Theory on the Zirconium car manufacturer

[PowerKracker]

I could just post it elsewhere but I'll make a thread here since it's relevant to the context of GTA IV.

 

All those years no one has been able to point out the real world equivalent of the automaker Zirconium, whose only car in GTA IV is ambiguous in its real life basis, and Journey introduced in V doesn't point anywhere either.

So what's my theory? It doesn't have any real world equivalent. Rather, it was created later, named after the Zirconium Building and made as a nondescript American automaker.

Let's look at all of Algonquin. It has streets and places named after all sorts of metals, minerals and so on. They probably created the Zirconium Building first - the name certainly fits the theme. Then they named a car manufacturer after it after realizing that Chrysler Building obviously had something to do with Chrysler. Perhaps they might as well have renamed it Schyster Building, but that's my theory anyway.

 

No one probably cares, but I've decided to share it.

[Tycek]

There are two theories about Zirconium.

 

First it's obviously Subaru (logo with Pleiades fits as they shine as Zircon crystals), Stratum is obviously mix up between Legacy and Impreza with bit of Nissan). Things that doesn't fit are the building and the Journey (in GTA V nothing fits, so we may skip this one).

 

Second it's nod to Diamond Star Motors - a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Chrysler, which resulted in japanese cars being sold in US under american brands (Dodge Colt, Eagle Talon, etc.).

[Darth_Starkiller]

I don't think it's based on anything, but the closest thing is Diamond Star Motors.

[Aaron030792]

Yep, as Tycek said, it could be a Diamond Star Motors/Subaru mash up.

 

Stratum definitely has an R32 Skyline front end. Back is a bit Impreza-ish, but it also vaguely reminds me of the Honda Accord Aerodeck.

[[...]]

I thnik Zirconium is clearly fictional brand, beacuse there's a car based on Honda Accord wagon and second one based on 1988 Fleetwood Bounder. Furthermore Zirconium Building (GTA IV) is based on Chrysler Building.