- Stellantis has refiled a trademark application for the name “Cuda” in the U.S.
- The automaker states that the name will be applied to “motor vehicles, namely, concept motor vehicles.”
- The Plymouth Barracuda was discontinued in 1974, but its memory lives on in the hearts of enthusiasts everywhere.
Stellantis is in the midst of launching a series of new electrified products in the U.S., starting with the new Charger coupe and sedan models. Clearly, the automaker is leaning on its storied past to ease buyers into the electric future, and the next step in that process might be the revival of another legendary muscle car nameplate.
On April 30, 2024, Stellantis filed a trademark application for the name “Cuda” in the U.S. While that is by no means confirmation that the legendary Plymouth will return (automakers file trademark applications for all kinds of reasons), it is worth noting that the automaker previously abandoned the trademark for the name in 2020, and that this appears to be its first attempt to hold the word since then.
Read: Concept ‘Cuda From SEMA Should Have Been Made By Dodge
As pointed out by Motorauthority, which first reported on the trademark, it’s also interesting that in the application, Stellantis specifically notes that the name would apply to “motor vehicles, namely, concept motor vehicles.”
That raises the possibility that the automaker may be planning to unveil a new version of its historic pony car in some kind of concept form at an upcoming auto show.
Although the name ‘Cuda is sometimes used to refer to any Plymouth Barracuda, the moniker was first officially used by the automaker in 1969, and referred to a trim package that was offered with the 340, 383, or the 440 Super Commando V8.
The Concept ‘Cuda was showcased at the 2008 SEMA Show (Photos Exoticclassics)
A year later, the car was redesigned for its third generation, and the ‘Cuda trim returned as a sport oriented model. At that time, the model was closely related to the Dodge Challenger, and since the modern version of that car was discontinued late last year, this would be a historically meaningful time to bring back its Plymouth-branded sister car.
While the return of the ‘Cuda would be tricky from a branding perspective — the Plymouth brand was officially discontinued in 2001 — Dodge has shown that it is willing to reinterpret old names creatively, such as in the case of the new Hornet.
Despite this trademark, we aren’t holding our breath for the ‘Cuda’s return just yet. How would you feel if Stellantis did decide to bring the name back? What would you like to see from the car? Would you be able to forgive the brand if it was applied to an SUV or crossover?
