A new trademark filing application from Ford for the ‘Ranger Crosspower’ name has raised questions about the automaker’s plans for the midsize pickup truck. The trademark filing, filed in New Zealand and discovered by Carmoses, hints at a possible new variant or powertrain for the popular pickup. The filing applies to gas and electric vehicles, while also naming pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and their structural parts. Ford has also filed an application for the ‘Crosspower’ trademark on its own, separate from the Ranger, in Australia and New Zealand. Here’s a look at the possibilities for this name.
A New Ranger Powertrain—Or Something Else?
Cole Attisha
As with any trademark application, the existence of the filing itself doesn’t guarantee that an associated product exists or will launch anytime soon. The automaker could simply be protecting a potential name. Then again, trademarks like this one often preview a new product, as was the case in 2018 when Ford trademarked the Maverick nameplate; that was followed by the launch of the Maverick compact pickup in 2021.
Ford has not previously used the Crosspower name for a vehicle or technology, with the closest designation being the old Crossflow engine, which derived its name from the cross-flow type cylinder head.
The Ranger Crosspower could potentially be a new powertrain for the midsize pickup. We know that Ford is already working on the next-generation Ranger, so it’s possible that Crosspower could be a dedicated powertrain for that model. In select markets outside the U.S., Ford already sells a Ranger plug-in hybrid, so the Crosspower may be a new hybridized option. The ‘power’ part of Crosspower certainly hints at a powertrain of some kind. Another possibility is a high-performance derivative, possibly something to sit below the Raptor, which is expected to remain the pinnacle of the Ranger lineup.
The fact that separate Crosspower-only trademarks exist suggest a powertrain that could be used for multiple Ford models, including the Ranger. The midsize pickup already shares its EcoBoost engine with the Explorer and Bronco.
A Ranger-based crossover/SUV is another possibility, although less likely. The Bronco already shares a platform with the Ranger, while the Expedition is a larger, more practical option for buyers who need body-on-frame toughness and more space.
Next-Gen Ranger Uncertainties
Ford
Ford hasn’t officially mentioned the Ranger Crosspower name, so for now, we can only speculate about whether it’s a new powertrain, a new trim, or simply Ford securing the naming rights without having a solid plan for it.
The new name aside, plans to develop the next-gen Ranger have raised some concerns. Ford engineers in Australia (where the Ranger is hugely popular) are already working on the model, but Ford CEO Jim Farley has questioned whether developing the truck down under is financially viable. If not, it may be that development of the next Ranger is completed in other regions, with China and Vietnam both being mentioned as possibilities by Farley.
Whether developed in Australia or elsewhere, and whether the Crosspower name makes it to production or not, Americans will be hoping that the next Ranger isn’t delayed. The current model arrived in the U.S. roughly a year and a half after its global debut.
Related: Next-Generation Ford Ranger Is Already in Development
