Subaru Might Be Changing The Way It Names Its Cars

The brand might be about to lean more into names like SVX, WRX, and BRZ

Subaru’s lineup has been steadily expanding, and recent trademark activity hints that the momentum isn’t slowing anytime soon. A new trio of trademark applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office suggests that more models, possibly electric, could be on the horizon. The applications are for the names “ACX,” “VPX,” and “ZPX.”

All three filings indicate they apply to “automobiles and structural parts, therefore, electric cars,” pointing toward a potential new generation of EVs. And they give us a little more insight into what Subaru might be cooking up.

Not Just Another Component or Throwback Name

First and foremost, these aren’t simple bits of technology or references to a component like Hemi or F.A.C.E. In addition, these aren’t historical names for Subaru. The brand has never used any of the three in any way that we could find. They don’t appear to be related to any previous models or concepts either. That said, the trademark applications didn’t stop at three simple letters.

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All three trademark applications, which were first spotted by Carbuzz, include filings for an STI performance version. That’s very much out of the ordinary for Subaru since it doesn’t sell a single STI-badged product in the U.S. right now. Sure, the BRZ tS and the WRX tS both have some STI-badged equipment in them, but neither is a bona fide STI creation despite fans begging the brand for one of each.

That falls in line with recent comments from Subaru executives who know the brand has lost its performance roots a bit. Perhaps whatever these three cars are, they’re a return to form in that fashion.

We know that Subaru filed for a trademark on the wordmark “STe” a couple of years ago. Interestingly, the ZPX trademark also has a Wilderness tag on it, meaning whatever it could eventually be could come in two hardcore performance flavors.

Of course, it’s plausible that all of these are just possible names that the brand is considering and may never end up using. Obviously, we haven’t seen the brand use the STe badge yet. Last year, it trademarked a dozen other names, including Accomplice, Everguide, Everpass, Getaway, Highroad, Hightrail, Outsider, Tailwind, Trailhead, Trailseeker, Uncharted, and Viewfinder.

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Obviously, Uncharted made it out of that group, so where ACX, VPX, and ZPX end up is as good as anyone’s guess at this point.