years old at the time.
5. A blue and white circle divided into four quadrants, resembling a spinning propeller.
Reveal Answer
BMW
Fun fact: Despite popular belief, the blue and white quadrants do NOT represent a spinning propeller. This myth comes from a 1929 BMW advertisement that superimposed the logo over airplane propellers. The actual origin is much simpler: the blue and white are the colors of the Bavarian flag (though reversed due to trademark laws that prohibited the use of national symbols). BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke — Bavarian Motor Works.
6. An "H" inside a rectangle, tilted slightly to suggest forward motion.
Reveal Answer
Honda
Fun fact: The Honda "H" is one of the most minimalist car logos in the world. Soichiro Honda founded the company in 1948 in a small workshop. He was known for his philosophy of racing: "If Honda does not race, there is no Honda." The company started making motorcycles before cars. Honda is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and the only car company to also have a successful aircraft division (HondaJet).
7. A circle with an arrow pointing diagonally upward to the upper right (the male/Mars symbol).
Reveal Answer
Volvo
Fun fact: The circle and arrow is the ancient Roman symbol for Mars, the god of war, which also represents iron. It was chosen because Volvo's parent company, SKF, was a major steel bearing manufacturer. The iron symbol communicated strength and durability. "Volvo" comes from Latin and means "I roll." Despite their safety-first reputation, Volvo entered motorsport in the 1950s — and their race cars were very competitive.
8. Six stars in a cluster arrangement.
Reveal Answer
Subaru
Fun fact: "Subaru" is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster (also known as the Seven Sisters). The logo shows six stars because the company was formed from the merger of six companies. The largest star represents Fuji Heavy Industries (the parent company), while the five smaller stars represent the five companies that merged into it. Subaru is the only car brand named after a constellation.
9. A cross divided into four quadrants, with a snake eating a person on one side and a red cross on the other.
Reveal Answer
Alfa Romeo
Fun fact: This is one of the most complex car logos ever made. The red cross on the left represents the city of Milan. The snake (Biscione) eating a person on the right comes from the coat of arms of the House of Visconti, rulers of Milan in the Middle Ages. The person emerging from the snake's mouth is often interpreted as a Moor or a child being "reborn." The logo has remained largely unchanged since 1910.
10. A winged "B" letter.
Reveal Answer
Bentley
Fun fact: The winged B was designed by artist and motorsport enthusiast F. Gordon Crosby in 1919. The wings represent speed, grace, and Bentley's aviation heritage (W.O. Bentley designed airplane engines during World War I). Different models use different wing styles: the Continental GT has more aggressive wings, while the Flying Spur has more elegant ones. Each Bentley logo is handcrafted and takes approximately 15 hours to produce.
How Did You Score?
8–10 correct: You could work at a dealership — or better yet, design the next great car logo!
5–7 correct: Strong automotive knowledge! The later questions are genuinely tricky.
0–4 correct: Car logos have some of the best stories in branding. Now you know the history behind the badges!
