Yahoo Autos Ford Buys Trademarks to Bronco Big Bend and Other Rugged-Sounding Names
Ford is on a bit of a trademark filing binge, securing several manly, outdoorsy tags for its trucks and SUVs.
We expect the Bronco Outer Banks to reside in the space previously filled by the Explorer Eddie Bauer.
The Adrenalin name could signal a performance version of the Ranger. (Hey, it could happen.)
Ford isn't taking any chances on losing out on sweet trim names for upcoming Bronco models and special editions of its popular F-150 pickup and not-as-popular Ranger pickup. Trademark filings uncovered by a host of sources reveal that Ford has filed for "Bronco Outer Banks" (Ford Authority), "Bronco Big Bend" (Motor 1), and "Bronco Sport" (also Ford Authority). Earlier this month, the intrepid copyright sleuths at Ford Authority also found a filing for the trademarks "Badlands" and "Adrenaline," reportedly for use with new off-road and street performance versions of the F-150 and Ranger.
Those interested in the fine print will want to know that the Ford Bronco Outer Banks application was filed on July 25 and is assigned serial number 88535982. The application states that the name will be used in conjunction with “land motor vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles.” We're speculating that the Bronco Outer Banks will occupy the space similar to the popular Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition that ran from 1991 to 2010.
The Ford Bronco Sport application was filed on July 10 and is assigned serial number 88507114. Speculation is that this will be used for a Bronco value trim level or possibly for the upcoming Baby Bronco.
As for the Badlands name, it seems there is no limit to the number of trim levels and special packages the pickup market can shoulder, so if it sounds cool and includes a trim and hardware to match the name, putting it somewhere between the Raptor and the FX4 off-road trim, the public should welcome it with open arms and checkbook.
The Adrenaline moniker is likely for a street-performance version of the Ranger, as the last time we saw it in the Ford lexicon was when the SVT team snagged an Explorer Sport Trac and stuffed it full of a supercharged V-8 cranking out a square 390 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque; dubbed the Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin (without the "e"), the production version proved to be all show and very little go, as it was an appearance-only package.
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