Every time a brand name is used in a way which was not its tradition, the question which automatically pops into my head is:
Would I care about this game if it didn't have this brand name and related content?
Of course, not much is known about the game yet, but I believe your own answer to this question will tell you how much you should care about the game.
My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957