It looks like the Mach 1 might be back, but not as a Mustang. Ford is toying with the idea of releasing a new, battery-electric SUV bearing the iconic name. (Photo Credit: Mike Levine/Ford)

During its huge press conference at the North American International Auto Show, Ford unveiled a flurry of new vehicles, including the latest Mustang Bullitt. The company closed the proceedings by saying that it was set to create 16 new battery electric vehicles. The bombshell, however, is that one might just carry the Mach 1 name as a standalone brand.

Yes, there might just be a new Mach 1, but it probably won’t be a Mustang. We are told that this new BEV will be a performance variant that will combine the spirit of the Mach 1 and the Explorer. It is common in the auto industry for manufacturers to expand the range of their existing brands — see Porsche — and it seems Ford might just follow that path with the new Mach 1.

We were asked by several Ford reps at NAIAS for our thoughts on how such a brand might be received, particularly by Mustang fans. We told them to expect pushback bordering on outrage as the initial reaction to ripping the Mach 1 badge off the Mustang and sticking it on an electric SUV.

However, the good news is that Ford was quite clear that the car’s nomenclature was not quite locked in just yet.

“The Mach 1 name captures the spirit of the new vehicle. Ford will gauge reaction from potential customers before making a final decision on naming,” Mike Levine, Ford North America Product Communications Manager, said.

With this new performance BEV set to debut in 2020 along with the new Mustang hybrid, it won’t be too long before we see if the Mach 1 takes on a whole new meaning. Ford seems to want to hear what people think about rebranding the iconic name, so be sure to — politely — let the company know via your comments below.