A reskin can never become a new engine..... A new engine requires a new Mesh which requires someone willing to fight with Blender, Gmax, or 3DSMax, and generally anyone willing to do that won't bother with a reskin of a different engine first.....
I remember people talking about trying to make an EM-1 some time ago, but I don't remember anything solid coming from it. And Im not saying its impossible that one is being worked on. But Taking a reskin as "proof" of a new engine is like taking tornados as "Proof" of the illuminati.....
"I lost my Mobile Home, its a conspiracy I tell ya~!"
-Falcus