Ford’s new Ranger Crosspower trademark filing has raised questions about what the automaker may have planned for its midsize pickup. Filed in New Zealand and discovered by Carmoses, the application covers gas and electric vehicles as well as pickup trucks, SUVs, vans and their structural parts.

Ford has also filed for the standalone Crosspower trademark in Australia and New Zealand, separate from the Ranger name. While the filings do not confirm that a production vehicle or technology is coming, the name has several possible applications.

Could Crosspower Be a New Ranger Powertrain?

The existence of a trademark application does not guarantee that a related product exists or will reach production. Ford could simply be protecting the name for potential future use.

However, Ford has previously used trademarks ahead of new products. In 2018, the automaker trademarked the Maverick nameplate, followed by the launch of the Maverick compact pickup in 2021.

Ford has never previously used the Crosspower name for a vehicle or technology. The closest designation is the older Crossflow engine, whose name came from its cross-flow-type cylinder head.

One possibility is that Ranger Crosspower could identify a new powertrain for the midsize pickup. Ford is already working on the next-generation Ranger, meaning Crosspower could potentially become a dedicated powertrain for the future model.

Ford already sells a Ranger plug-in hybrid in select markets outside the U.S., creating another possible direction for the Crosspower name. The word “power” could also point toward a powertrain-related application.

Could Crosspower Be a Performance Model?

Another possibility is a high-performance Ranger derivative positioned below the Raptor, which is expected to remain the top model in the Ranger lineup.

The separate Crosspower-only trademark filings could point toward a powertrain intended for use across multiple Ford models, potentially including the Ranger. The midsize pickup already shares its EcoBoost engine with the Explorer and Bronco.

A Ranger-based crossover or SUV is another potential use for the name, although the article considers that possibility less likely. The Bronco already shares a platform with the Ranger, while the larger Expedition offers buyers more space alongside body-on-frame toughness.

What the Trademark Means for the Next-Generation Ranger

Ford has not officially discussed the Ranger Crosspower name. For now, it remains unclear whether Crosspower represents a new powertrain, a new trim or simply a name the automaker is protecting without a firm production plan.

Separate from the trademark, Ford is already developing the next-generation Ranger. Engineers in Australia, where the Ranger is hugely popular, are working on the model, but Ford CEO Jim Farley has questioned whether developing the truck there is financially viable.

If development does not continue in Australia, China and Vietnam have both been mentioned by Farley as possible locations for completing work on the next Ranger.

Next Ranger Timing Remains Uncertain

Whether the next Ranger is developed in Australia or elsewhere, the future of the Crosspower name remains unconfirmed. The current Ranger arrived in the U.S. roughly a year and a half after its global debut.

For now, Ford’s trademark filings offer a potential clue about the Ranger’s future, but the automaker has not confirmed whether Crosspower will become a production powertrain, trim or another vehicle-related offering.