Ok I just want to point out something. Havent you noticed that the toys, actually give out the names of the characters in the movies?? Example, in the first movie we got the toy of skids. In rotf, skids was there. In rotf, we got power core combinders crankcase. In dotm, crankcase was ther. So, maybe some connection?? Or did it accidently happen to go that way??
Skids? There was a movie Skids? I don't remember that. Maybe you mean Mudflap? And, I think it's purely coincidence. Name reuses happen a lot.
I don't know,there was a Jolt figure included as well. It could be that there might be some connection to Hasbro teasing possible new characters. But more likely than not, it is just a coincidence.
Hasbro trademarks certain names and then often times those names that are meant to be attached to prominent characters receive semi or un-related toys before or after the incarnations that are meant to most "push" them. If you mean we'll hear more about what's in the film from what is solicited in terms of toys for the tie-in lines, yes, this has been the case for a long long time, for most recent movie toylines (not just transformers).
Wouldn't be that unusual for Hasbro to make sure they had a name trademarked before going full tilt with a character actually in the film.