Mercedes recently gave the C-Class a mid-cycle facelift for the 2019 model year offering fresh styling, new tech, and more power, but testing has already begun for the next-generation version of the popular compact sedan. Our spies have spotted a prototype of the new Mercedes C-Class enduring some gruelling cold-weather testing in the snow.

It's clearly a very early prototype because the car is heavily covered in camouflage, which makes it difficult to see any major styling changes. That said, it looks like the new model will retain its predecessor's swooping design lines, and it looks roughly the same size as the current model.

It will be a different story inside, however, as the new C-Class is expected to have a more spacious cabin for passengers thanks to its new platform.

The new C-Class will be based on a modified version of the company's MRA2-rear drive platform shared with the car's larger E-Class sibling. The platform change also means there's room for more tech, so expect the new C-Class to offer a fully digital dashboard with the latest MBUX infotainment system, driver assists, more connectivity options, and more.

Powertrain details are still unknown, but we're expecting to find a range of four and six-cylinder engines under the hood along with a plug-in hybrid variant. The 2019 Mercedes C-Class received an incremental power increase, bringing the total output to 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque in the US model powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit, so the all-new model should also get a performance upgrade.

AMG will also no doubt develop new performance-focused variants of the new C-Class. Since the 2019 facelift only recently went on sale, we're not expecting the new C-Class to break cover until around 2020 where it will likely debut as a 2021 model.