I don't see Kirby developing a new model at all. What I do see is they either stick with the G Series platform, or they go out of business entirely.
The sad reality is, a Kirby does not work in modern homes! The machine does not do area rugs and hard floors as well or as easily as a modern bypass clean air upright. And the fact that you have to convert it to use attachments and other accessories, along with the fact that the only filtration the machine has is the HEPA Cloth bag, means that most consumers would consider it a bulky, heavy, hard to use, outdated relic of a machine. Yes us collectors love Kirbys, but the reality is most of the distributors would have a hard time selling it in the home. The only things the company can count on now is it's excellent cleaning performance and name recognition.
The other problem Kirby has that most other D T D brands have is form factor. Brands like Aerus, Rainbow, Kirby and Filter Queen all have a certain shape and design that they have used since the company's formation, and they must stick with for the product to be recognizable to consumers. If you designed a new Filter Queen model to look like a Miele clone, consumers wouldn't recognize it and probably dislike it as it isn't what they are accustomed to. Therefore, the company must stick with the general basic design they have used all along. This is where the Kirby design has it's greatest downfall - to stick with that general direct air upright design leaves very little room for modern improvements to make it more convenient to use. Hate to say it, but it's about time the Kirby design dies and the company is laid to rest.