2016 / 2017 Hyundai Equus has been spied undergoing testing on a frozen lake in Scandinavia.

Dressed in heavy camouflaged, the redesigned flagship has an upright grille which is flanked by distinctive headlights. We can also see door-mounted mirrors, large taillights and a dual exhaust system. Furthermore, the roof and pillars seem to mimic those used on the Chrysler 300.

Little is known about the car itself but it will likely feature a 5.0-liter V8 engine that develops at least 420 bhp (313 kW) and 383 lb-ft (518 Nm) of torque. It should be connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission which can be paired to a newly optional all-wheel drive system.

Hyundai hasn't had much to say about the car but speculation suggests the next-generation Equus could be previewed by a concept at the New York Auto Show.

Here are the very first pictures of an actual prototype of Hyundai's all-new, second-generation Equus premium sedan.

Just a decade ago, a $60,000 luxury sedan with a Hyundai badge would seem preposterous, but not anymore, with the Koreans planning to take the new Equus to the next level.

While not a runaway success, the current Equus based on the first-generation Genesis that was presented in 2009 in Korea before launching in North America about a year and a half later, managed to sell 3,578 units in the USA in 2013 and 3,415 in 2014. Not bad considering that the $35,000 Azera sold 7,237 cars last year.

The next Equus will ride on a stretched version of the Genesis Mk2's platform featuring a new multi-link rear suspension that was fine-tuned with a little help from Lotus.

Powering the Korean firm's aspiring Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class alternative in the US, will be a 5.0-liter V8 with around 420hp driving the rear wheels possibly through an 8-speed automatic, though, Hyundai is working on a newer 10-speed auto box, which may become available by the time the Equus arrives in the market.

Korea will get a broader range of powertrains, including 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter V6s, which will likely be offered with all-wheel drive as well. Later down the line, the Equus should get the Hyundai-Kia group's upcoming V6 turbo.

Judging by these scoop shots taken at the Arctic Circle, there will be major changes in the wardrobe department, with the Equus adopting Hyundai's more elegant and serious Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language that dials back the aggressively swoopy lines of the current theme. The car will have a surprisingly low front end and a sloping rear window, while we couldn't help but notice the visible, and quite large, exhaust pipe trims as well as the very Chrysler 300-like profile window line.

If Hyundai keeps to normal product lifecycle timetables, then we should see the new Equus by early next year.