Ford has filed to trademark the name ‘Rattler’, prompting rumors that it could use the name for future off-road models.
The trademark application was made with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on June 28. It covers “motor vehicles, namely automobiles, pick-up trucks, electric vehicles, sport utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and their structural parts.”
Oftentimes, trademark applications like these amount to nothing and it’s very possible the same could happen here. Indeed, Ford spokesperson Dawn McKenzie suggested as much in a statement provided to Motor1.
“Trademark applications are intended to protect new phrases, designs or symbols but aren’t necessarily an indication of new business or product plans,” McKenzie said.
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However, this hasn’t stopped some from speculating that Ford could use the Rattler name in some form. One possibility is that Rattler could be used to denote various Ford models that are focused on off-road performance but aren’t quite fitting of using the Raptor nameplate. For example, a rugged variant of the new Maverick pickup truck.
Ford has started to grow its off-road models beyond the Raptor name. For example, the even more capable variant of the Bronco could be called the Warthog, although according to some recent reports, Ford has decided against using this name and will settle with the Raptor designation – which may or may not get the R suffix to distinguish it from the “base” variant.
Naming schemes aside, it will be sure be interesting to see if the new Ford Maverick receives a more powerful, off-road variant at some stage.
