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 logo is similar to the Renault logo although this may be coincidental as the two companies share no other similarities.
The only Zirconium vehicle seen in the game is the Stratum, which resembles a 1994-1997 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. It is possible that this is a reference to Diamond-Star Motors, a joint venture between the Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Vehicle
| Vehicle | Style | Based on (GTA IV) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratum | Station Wagon | 1994-1997 Honda Accord station wagon |
Trivia
- In GTA IV's audio files, this manufacturer is misspelled as "Zireonium" and is mispronounced by the police as "Zireoenium".[1]
- Zirconium is a type of metal with an atomic mass number of 40 and the symbol Zr.
References
- ↑ pc\audio\Sfx\POLICE_SCANNER\MANUFACTURER\MAN_ZIREONIUM
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