Ford could bring the Raptor-inspired Transit Trail to

Fordcould add more outdoor flavor to the Transit menu it offers.An image released by the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) depicts the Transit Trail spanning the entire pond.

Assigned number D937,360, first discovered by Motor Trend, this patent was filed by Blue Oval on April 29, 2020 and granted on August 10, 2021.It protects "vehicle appearance, toys and/or replicas thereof", so it doesn't necessarily apply to a full-size van, but the image clearly shows the front end of the Trail model.

Ford's European division launched the Transit Trail (pictured) in June 2020 and launched in multiple markets shortly after.Visually, the van stands out from the standard Transit with a redesigned grille with F-150 Raptor-style "FORD" lettering in place of the blue oval badge, black plastic cladding on the wheel arches and model-specific 16-inch wheel.However, it's not just a cosmetic package.Rear-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available for an extra fee, and it adds two driving modes called coasting and mud/rutting.

One can't order Eurotransport's 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel; they have a pair of 3.5-liter V6s to choose from.All-wheel drive is also available here, so the trail isn't all on show and doesn't go.It makes sense in providing it.Off-road vehicles (and vehicles with off-road looks) are in high demand, the Explorer has recently joined the bandwagon, the Expedition could be next, and the Trail handling is relatively simple to implement.

Fordhas yet to announce plans to launch the Transit Trail.It's important to remember that patents do not guarantee that details of a vehicle, feature or nameplate will go into production in time.Automakers typically protect intellectual property to ensure it doesn't fall into the hands of competitors.If the Trail does make its way to our shores, it could join our lineup as a 2022 model in the coming months.

The smaller Transit Custom also gets a bit of Raptor-ness in June 2020.However, there's no indication we'll see this model on our shores (between the standard Transit and Transit Connect).