So I've been chatting with JBQ (and co.) and he's given me some (wink wink) hints but can't confirm or deny anything for obvious reasons.

Anyways, we've been discussing the future of Android and:
- 64-bit processors are definitely coming (probably as early as Q4 this year, and going mainstream in Q2 '14)
- Android 5.0 will probably be available around Nov this year
- Android will make a jump to a new Linux kernel, but probably not until 5.0 (this means another small iterative Android 4.x version Mid-Year in 2013)
- The new Linux Kernel will have to be something longterm, which means not 3.8
- Linux 3.9 is on the table, as it supports Google's Goldfish
- Linux 3.9 will merge ARM-architectures into a single branch (easier to develop), support mild improvements overall, and many enhancements for Android on x86 (competing against Windows 8 and RT?)
- r00t will be significantly more difficult to attain. Unless the OEM allows you to do it (Nexus), they purposely leave a bug for you to r00t it, or if there's a SERIOUS screw up on the OEM's side
- Very probable that next Android will be using gcc 4.7
- There's also a chance gcc 4.8 will be introduced with Android 5.0
- Possibility that a leap to Java 7 will occur with Android 5.0 or later
- No clues about "Buzz" but a merging of more Google Talk etc etc services to Google+ is probable (to compete with Apple's iMessage connected service)
- Android 5.0 might be codenamed "Lollipop" (this one's purely my prediction)

So the picture I'm getting, is that Android will have made 3 notable huge leaps in evolution:
- The leap from v1.6 to v2.1
- The leap from v2.3.7 to v4.0
- The leap from v4.3.1 to v5.0