Rumor has it that GM is gearing up for a Raptor competitor and has been keeping the patent office busy these days. First they applied for the trademark “Z71 Trail Boss” and now according to AutoBlog, America’s biggest automaker has filed for an even more sinister name, “Badlands.”

We don’t know what GM models will get this nomenclature, but the “Z71” moniker would lead us to believe that will be a Chevrolet. “Badlands” could be for any GM vehicle but it certainly has an outdoorsy vibe and based on US Patent info, it looks like it might be headed to a GM truck soon.

GM really hasn’t had a performance truck since the Silverado SS died in 2006 and has basically gifted Ford the gonzo truck segment. The Raptor was selling well enough to warrant an aluminum, EcoBoost refresh so Chevy might have taken notice and wants some of the action. See this 2011 GMC All-Terrain Concept here for a taste of what we might expect.

These names might end up on a Colorado/Canyon performance/off-road variant. The new mid-size trucks are selling like hotcakes and if the past is any indication, GM will stagger model intros, inciting renewed interest with a new model or trim package.

Either way, we think dreaming up car names would be an interesting job. Just think of sitting around a table at GM Headquarters, empty Chinese food containers stacked up high and a team of crack creative types brainstorming late into the night. Hold on, let’s rethink that.