The Mercedes C-Class was recently refreshed for the 2019 model year, but we've known for a long time now that an all-new version is already in development. Prototypes of the redesigned luxury sedan have been spied for several years, which has enabled render artist Nikita Chuyko to mock up a digital design to show us what the production version will look like.

While the next-generation Mercedes C-Class will have similar proportions to the outgoing model, the front and rear will look radically different. At the front, the luxury sedan will be updated with sleek new headlights with L-shaped LED running lights and a new grille to match other new Mercedes models.

Expect the styling changes to be similar to the recent 2021 E-Class update, although the C-Class will have a narrower grille and headlights. At the back, the rendered C-Class has been updated with new taillights that have a similar shape the new CLA's rear lights. These changes should give the C-Class a fresher look to help Mercedes compete with the new BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4 facelift.

Underpinning the next-generation Mercedes C-Class will be Mercedes' modern MRA platform that will be shared with the new S-Class.

This also means the new C-Class will share some of its S-Class sibling's advanced technology, such as semi-autonomous driving, adaptive cruise control, and possibly an auto parking system developed by Bosch. Under the hood, the new C-Class will be offered with a new plug-in hybrid option, while the AMG C53 is expected to share the same 2.0-liter turbocharged found in the A45 S that produces 416 horsepower in the hot hatch.

The new Mercedes C-Class will be one of 32 new models the German automaker plans to launch by the end of 2022. We were expecting it to debut by the end of this year followed by AMG versions in 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic could delays the launch.