‘Lightning’ is the latest name to return to the Ford truck lineup, and ‘Splash’ may be next.
Back in the early 90’s, Ford unleashed a sportier version of its small Ranger pickup with lowered suspension, a flareside bed, body-colored bumpers and a unique graphics package. It was the Ford Ranger Splash, and that’s the next name the Blue Oval could bring back into the fold. Late last week, Ford Motor Company filed a trademark application for the trademark, indicating the name could well return to some product at a point in the near future.
Since this name originally emerged on the Ranger, that seems like a shoo-in for the modern Splash, though nothing’s certain just yet. It could be something else entirely different, depending on how you want to interpret how Ford described the trademark this time around. They described Splash as a mark for:
“Motor vehicles, namely automobiles, pick-up trucks, electric vehicles, sport utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and their structural parts; vehicle equipment package consisting of wheels, exterior body parts and seats.”
Could Ford make an electric Splash?
If Ford follows through the logic on their electric F-150 launch, they could reveal the Ranger Splash (or some other model) as an all-electric vehicle. That’s what our friends over at CarBuzz, who originally reported the trademark application, think it could likely be. It makes sense, given Ford’s full-on strategy to electrify its entire lineup over the coming years.
Or, given Ford’s other recent launch with the Maverick, the company could bring the name back as a cool-looking, more street-focused version. Again, we’ll have to wait and see whether it’s simply an appearance package or if Ford has greater ambitions for the name.
