In February 2018, a Nissan executive admitted that the Japanese company was seriously considering building a Navara-based rival for the new Ford Ranger Raptor. And now a fresh report out of the United States suggests that the brand has already applied to trademark the proposed vehicle’s new badge.

According to AutoGuide, Nissan has filed a trademark application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office for the (rather unimaginative) “Navara Off-Roader” name. As the report points out, the filing was made as recently as March 6.

Recently speaking to motoring.com.au, Ashwani Gupta, who heads up the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s light commercial vehicle unit, said that he would like to study the idea of creating a rival for the 157 kW/500 N.m Ranger Raptor.

“If you would had asked me this question yesterday, I would have said this is not on our priority list,” Gupta told the Australian publication.

“But if you are asking this question today, then I am saying this is an opportunity we would like to study.”

While the Ranger Raptor draws its urge from a 2,0-litre turbodiesel engine, Gupta conceded that it would technically be possible for a beefed-up Navara to borrow the 190 kW/550 N.m 3,0-litre V6 turbodiesel from the Mercedes-Benz X350d with which it shares an assembly line.

Original article from Car