Old Petrolhead

I enjoyed the story which appeared in the press last week - about the Kia car company cancelling plans to launch a new model in the UK under the brand name - Provo.

Now someone in Northern Ireland - a local politician from a 'unionist' background, I believe - suggested to Kia that the the name Provo might prove to be highly controversial in that part of the world.

Because 'Provo' is a slang term for the Provisional IRA and the use of such a brand name - no matter how innocently - might not be good for business, if you know what I mean.

So Kia wisely decided to abandon the use of 'Provo' to promote its new car - and will find an alternative that doesn't raise anyone's hackles - anywhere, hopefully.

One important down side of the affair is that we are now unlikely to witness Jeremy Clarkson road testing the new Provo - in one of his crazy Top Gear stunts. 

I can picture the scene in  my head - Jeremy driving gaily down the Shankhill Road in a bright, emerald green 'Provo' - with an Irish rebel song blaring out of the car's sound system through open windows.

I would have paid good money to see that.

Not least because it would have almost certainly brought a whole new meaning to the term - Old Petrolhead.