Zirconium is an American automotive company in the HD Universe of Grand Theft Auto.
Overview[]
The company name and logo allude to the production of exotic-looking but low-quality vehicles, as the element zirconium is commonly used to make cheap diamond substitutes.
Only three Zirconium vehicles are displayed in the series: the Stratum, which resembles various Japanese station wagons, the Journey, and the Journey II, the latter two resembling the 1977–1980 Triple E motorhomes.
As of 2008, Zirconium appears to be headquartered in the Zirconium Building in Liberty City.
Influence[]
The company's presumed headquarters, the Zirconium Building, is modeled after the Chrysler Building, despite Chrysler's analogue in the HD Universe appearing to be Schyster. This, paired with the origin of the company's name, denotes that Zirconium could be a reference to Diamond-Star Motors, a former American-Japanese manufacturing joint venture between the Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors.
Additionally, Zirconium could be loosely based on the defunct Saturn Corporation, as the Stratum bears minor resemblance to the Saturn SW, in conjunction with the vehicle presenting a synonymous name to the Saturn brand. The Zirconium name may also allude to the public perception that Saturn vehicles were bland GM knockoffs of Japanese automobiles.
Another brand with a similar reputation on which Zirconium could be based is Eagle, a former subsidiary of the Chrysler Corporation, introduced largely to compete with the Saturn brand. The Stratum's Southern San Andreas Super Autos description is a possible reference to Eagle's various short-lived station wagon models.
Vehicles[]
Image | Vehicle | Style | Based on (HD Universe) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Journey in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Journey | Class-A RV | 1977-1980 Triple E models | |
The Journey II in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Journey II | Class-A RV | Based on the Journey. Added in the Los Santos Drug Wars update for Grand Theft Auto Online. | |
The Stratum in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Stratum | Station wagon | 1994-1997 Honda Accord station wagon |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In GTA IV's audio files, this manufacturer is misspelled as "Zireonium" and is mispronounced by the police as "Zireoenium".[1] A sound clip with the same mispronunciation can be found in GTA V's files that was probably recorded before being corrected.
References[]
- ↑ pc\audio\Sfx\POLICE_SCANNER\MANUFACTURER\MAN_ZIREONIUM