Alex Luft
Ford Motor Company has filed an application to register Zephyr as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Ford Authority has discovered.
The automaker’s May 11th, 2016 application is assigned serial number 87032485 and specifies that the mark will be used for “Motor vehicles and parts and accessories therefor”.
The Ford Authority Take
This filing suggests that Ford’s luxury brand, Lincoln, is planning to rename the MKZ sedan to Zephyr. The move would represent the second model, after the all-new 2017 Lincoln Continental, in giving Lincoln vehicles “real names” as opposed to the current nomenclature, which includes MK followed by a third letter.
Adding some irony to the mix is that the MKZ was called Zephyr in its previous generation. The name was also used on Lincoln’s entry-level midsize luxury cars as far back as the 1930s.
It’s worth noting that Ford Motor Company currently does not hold the rights to the Zephyr name with the USPTO, solidifying the importance of this particular trademark filing.
Stay tuned to Ford Authority as we follow this story, as well as for all kinds of other Ford news.
Do you guys think they might bring back the Versailles name for a compact Lincoln based on the Focus?
They could, it wouldn’t be too far out of the realm of possibilities. And they also should, since not having an entrant in the compact luxury space is holding back sales.
Here’s what I think should be the lineup in Lincoln:
Versailles – compact
Zephyr – midsize
Continental – fullsize
Continental Town Car – extra-fullsize
Cosmopolitan – MKC successor
Blackwood? – MKX successor
Premiere? – MKT successor
Aviator – midsize/fullsize crossover
Navigator – fullsize SUV
Navigator L – extra-fullsize SUV
Mark IX – coupe
Does this sound good? What could be better names for the MKX and MKT successors?
i always liked the zephyr and capri names. or how about one from the 1930’s? like a “model K” lincoln?
It’s also easier to design a Zephyr than a MKZ. What’s a MKZ??
Real names, bring them back!!!
I am glad to see real names come back to Lincoln. The Alpha numeric system is confusing. it distinguishes the brand from the other luxury brands with not only a pride in their heritage but name recognition that sets the bar stating Lincoln is a unique kind of luxury for those who want to stand out from the crowd.