SPY PICS: Hyundai Genesis sheds cladding

Hyundai’s second-generation Genesis sedan has been spied undergoing dynamics testing in Germany, providing the most revealing photos of the new luxury sedan yet.

Devoid of the body-cladding seen in Genesis spy shots from February the camouflaged test car seen here appears to be a production-ready vehicle, exhibiting a sleeker, sportier design than its predecessor with shorter overhangs while maintaining the stance of a large premium sedan.

The Korean luxury car also borrows a few design cues from the Hyundai HCD-14 concept car shown at the 2013 Detroit motor show via restyled headlights and LED running lights surrounded by a more curvaceous front-end design characterised by a huge Mercedes-like grille.

The car's silhouette also appears to be inspired by the concept car, with a smoother and more streamlined roofline and a stubby boot. Slimmer brake lights and widely spaced trapezoidal exhausts integrated into the car's bodywork give the new Genesis sedan's rump a wider appearance.

Expected to be lighter and even more sophisticated than the existing Genesis sedan, the new model is pictured banging around the Nurburgring at full noise, its suspension compressed through corners.

Hyundai’s answer to rear-wheel drive large sedans from more established German and Japanese car-makers, the new Genesis is based on the new DH platform shared with sister company Kia's Quoris. All-wheel drive will be an option for the first time, suiting northern regions of the USA and Europe.

It will come bristling with dozens of sensors and packaged with a range of cutting-edge technology, including the possibility of a new 10-speed automatic transmission -- up from the current model's eight-speed cog-swapper.

Power will come from upgraded versions of the current Genesis petrol engines, including a 3.8-litre V6 and thumping 295kW/500Nm 5.0-litre V8 engine, but it's not yet clear if a diesel engine will be offered.

Expect the next Genesis sedan to make its production debut early next year at the Detroit motor show on January 13, but its Australian future is yet to be decided.

Hyundai’s first rear-drive passenger car is due to arrive in Australia late 2014, in the form of the redesigned two-door Genesis coupe, but the bigger four-door Genesis sedan is yet to be given the green light for our market, despite being confirmed for left- and right-hand drive production.

Hyundai is yet to establish a business case for the MkII Genesis sedan in Australia, where the i40 remains its largest sedan following discontinuation of the Grandeur and i45, but if imported here it would rival the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, Lexus GS and Infiniti M.