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Bring back the Bronco! Trademarks we hope are actually (someday) future car names

Trademark filings are the tea leaves of the auto industry. Read them carefully – and interpret them correctly – and you might be previewing an automaker's future product plans. Yes, they're routinely filed to maintain the rights to an iconic name. And sometimes they're only for toys and clothing. But not always. Sometimes, the truth is right in front of us. The trademark is required because a company actually wants to use the name on a new car. With that in mind, here's a list of intriguing trademark filings we want to see go from paperwork to production reality. Trademark: Bronco Company: Ford Previous Use: The Bronco was a long-running SUV that lived from 1966-1996. It's one of America's original SUVs and was responsible for the increased popularity of the segment. Still, it's best known as O.J. Simpson's would-be getaway car. We think: The Bronco was an icon. Everyone seems to want a Wrangler-fighter – Ford used to have a good one. Enough time has passed that the O.J. police chase isn't the immediate image conjured by the Bronco anymore. Even if we're doing a wish list in no particular order, the Bronco still finds its way to the top. For now (unfortunately), it's just federal paperwork. Rumors on this one can get especially heated. The official word from a Ford spokesman is: "Companies renew trademark filings to maintain ownership and control of the mark, even if it is not currently used. Ford values the iconic Bronco name and history." Trademarks: Aviator, AV8R Company: Ford Previous Use: The Aviator was one of the shortest-run Lincolns ever, lasting for the 2003-2005 model years. It never found the sales success of the Ford Explorer, with which it shared a platform. We Think: The Aviator name no longer fits with Lincoln's naming nomenclature. Too bad, it's better than any other name Lincoln currently uses, save for its former big brother, the Navigator. Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree, though. Ford has made several customized, aviation themed-Mustangs in the past, including one called the Mustang AV8R in 2008, which had cues from the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It sold for $500,000 at auction, and the glass roof – which is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit – helped Ford popularize the feature. Trademark: EcoBeast Company: Ford Previous Use: None by major carmakers.

Recharge Wrap-up: Cadillac CT6 Plug-In on sale in China, Oregon utilities spur EV adoption

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In is now available in China. The luxury plug-in hybrid sedan uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine plus two electric motors, which give the car a 0-62 mph time of 5.4 seconds. Its liquid-cooled 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack gives the car an all-electric range of 50 miles, with a total range of 581 miles. Cadillac offers a 200V charger with the CT6 Plug-In, which provides a full charge in less than five hours. Owners can check charging status remotely using OnStar or the MyCadillac app. The CT6 Plug-In is offered in two variants, priced at about $80,400 and $94,800. Read more from GM. Two Oregon utilities are launching a program to increase EV adoption. Portland General Electric (PGE) will build six charging locations, each with up to four dual-standard fast chargers. PGE will also build and operate charging sites for electric buses, freeing up money for Portland's TriMet transit agency to spend on the actual buses. Pacific Power will also build public EV chargers, and lower some electricity rates for operators. Both companies will also work to inform the public about the benefits of electric mobility. Oregon utilities are required to stop using coal by 2030, and use 50 percent renewable energy by 2040, which will make EVs even cleaner. Read more at Green Car Reports. Continental says a shift to EVs will cost its company jobs. The automotive parts supplier's CEO, Elmar Degenhart, says that while the company will need to cut production jobs, those will be offset at least in part by the creation of new positions related to electric mobility. "There is enough time to design the process such that the blow is softened and major pain can be avoided," says Degenhart. Some 30,000 jobs at Continental are tied to combustion engines. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Featured Gallery 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-in Hybrid View 15 Photos News Source: GM, Green Car Reports, Automotive News EuropeImage Credit: Cadillac Green Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Cadillac GM Green Culture Electric Luxury recharge wrapup

Bronco Scout, Ford and Rivian, and next-gen Land Cruiser | Autoblog Podcast #578

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Road Test Editor Reese Counts and Assistant Editor Zac Palmer. First, they dicuss recent news, including the upcoming next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford's trademarking of "Scout" and "Bronco Scout," and Ford's $500 million investment in EV startup Rivian. After that, they talk about the cars they've been driving, including the Jeep Wrangler, Cadillac XT4 and Buick Regal GS. Last but not least, they help a listener choose a new car in our "Spend My Money" segment. Autoblog Podcast #578 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Toyota promises a next-generation Land Cruiser Ford trademarks "Scout" and "Bronco Scout" Ford invests $500 million in Rivian Cars we're driving: 2019 Jeep Wrangler 2019 Cadillac XT4 2019 Buick Regal GS Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: