Well if you think about it like this.. The 01-04 WJ's Headlights and tail lights for example.
WK1 still continues the WJ traditional tail lights but more angular.. but they completely revamped the headlights more into (IMO Wrangler headlights).. but for the WK2 they went back to the WJ for the headlights(slimmed them down, and made em pretty-ier ;-P) and did a whole new tail light/backside.. Let's just be happy Jeep isn't like Ford and changing the car every year into something completely different.. need I mention the real life hot wheel?
*I'm assuming you guys/gals have seen the 2012 one.. it's a hot wheel car turned reality! *