General Motors is continuing to pursue trademark applications for the terms Grand National and GNX, lending credence to rumors that the automaker is planning to bring back the historic nameplates in upcoming production vehicles.
If you think that the trademarks are for novelty items, they’re not. The two trademark applications in question are not for such frivolous items as key chains, vinyl banners, valve covers, clothing, vehicle badges, or floor mats (GM has applications for the Grand National trademark in each of those categories as well). Rather, these application specifically list “Motor land vehicles, namely automobiles and structural parts thereof” in their respective Goods and Services statement. In other words, they’re for cars. Not paraphernalia.
According to the latest research from our lawyer friends, The General initially filed two trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 30, 2012: one for Grand National, and the other for GNX.
Since then, GM has asked the USPTO for three time extensions to submit viable proof that, if granted, it will use the trademarks for a real-world service or product. Known legally as a Statement of Use, the document is required by the USPTO to grant an applicant the trademark. The last time that the USPTO granted GM an extension to submit the file was May 20, 2014 for the Grand National application, and August 19, 2014 for the GNX application.
| TRADEMARK: | GRAND NATIONAL | GNX |
|---|---|---|
| FILING DATE: | MAY 30, 2014 | MAY 30, 2014 |
| STATUS: | 732 – Third Extension – Granted | 732 – Third Extension – Granted |
| STATUS DATE: | MAY 20, 2014 | AUGUST 19, 2014 |
| SERIAL NUMBER: | 85638424 | 85638414 |
| GOODS AND SERVICES: | Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles and structural parts thereof |
What other vehicles have we reported on that followed this exact pattern that have so-far become official, you ask? Well, there’s the Camaro Z/28, Cadillac CT6 (formerly LTS), Buick Envision, Chevrolet Silverado High Desert Concept, and more.
Rumors of GM planning to bring back a Buick Regal Grand National, along with a high-performance GNX variant, first surfaced in 2012, and have more or less quelled since then. The two vehicles, especially the high-performance GNX, were lauded by enthusiasts for their sinister styling, blistering performance, and accessible tunability when they were on sale in the late 70s and early 80s.
What we gather so far is that the Grand National and GNX programs are bundled in with GM’s Alpha platform — the underpinnings of current vehicles such as the Cadillac ATS and CTS, as well as the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro set to debut next year. We’ve heard both that it could be a longer wheelbase version such as the CTS, as well as that it could be around the size of the ATS. But Alpha regardless. Powertrain-wise, a twin-turbo LF3 V6Â as first seen in the CTS Vsport and soon-to-be 2016 Cadillac ATS-V would be the ideal powertrain for both performance, and as a nod towards the original GNX model. We just wonder if it will remain in black this time.
Comments
Not sure the use of this name will be a good thing.
The new coming cars are not going to be much like the old cars in any way other than a Turbocharger. Now if they were going to go retro but Buick is not going that way.
If anything I think many will get mad because the name and the car will not be what they had in mind.
If the car is good, they’ll get over it. People moaned and groaned about the Charger but look at it now.
I often think retro is the wrong way to go these days, especially for Buick which is trying desperately to find younger buyers. I think this is the exception. It doesn’t go back to a time when few who will be buying cars five years from now were even alive, like portholes do. It goes back to not that long ago. Also, there was no dilution of the car after its great time, so there are no negative memories of the car. This is unlike Impala and Malibu, for example.
I just think it would be better to evolve the names just as the cars have evolved. Why fight a perception battle when you can easily create a whole new car and image.
The Charger name on a 4 door was a major issue and even thought people bought it there is still a great sentiment that the name was used on the wrong car. Why go through this if it could be easily avoided.
GS was easy to use because it had applied to many cars but GN and GNX are specific to a black RWD 2 door model with a name based on NASCAR. Now does a FWD/AWD based sedan with a Turbo 4 or V6 really match what the name represents.
Time for companies to stop being lazy in marketing and better match the names to the product.
Hell call it a GSN as a evolution of the name. Or even T type if a Turbo is involved as it also applied to a wide range of cars.
You just know that if this is a FWD/AWD sedan and if you want to sell it in more than black you are playing with fire for negative comments. The goal should be to avoid anything negative.
Now if this is a RWD coupe on the Alpha with the TT V6 in black you can pull it off but I am afraid the odds of this happening are slim.
I would hope Buick brings the Grand National and GNX as a black 2 door coupe and stay true to the originals. But most likely the only thing that these new cars will have in common with G-bodies, is some type of turbo charged engine. I have a feeling they are going to be the Buick’s version of the WRX/STI, a small hot hatch with AWD,DCT which would not be bad. But they should not be called Grand National or GNX neither.
I thought from the article it was a sure thing that the car would be on the RWD Alpha platform. If this is not the case, then okay don’t use the GN or GNX names. hOW ABOUT THIS:
If AWD (off a FWD platform), use an entirely different name.
If RWD (and maybe available with AWD), use a slightly different name for the sedan (T type or GS as per Scott?), and use the GN/GNX names for the 2 door. And maybe even offer it in black, white or silver. No radical colours here, so just a small change.
it will be rebadge Camaro with a body of look of opel Monza with awd ttv6 or four door coupe either way it will still out sale better then Cadillac then it will be kill off cause cuz Cadillac and Chevy will cry just like last time around because Buick the step child of gm. which is f up in my book. I think Buick would have done better job then Cadillac if they were the one that got all good stuff its already best in china and it would have became power house here in us
That’s good they are bringing back their classical nameplates back. Going back to past good…
bring them back.
are thare go to file tradmarks on a Electura or a Roadmaster….above the Lacrosse.