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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.

2016 Chevy Volt sneak peek at CES

Here it is, folks – your first real glimpse at the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. The gasoline-electric sedan will officially debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week, but Chevy gave us a sneak peek of its redesigned Volt at a media event in Las Vegas late Sunday, as part of its CES festivities. There isn't a ton to see here, and sorry about the low quality video (and for us not standing front and center during the reveal). But we can clearly see the car's redesigned front fascia – something recently previewed at a fan event in Los Angeles. For another view, check out a high-res photo of the new Volt from our friends at The Verge, here. Chevy even tweeted a photo of the Volt's new nose on its official Volt Twitter account, which you can see below. The automaker didn't divulge any details about its new Volt, but we already know quite a bit. For starters, the Volt will use a new, 1.5-liter gasoline engine and won't require premium fuel. It'll have more EV range and a bigger battery, too. We'll have a whole mess of information when the 2016 Volt is fully revealed in Detroit in about one week's time. In the meantime, here are some more looks at the Volt, courtesy of the Twitterverse. We're so excited about #NextGenVolt we brought it out early at #CES2015! Full details on 1/12 at #NAIAS. pic.twitter.com/hPCbTFGSV4 - Chevrolet Volt (@ChevyVolt) January 5, 2015 Take a look at the new Chevy Volt http://t.co/laCvWLRMXk pic.twitter.com/uOzRh5XCrP - Engadget (@engadget) January 5, 2015 The very first look at the 2016 Chevy Volt doesn't disappoint: http://t.co/PM0HcnyQOo pic.twitter.com/WFtoyd0utH - Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) January 5, 2015 Chevy just gave @Tim_Stevens a very quick look at the next-gen Volt at #CES2015. #CNETatCES http://t.co/3n6EK1yOrC pic.twitter.com/7KDYh0VSg0 - CNET (@CNET) January 5, 2015 Related Gallery 2016 Chevy Volt at CES Related Gallery 2016 Chevrolet Volt Teaser Images Green CES Detroit Auto Show Chevrolet GM Alternative Fuels Green Automakers Electric Hybrid Videos Sedan 2015 Detroit Auto Show CES 2015

Malcolm Butler gets the MVP's Chevy Colorado

In the wake of the Super Bowl last week, we reported that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady intended to give the Chevy Colorado awarded to him as the game's most valuable player to Malcolm Butler instead. In our informal poll (to say nothing of the hundred-plus comments that ensued), an overwhelming 86.7 percent of you, our loyal readers, agreed that it was the right thing to do. And now that's precisely what's happened. "After consulting Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady," the automaker said in the press release below, "Chevrolet presented an all-new Colorado pickup to New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler." The rookie, as you may have seen in between the commercials, made the game-saving interception that handed his team the victory, propelling Butler to stardom. "I am ecstatic that Chevrolet has chosen to reward me with a Colorado," said Butler upon taking delivery of his new red pickup. "It is just another unreal event in what has been an incredible week." We can only imagine. Enjoy the truck, Malcolm; you've earned it. Related Video: Upon Further Review, Chevrolet Awards Super Bowl MVP Colorado to Malcolm Butler 2015-02-10 DETROIT – After consulting Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, Chevrolet presented an all-new Colorado pickup to New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, whose end zone interception preserved the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XLIX. The Colorado was intended to be awarded to Brady, the Patriots' quarterback, in recognition of his Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award. However, Brady and Chevrolet huddled on Monday and Chevrolet determined Butler deserved recognition for his game-saving interception. "I've seen several game-changing moments in big games, and Malcom's interception last Sunday ranks up there as one of the biggest," said Brady. "I appreciate Chevrolet wanting to honor the Super Bowl's top performer, and I'm glad they have agreed to award the Colorado to Malcolm." Said Butler: "I am ecstatic that Chevrolet has chosen to reward me with a Colorado. It is just another unreal event in what has been an incredible week." The Chevrolet Colorado, 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year®, was engineered to be the most capable, most versatile and most technologically advanced midsize truck in the market. With class-leading horsepower and fuel economy along with a 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, the Colorado adds a new dimension to the Chevy truck line.