General Motors (GM) has performance car enthusiasts talking again. The company recently applied to trademark the Panther name for cars, a move it also made back in 2023.

This latest filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) hints at new developments for the Chevrolet Camaro, a car that shares a huge history with the Panther name.

The Panther name holds a special place in Camaro’s history. It was the original secret codename for the project that created Chevrolet’s rival to the Ford Mustang back in the 1960s.

Even though Chevy ultimately called their pony car Camaro, the Panther link stuck, and the brand recently highlighted that history with the 2024 Chevy Camaro Collector’s Edition.

The Collector’s Edition included unique panther logos on its steering wheel and fender emblems. Additionally, owners could pick two special paint colors, “Panther Black Metallic” and “Panther Black Matte,” honoring the model’s early days.

So, what could this new Panther trademark mean? For many, the Panther is inseparable from the Camaro, suggesting it could be used as a direct replacement or a fresh version of the famous muscle car.

Chevrolet certainly has plenty of existing performance names like SS, Z/28, RS, and ZL1. But earlier talk suggested GM was looking at making the next Camaro a smaller, nimbler sports car, something like a Toyota GR86 or Nissan Z.

That opens the door for Panther to potentially brand a new, more affordable, sporty model, while the Camaro nameplate could stay on a bigger, brawnier offering that’ll continue battling the Mustang.

But even with the Panther buzz, a new Camaro isn’t a sure thing. Reports suggest that GM executives recently paused work on a seventh-generation Camaro. Apparently, the plan did not convince them it would sell well enough or make enough money. Someone close to the project offered a sober view: “It’s still in play, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now dimmer.”

GM’s repeated Panther trademark moves ensure car fans will keep talking about what is next for the Camaro franchise. The Panther name might herald the return of a legend, introduce a new branch of the Camaro family, or even signal an entirely new sports car from GM. For now, the automotive world watches with interest.