Trademark filing hints at a new Ford ute

The Ford F-200 could be the name of a new pick-up from the US car giant, following the discovery of a trademark application.

Ford applied for the F-200 trademark in the US, as uncovered on the 7th Mustang forum, suggesting the company could be looking to fill the gap between its F-150 and larger F-250 pick-ups in American markets.

The badge isn't entirely new, however. The Ford F-200 Explorer was sold in Mexico and South America in the 1980s, based on the F-150 at the time – though it's understood to have had no relation to the later Ford Explorer SUV.

In some North American markets, the F-600 is a cab-chassis version of the F-450 Super Duty, hinting the F-200 could end up being a cab-chassis version of the F-150 – if Ford follows the same kind of naming conventions.

MORE: Right-hand-drive Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up spotted in Brisbane

It's too early at this stage to know exactly what the F-200 is – or whether the Blue Oval is merely protecting the name from being used by its competitors, as is often the case.

If the F-200 does end up being an F-150 with a cab-chassis, there's a chance the model could be offered in Australia, given local buyers often like to fit trays, toolboxes, and camper bodies to their utes.

With Ford about to introduce the F-150 in Australia – remanufactured to right-hand drive locally – it's likely converting the as-yet theoretical F-200 would require minimal additional development.