Originally posted by calsan I'm afraid they can't - they already used the k-30 name on the camera that was superseded by the K-50.
Painted into a corner… eeerk!
Nah, they can still use K-300, K-30ii, K-30iiS, K-30 Super...
But to address the OP's question, which is "will Pentax release a 24MP consumer body", I think the answer is probably, eventually. Pentax is very close-mouthed about future designs.
In the past, the top-tier sensor has gradually made its way into the lower-level bodies: K10D->K200D->K-m, K-5->K-30->K-500. The K20D/K-7 sensor did not because of the excellent 12MP that went into the K-x/K-r. But I don't think they are going to hurry to replace the K-50 with a 24MP version just to play the numbers game. Based on past intervals, the K-50/500 won't be due for replacement until mid-late 2014.