What Is Ford WORKING On? FoMoCo Trademarks Thunderbird And Zephyr Nameplates

Hmm, the boys and girls in Dearborn may be up to something. That's because according to the latest reports, the Ford Motor Company has trademarked two iconic nameplates.

That would be the name Thunderbird as well as Zephyr.

While we think the Thunderbird is pretty straightforward — a two-door Ford convertible that may get revived, again — Zephyr is a bit more...mysterious. That's because it's a nameplate that hasn't been used since 1936.

Here's the thing: We know the MKwhatever nomenclature hasn't made things easy to understand the company's product portfolio. And, that now with the Continental coming back around the company may be turning to its legacy to inspire it going forward.

Perhaps the Zephyr will be a smaller, C-Class/3-Series/300/ATS/XE fighter?

Feel free to hazard any guesses in the comments below!

IVANURI97 - 5/31/2016 11:52:31 PM

+4 Boost

"Zephyr is a bit more...mysterious. That's because it's a nameplate that hasn't been used since 1936.Zephyr is a bit more...mysterious. That's because it's a nameplate that hasn't been used since 1936."

Wrong...it was used for the Lincoln Zephyr from 2005-2006 before becoming the MKZ.

BMW7 - 6/1/2016 1:55:00 AM

+2 Boost

That's really good news for Lincoln. That has to mean that finally a return of a coupe to the Lincoln lineup. Whereas I dislike the Zephyr name a lot, and I think the Mark III would have been a better name, I'd take any rear wheel drive coupe or convertible.

MDarringer - 6/1/2016 8:42:57 AM

+1 Boost

I wish they'd use "Sentinel" from one of their show cars.

MDarringer - 6/1/2016 8:36:04 AM

0 Boost

Zephyr sounds like someone sneezing. If Lincoln is going to use Zephyr again, why not on the restyled MKZ? Oh wait. Too late. They are still calling it MKZ.

I hope Thunderbird is not a Fusion coupe.

TomM - 6/1/2016 12:09:36 PM

+1 Boost

Not too late - FORD has changed names mid-cycle before a number of times. SO I still would expect the MKZ to become the Zephyr.

With the loss of the Taurus - I would expect the Thunderbird to be a coupe version of the Continental - as least that size.

xjug1987a - 6/1/2016 12:35:48 PM

0 Boost

I'm glad Ford is using names but Zephyr is so weird. I understand what it means and all but there was the original, the mid 80's Mercury variant of the Fairmont and the prior MKZ version. Is there no other name they could use than Zephyr? There are so many choice that might resonate. I don't see a "Zephyr" in my future.