The compact executive car segment is all about cut-throat competition and all big brands are looking to go one up on the other by releasing their facelifted models later in the year. Mercedes contender, 2011 C-Class is also gearing up for the year ahead and the facelifted variant was recently spied testing in cold weather conditions.

The current generation model has been around since 2007 and Mercedes plans to upgrade it this year to compete with BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 facelifted versions. The latest spy shots of the 2011 C-Class revealed a completely new set of head and tail lights alongwith a new front bumper and a modified one at the rear. Although, these images do not clearly reveal a new bonnet, the 2011 model is expected to arrive with one. The 2011 C-Class will hit the market later this year probably before BMW releases it 2011 3-Series variant. [via WCF]