Is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] about to resurrect the Barracuda nameplate for a new muscle car?
Only a few years ago it certainly seemed that way but then in 2014 Ralph Gilles, who at the time was running Dodge-tuner SRT, came out and dismissed the rumors.
Now the rumor mill is spinning back into action with news FCA has filed a new trademark for the Barracuda name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The filing, first discovered by Allpar, was made on June 23 of this year and relates to usage on “Motor vehicles, namely, passenger automobiles, their structural parts, trim and badges.”
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Before you get too excited, recall that automakers routinely renew trademarks with such filings in order to prevent other firms from using the names. Then again, there’s always the possibility that FCA is gearing up for a new Barracuda, either as a range-topping version of the Challenger or as a successor model.
With the arrival of the SRT Hellcat, the Barracuda replacing the Challenger would appear to be a more likely option. In its five-year strategy announcement for Dodge made last year, FCA said the current Challenger would be replaced in 2018, although we’ve heard that there may be some delays for the successor model, whatever it ends up being called.
