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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.

Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Scion FR-S [w/video]

Toyota has been hosting its Pro/Celebrity race at the Toyota Grand Prix on Long Beach since 1977. The charity event, which has raised millions of dollars over the years, traditionally pits Hollywood celebrities against professional athletes (including race car drivers) on the full Grand Prix course in modified street vehicles. The short, sprint-style race is popular with the crowds as the amateur drivers race uninhibited - the result is an action-packed race with plenty of excitement and automotive... er... carnage.
Over the decades, the drivers have raced a variety of Toyota products including last year's front-wheel-drive Scion tC. But this year, Toyota announced at the Chicago Auto Show that the new rear-wheel-drive Scion FR-S would be stepping up to the plate. The good news only became better when Toyota Motorsports invited us out to Southern California's Willow Springs Raceway (the same circuit where the drivers train and practice) to be one of the first behind the wheel.
Driving Notes:

Recharge Wrap-up: BMW Next 100 video, how Nissan "tops off" battery

BMW explains the ideas behind its Vision Next 100 concept car that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. As BMW celebrates its 100th birthday, it wants to look into the future rather than dwell on its past. This involves the digital and analog worlds working together "to create a seamless experience." Hence the "live geometry," wherein physical parts of the car move to translate digital information to the driver. The video also gets into the future of driving modes, like "Ease," for more autonomous driving, and "Boost," for when the driver wants to take control to enjoy some motoring the good, old-fashioned way. Check out the video above, and read more from Hybrid Cars. Nissan has managed to find a way to boost the range of EV batteries inspired by pouring a glass of beer. The automaker has found that after a full charge, one can wait a few minutes for subsequent "minicharges" to "top off" the battery. The voltage dips slightly, much as the foam does on a pint of beer, allowing the battery to accept some more juice. The result is an extra 0.7 percent of energy, which could mean just enough extra range to reach the next charging station. Read more from Automotive News. Hyundai has delivered its first Tucson Fuel Cell in Ontario, Canada. The lucky recipient is Joseph Cargnelli, Chief Technology Officer of Hydrogenics Corporation, a company based on hydrogen technology. The expansion into Ontario follows Hyundai's trial of six Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Read more at Green Car Congress. Toyota has entered a public-private partnership to test an end-to-end hydrogen supply chain in Japan. The collaboration with the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, the municipal governments of the cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki and three private companies to create renewable hydrogen to power forklifts. It will use wind energy to electrolyze hydrogen, which will then be shipped to a factory, a vegetable and fruit market and two warehouses to be used in the fuel cell-powered vehicles. This supply chain is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 percent compared to traditionally fueled forklifts. Read more from Toyota. Related Gallery BMW Vision Next 100 Concept News Source: Hybrid Cars, YouTube: BMW, Automotive News, Green Car Congress, Toyota Green BMW Hyundai Nissan Toyota Concept Cars Electric Hydrogen Cars Videos recharge wrapup