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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.

Autoblog Minute: Ford Ranger, UK Mustang, Hyundai Hybrid

Ford may bring the Ranger back to the US, the UK goes nuts over the Mustang, and the battle of hybrids heats up with spy shots of the Toyota Prius and a new Hyundai. Autoblog's senior editor Greg Migliore reports on the weekly recap edition of Autoblog Minute. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Ford may bring the Ranger back to the US, the UK goes nuts over Mustang, and the battle of hybrids heats up with spy shots of Prius and a new Hyundai. I'm Autoblog senior editor Greg Migliore and this is your Autoblog Minute weekly recap. 2011 was the last time we saw Ford's midsize pickup in the US but according to a report from the Detroit News we could see production of the Ranger at the [00:00:30] Dearborn automaker's Michigan Assembly Plant as early as 2018. Ranger could compete with the Chevy Colorado and perhaps revive the compact and midsize pickup market for Ford, but the future of Ranger in the US depends a lot on Ford's ongoing negotiations with the UAW. About 2,000 orders for the 2015 Mustang were placed in the UK, tying up production of the pony car until July 2016. According to details in a press release from Ford UK, [00:01:00] it looks like Brits are a lot like their American cousins, opting for the 5.0 liter V8, with Race Red as the popular color of choice. Photos of the 2016 Toyota Prius leaked generating a lot of buzz over the styling. This fourth generation Prius will have some new competition as spy shots of a new Hyundai also surfaced this week. The car is said to be a hybrid and a bonafide "Prius fighter." Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check out my full recap this Saturday, [00:01:30] including the latest in FCA rumors for 2016. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. UAW/Unions Ford GMC Hyundai Toyota Truck Hybrid Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video

Forza Horizon 3 car list keeps on truckin'

We've covered three weeks of car reveals for Forza Horizon 3, and this time we get a better look at the trucks, SUVs and other off-roaders you'll be able to use to explore Australia. This week's list kicks things off with two of the most legendary off-roaders in the world, the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser and the Meyers Manx. They have different purposes; the FJ40 is for tough trail work and the Manx is for some light-hearted beach fun. But no one could deny the cultural importance of either. And both should be a blast in Horizon 3. In addition to this pair of classics, players will have a chance to get behind the wheel of both a race version of the Ford F-150 Raptor and its closest rival, the Ram Runner. And when traditional vehicles start to get boring, why not take out a full-blown Baja racer such as the Penhall Cholla or the Rockstar energy drink version of the little Polaris RZR XP 1000 side-by-side? Forza Horizon 3 is shaping up to have one of the most diverse car lists in a racing game in a long time. There are still cars left to be revealed, so stay tuned for further installments and see this week's full list below. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth 2013 Ford Focus ST 1973 Ford Escort RS1600 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III 2014 Ford Fiesta ST 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Race Truck 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 1986 Lancia Delta S4 2009 Lexus IS F 1957 Maserati 300 S 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata 1967 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series 1971 Meyers Manx 2012 Mini John Cooper Works GP 1998 Nissan R390 1979 Opel Kadett C GT/E 2011 Penhall The Cholla 1971 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi 2015 Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS Rockstar Edition 2013 Ram Runner 1993 Renault Clio Williams 1990 Subaru SVX 1979 Toyota FJ40 2005 TVR Sagaris 1990 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton Related Video: News Source: Playground Games / MicrosoftImage Credit: Playground Games / Microsoft Auto News Toys/Games Ford RAM Toyota forza exclusive ford f-150 raptor forza horizon forza horizon 3 toyota fj40 meyers manx