@peterv and @LKaven, thanks for the links. This information moves me towards guessing that there will be one new 36x24mm body from Sony this year, probably an SLT; especially with the long delayed 500/4 now coming to market.
But not three! It was the idea of _three_ new 36x24mm format bodies that raised my skepticism about the rumors. And the fact that the rumor site has revised it down to one body does put bit of a dent in claims of its reliability. But as someone said, there is usually some convergence of rumors towards the truth as product announcements get closer. Maybe the rumors came from Sony running three prototypes (SLR, SLT, totally mirrorless?) while deciding which to go with?
P. S. I note that the rumor site has the one 36x24mm camera this year being an SLT with the (almost four years old) 24MP sensor, and then a 36MP model next year. If so, does that mean that Nikon now had the lead-dog role, with Sony having to wait a year or so before releasing its version of a Nikon-Sony sensor design? Or is this just more tsunami/flood delay?