Carmakers do their best to keep future-model plans a secret, but the sprawling bureaucracy of today's corporate operations can sometimes make that difficult.

A part of that work involves protecting intellectual property for potential new models and technologies that may not even be confirmed for production.

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The fact that Jaguar recently trademarked the name "EV-Type" brings up some interesting possibilities.

The registration was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on October 30--and also with a similar registry in Europe--for use on "motor land vehicles" and other applications, Motor Authority reports.

2015 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

While Jaguar used to offer the S-Type and X-Type sedans (as well as an X-Type wagon, briefly), that style of name is currently used only by the F-Type two-seat sports car.

The name EV-Type is also a somewhat playful reference to the car that inspired the F-Type, the classic E-Type.

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Much of Jaguar's recent history with hybrid and plug-in electric powertrains has also involved performance vehicles.

The C-X16 concept--which previewed the production F-Type--featured a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 and eight-speed automatic transmission, paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack.

More audaciously, Jaguar also tinkered with the C-X75--a mid-engined supercar that first appeared at the 2010 Paris Motor Show with a plug-in powertrain that included a pair of gas-turbine engines.

Those were replaced by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine in an ultimately-failed attempt to make the C-X75 production-feasible. It was fun while it lasted.

Jaguar C-X75 concept car

Yet with global emissions standards getting stricter, Jaguar may have to take a more serious look at electrification in the near future.

When it does, at least it'll have a clever name on hand.

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