Images: JLwranglerforums.com

There are not many car nameplates that last more than a couple of decades, and those that do tend to go through drastic design changes that can make for two very different vehicles from one generation to the next. Still, there are a handful of vehicles out there that have managed to retain their original design aesthetic, more or less, including the venerable Jeep Wrangler.

An entirely new Wrangler is on the horizon, and it will bring big changes that include aluminum body parts and a turbodiesel engine option. Yet we’re not expecting a big departure from the traditional Wrangler/CJ aesthetic, and JL Wrangler Forums put together a bunch of compelling renderings of what the next-generation Wrangler, Unlimited, and pickup could look like.

It’s a blend of the traditional and new aesthetic that we’ve come to expect from the Wrangler nameplate, keeping the round headlights and vertical-grille design that have been on almost every model. Here too are the square LED taillights and the overall brick-like shape to the vehicle. This is no creative departure from what Jeep fans know and love, but rather a cautious step forward, at least as far as the standard Wrangler and Unlimited models go.

Of potentially more interest is the pickup version of the Wrangler, which shows a short bed attached to the back of an Unlimited model. Many of the renderings we’ve seen had the pickup attached to a standard Wrangler body, for a more truck-like look, but this rendering presents another interesting alternative. Room for up to five passengers and the utility of a short truck bed, will no doubt increase Jeep’s appeal to outdoor enthusiasts of every shade.

The new Wrangler still doesn’t have a firm reveal date, but with both the L.A. and Detroit Auto Shows right around the corner, we shouldn’t have much longer to wait. In the meantime, what do you think of these renderings? Let us know in the comments below.