Mazda engineers continue the development of the next generation "6" sedan's chassis and mechanical hardware under the cloak of the existing model's body panels, albeit in modified form as you can see from the wheel arch extensions on this prototype that our spies snapped in Europe.

If you're wondering what the new Mazda6 will look like, then all you have to do is take a gander at the photos of the swooping Takeri concept car displayed at the last November's 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

The handsome study with its voluptuous curves generally received praise for its design. Hopefully, the production Mazda6, which is due sometime in 2013, won't stray too far away from the original concept.

We'll get our first taste of what Mazda has in store for us in the mid-size family car segment at this month's 42nd edition of the Tokyo Motor Show with the Takeri concept, which previews the next generation of the Mazda6.

However, the Japanese brand's engineers have already began work on the sedan model as you can see from these fresh spy shots that were taken in Germany.

A keen eye will immediately recognize that the lines of the prototype belong the current Mazda6. That's because what you see here is an early test mule that combines the next model's platform architecture with the body panels of the current Mazda6.