Is Ford Fixing to Make a Splash Again?
Maybe! Definitely possibly  Photo: Ford  Sometimes, you name a vehicle something particular because you want to give it attitude. Think names like the Bronco, the Raptor, or the Mustang. And sometimes, you just gotta go with a name like Splash because  cmon, its cute. And if a trademark filing for the Splash name holds any water (heh), Ford might just be bringing back one of its cutest names. Fords Fiercest Bird: The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor adds upgrades that enhance its ferociousness  Ford Authority reported on Monday that Ford Motor Company filed to trademark the name Splash with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on June 9. *insert Splash here*  Photo: Ford  From this information, FAs Alex Luft draws the conclusion that Ford is looking to revive the name for the next-generation Ranger pickup. The original Ranger Splash ran from 1993 to 1998, swapping out the conventional styleside box for a more aggressive flareside box. Ranger Splash trucks also got unique exterior graphics, a lowered suspension, and body-color bumpers and grille. CarBuzz hones in on the trademark filing specifying electric vehicles, suggesting that this could be the name of the all-but-confirmed Ranger electric. Ford Chief Product Platform and Operations Officer Hau Thai-Tang confirmed a few weeks back that Ford will build a midsize pickup truck on its battery-electric platform. Ford Splash concept could (read: definitely wont) live at last  Or maybe  just maybe  Ford is reviving the Splash name to pay off the unrealized potential of the Ford Splash concept of the late 1980s. The dune buggy-like four-seater with removable windows, roof, and hatch glass was conceived as a product for twentysomethings who spent a lot of time at the beach, and thatd make it a  well, lets not say solid, but certainly an addition to Fords renewed focus on off-road-capable vehicles. Either way, bringing back the Splash in some form would line up with what Fords been doing of late. This year alone, Ford has revived the Lightning name for its first-ever electric F-150 and the Maverick name for its sub-$20,000 small pickup. Time will tell. But if Ford does indeed revive the Splash as a truck or an EV or a beach buggy or some combination of all of the above, that means there could at last be hope for the Ford Explorer Surf. More on the Explorer: 2021 Ford Explorer picks up IIHS Top Safety Pick+