Russian Pranksters

[Rabbers]

As a collector of Lexus-related trivia, I couldn't help noticing, on reading reports of a recent telephone prank played on the Italian PM - the latest in a long series of similar hoaxes involving politicians and celebrities including, among others, Merkel, Erdogan, Sánchez, Elton John - that the two Russian perpetrators call themselves "Vovan & Lexus".  I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the name has some sort of comedic significance in Russia, but I can't imagine what it might be.

 

[LenT]

6 hours ago, Rabbers said:

 I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the name has some sort of comedic significance in Russia, but I can't imagine what it might be.

I believe that Lexus was so named in recognition of his place of conception.

His partner, Vovan, changed his from his original name….Moskvitch.  😊.

[DavidCM]

...or perhaps Vovan was dislexic and really meant Vauxhall van.

[Rabbers]

1 hour ago, DavidCM said:

...or perhaps Vovan was dislexic and really meant Vauxhall van.

No, David, I would figure Vovan is likelier to mean Vo[lkswagen]van, (i.e. the VW Microbus) which was a far more popular place of conception. I have heard it said that it was specifically designed with this purpose in mind.  

[DavidCM]

I

2 hours ago, Rabbers said:

No, David, I would figure Vovan is likelier to mean Vo[lkswagen]van, (i.e. the VW Microbus) which was a far more popular place of conception. I have heard it said that it was specifically designed with this purpose in mind.  

I would have thought the  VW California would be more comfortable..perhaps that's where "fornicating" came from.

[Rabbers]

24 minutes ago, DavidCM said:

I would have thought the  VW California would be more comfortable..perhaps that's where "fornicating" came from.

Comfort, while desirable, was perhaps not necessarily the main consideration for the customers you mention.