Ford 'Mach 4' Trademark Fuels Future Mustang Sedan Rumors
filed a new trademark with the USPTO that could point to a sedan being built in the near future.
The company filed to trademark the name "Mach 4," conjuring images of Ford's iconic pony car stretched to accommodate a set of rear doors.
The idea of a four-door Mustang isn't totally new, the company has been selling an electric SUV called the for four years, after all.
Automotive subbrands are all the rage these days. Everyone's got one. GMC spun off the Hummer into its own thing, Jeep revived the Wagoneer as its own brand, and Chevy is reportedly preparing to spin Corvette into a standalone brand. Thanks to the introduction of the Mustang Mach-E several years ago, Ford also knows how to transform a popular nameplate into something new.
Now, a new report from Ford Authority revealed that Ford has applied for a new trademark with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) for the name "Mach 4." The application was filed on February 25. According to the USPTO site, the trademark covers "Motor vehicles, namely gasoline and electric automobiles, pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles, and their structural parts."
Rumors that Ford will build a Mustang sedan have been around for years, even going as far back as the Mustang's first generation, according to Ford Authority. Fast forward to 2018, and Ford reportedly showed a concept model to dealers before the project was shelved. The outlet also reported that last May, Ford CEO Jim Farley said he "believes" the automaker could build a four-door Mustang as long as it has "all the performance and attitude of the original."
There's also the possibility that this Mach 4 trademark somehow relates to the standalone Raptor supercar Ford has teased in the past. Nothing is known about that particular project, but in January, Farley told Top Gear, "We're in the middle of creating something, so we don't have all the answers yet, but the question is, should Ford make an off-road supercar? Not a version of a car, a standalone supercar."
Given that Ford has already angered the feistiest of Mustang purists with the electric Mustang Mach-E, there's a real possibility that the automaker could introduce a sedan. Then again, none of the previous Mustang sedan rumors have amounted to anything, so we'll have to wait and see if this trademark also turns into a nothingburger.
You Might Also Like
Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades
How to Buy or Lease a New Car
Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Beshear helps break ground on $20M facility in Muhlenberg County
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Governor Andy Beshear joined Muhlenberg County officials and leaders from Biomass Engineering and Equipment at the groundbreaking for a new $20 million facility that is expected to create 250 jobs for Kentuckians. The new operation is located at Paradise Regional Industrial Park in Muhlenberg County. Officials say the new site includes updated equipment and increased operational space to meet growing consumer demand and allow growth in sales. 'Kentucky's manufacturing industry remains a key catalyst for our continued economic momentum and thriving economy,' Governor Beshear said. 'Today's groundbreaking event is an exciting step for not only BE&E, but for the community and families of Muhlenberg County. These 250 job opportunities will provide a substantial economic boost to the region, and I appreciate BE&E for their belief in the commonwealth and our people.' Biomass Engineering and Equipment supplies machinery and support services to various industries, including animal feed, chemical production, biofuels and advanced recycling. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ford CEO says rare earths shortage forced it to halt production
Ford CEO Jim Farley said that a rare earth minerals shortage is hurting production and caused the automaker to temporarily shut down one of its plants last month, according to an interview with Bloomberg TV. Rare earth minerals, which are a set of 17 metallic elements, are integral to automobile production, and enable features like windshield wipers, seat belts and speakers to function. About 90% of the U.S.'s rare earth minerals come from China, the world's largest producer of rare earths, according to data from the Geological Survey. China has leveraged its grip on rare earths and their widespread utility amid a trade war with the U.S. In April, Beijing announced greater export controls on the materials — a sticking point in tariff negotiations — along with other retaliatory trade measures. The controls require businesses to apply for a license to export rare earths, which U.S. automakers say they have been struggling to secure. Earlier this week, on June 11, following two days of discussions in London, U.S. and Chinese negotiators struck an agreement under which Beijing would resume regular exports of rare earths to the U.S. "The centrality of rare earth export restrictions to the trade deal underscores the criticality of minerals to the U.S. economy as well as the severity of the chokehold Beijing holds on global supply chains," policy experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in a research note. "Hand-to-mouth" Farley said the slowing flow of the critical minerals into the U.S. has presented a challenge for Ford. "It's day to day," he told Bloomberg TV Friday. "We have had to shut down factories. It's hand-to-mouth right now." Ford did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment. Ford Chief Financial Officer Sherry House addressed disruptions caused by new restrictions on rare earth minerals from China at a June conference. "There are many components that rare earth minerals are in. And any of those that are coming from China require you to now go through export control," she said. "And so there's an additional layer of administrative process that has to happen." The process isn't reliable, she added, noting that sometimes it goes "really smoothly," while other times applications are not approved quickly. "Most frequently, it goes through; it just may take more time," she said. For now, Ford is able to manage the cumbersome process, House said, but added that it has the potential to become a "larger issue for us." Farley also told the outlet that he is optimistic about the developments in trade talks between the U.S. and China, and hopes that rare earth supply constraints will ease soon. He added that Ford is awaiting approval of applications with China's Ministry of Commerce to export more rare earths. "We have applications into MOFCOM and they are being approved one at a time," Farley told Bloomberg TV. Video shows Air India plane crashing in Ahmedabad Air India plane crashes shortly after takeoff, carrying more than 240 people Israel ready to launch operation into Iran, U.S. officials say
The Drive
5 hours ago
- The Drive
This ‘Build and Price' Tool for Truck Mods Is Fun Even if You Don't Buy Anything
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Every mainstream automaker's site has a 'build and price' tool that lets you visualize different models, trims, colors, and options as their prices are tabulated for your reference. There have been versions of this for aftermarket parts, too. But the new 'RealTruck Builder' is the richest and deepest I've seen yet. RealTruck is like The Home Depot of aftermarket truck parts. It carries good and decent versions of popular items for common vehicles. Obscure or specialized things like vintage JDM parts or long-travel Baja suspension are best sourced elsewhere. Truck bed caps, aux lighting, side steps, seat covers, and other crowd pleasers are well-stocked, though. So you probably already understand what we're heading towards: The builder allows you to input a vehicle's year, make, and model, and then lets you visualize various aftermarket parts on a 3D rendering of your rig. RealTruck screenshots Again, they don't have super-old or unusual cars, and the catalog is not that deep on every model. But it's not limited to Chevy Silverados and Ford F-150s, either. The Mercedes-Benz Metris van is in there, and so is the Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-5, Chrysler Pacifica, and a pretty long list of common imports and domestic vehicles. The 3D models are neat, too—you can open doors, open the trunk, put them in a variety of settings, and spin them around in 360 degrees. But the fun part is outfitting them with various mods, selectable from a menu on the left that also feeds you an add-to-cart button. Since, of course, the site's objective is to get you to buy stuff. Even the car interiors are rendered. RealTruck screenshot I think it's a cool idea, and pretty well executed. I've always liked that Tire Rack lets you call up an image of specific makes and models to let you see what different wheels would look like with your body style and color, and the RealTruck Builder is just a much more advanced version of the same idea. And it's amusing to play with, even if you're just looking for an ad-free 'game' to kill a few minutes in a waiting room with. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
