Zirconium: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:58, 25 July 2009

Zirconium is an automotive company in Grand Theft Auto IV. The company name may allude to the production of expensive-looking but low-quality vehicles, as the element zirconium is used to make cheap diamond substitutes. The Zirconium Building in Liberty City is modeled after the Chrysler Building, although Chrysler's analogue in the GTA IV Era appears to be Schyster.

The only Zirconium vehicle seen in the game is the Stratum, which resembles a 1991-1993 Honda Accord station wagon. Although this would suggest that the company is based on Honda, Dinka already manufactures two Honda-inspired designs, suggesting that they are the GTA IV analogue of Honda; the construction of the Zirconium Building also predates Japan's rise to prominence as an automaker, and it seems unlikely that a Japanese manufacturer would found such an expensive headquarters in another country. The Zirconium name may be a reference to the Ford marque Mercury, as both share the names of elements, however the only Mercury analogue seen in the game is the Solair, produced by Willard. The Stratum may be a captive import, leaving the inspiration for Zirconium a mystery until more cars are seen with their branding.

Vehicle

Stratum

Vehicle Brands (Category)

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 [[Image:Zirconium.jpg|right|[[Zirconium]]]]
-'''Zirconium''' is an automotive company in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]. The company name could be a metaphor for expensive looking vehicles built with poor quality as the element zirconium can be used to make cheap [[wp:diamond simulant|diamond substitutes]]. The logo appears to be a crystal, probably a zirconia crystal. The [[Zirconium Building]] in [[Liberty City in GTA IV|Liberty City]] is modeled after the [[wikipedia:Chrysler Building|Chrysler Building]] but the automotive company [[Schyster]] appears to be based on [[wikipedia:Chrysler|Chrysler]].
+'''Zirconium''' is an automotive company in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]. The company name may allude to the production of expensive-looking but low-quality vehicles, as the element zirconium is used to make cheap [[wp:diamond simulant|diamond substitutes]].  The [[Zirconium Building]] in [[Liberty City in GTA IV|Liberty City]] is modeled after the [[wikipedia:Chrysler Building|Chrysler Building]], although [[wp:Chrysler|Chrysler]]'s analogue in the [[GTA IV Era]] appears to be [[Schyster]].
-How the Stratum, the company's lone offering, is similar to a Honda Accord Wagon might suggest that the company is based on Honda, however there is already a car manufacturer based on Honda, [[Dinka]], and it should be very unlikely that a foreign automaker is headquartered in a classic American landmark. Zirconium could also be based on [[wikipedia:Mercury (Automotive Manufacturer)|Mercury]] since they're both elements, though Mercury wasn't named after the element. The Stratum could be meant to emulate a Mercury Sable station wagon, but strangely enough, one already exists in the game, as the [[Solair]], which is manufactured by [[Willard]], which also seems to be partially based on Mercury. It can also theorized that the Stratum is a [[wp:captive import|captive import]] if it is indeed not a domestic vehicle.
+The only Zirconium vehicle seen in the game is the [[Stratum]], which resembles a 1991-1993 Honda Accord station wagon.  Although this would suggest that the company is based on Honda, [[Dinka]] already manufactures two Honda-inspired designs, suggesting that they are the GTA IV analogue of Honda; the construction of the Zirconium Building also predates Japan's rise to prominence as an automaker, and it seems unlikely that a Japanese manufacturer would found such an expensive headquarters in another country.  The Zirconium name may be a reference to the Ford marque [[wp:Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]], as both share the names of elements, however the only Mercury analogue seen in the game is the [[Solair]], produced by [[Willard (manufacturer)|Willard]].  The Stratum may be a [[wp:captive import|captive import]], leaving the inspiration for Zirconium a mystery until more cars are seen with their branding.
 ==Vehicle==