2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class spotted again during cold-weather Testing

Our trusty Teamspeed spies catch the first full body prototype for the new Mercedes C-class undergoing early testing in cold, snowy weather conditions. Development engineers at Mercedes appear to have gone to fairly extreme lengths to protect the styling from prying eyes. Black plastic panels have been placed over the sheet metal to hide almost all the design lines.

The shape of the panel covering the grille on the front fascia hints that this aspect may be a little more oval than on its predecessor. Of what we can see of the headlights, it shows hints of the styling used by the new CLS, a little higher and wider than the current C-Class and it wraps round from the front end to the side panels giving an overall sportier appeal.

It is a little too early to confidently predict the engine options that the next generation C-Class will employ. There have been rumors that Mercedes is developing three-cylinder engines, but it is more likely the C-Class will get four-cylinder units that would reduce the engine to operating on just 2-cylinders when less power is needed.

What we can confidently predict is that the C-Class will be getting hybrid-power options. If the products already offered by the German manufacturer are any indication, we should see the petrol and diesel units coupled with an electric motor that develops around 27 hp.

The new Benz is due to hit the market in late 2013 or early 2014.