GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Audi model avalanche

Audi is keeping its power dry for the all-new Q2 mini-crossover ahead of its global debut at the Geneva motor show on March 1 and its Australian release early next year.

But that's not the case for a bevy of new performance models, all of which have now been revealed ahead of the Swiss show, and all of which go on sale Down Under this year.

This month's new A4 sedan will be joined by the redesigned A4 Avant in April – the same month Audi Australia launches Avant and 'performance' versions of the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback, and 'plus' versions of the S8 limousine and SQ5 SUV.

Continuing the high-performance theme, the second-generation R8 V10 Plus supercar will follow them on sale in May, while the RS Q3 performance arrives in July.

Upping its turbocharged five-cylinder engine outputs from 250kW/450Nm to 270kW/465Nm (the same as the RS 3 Sportback), the upgraded 'performance' version will replace the standard RS Q3 in Australia.

The result is even quicker 0-100km/h acceleration (down from 4.8 to 4.4 seconds) for the small super-SUV, little more than a year after the facelifted Q3 and RS Q3 arrived here last April.

Similarly, the RS 6 and RS 7 performance models also lift the outputs of the models they replace considerably, with the twin-turbo 4,0-litre V8 now offering 445kW/750Nm (up from 412kW/700Nm) and lowering the 0-100km/h pace from 3.9 to 3.7 seconds.

The same upgraded engine powers the S8 plus also due in April, lowering the outgoing 382kW/650Nm S8's 0-100km/h time from 4.1 to 3.8 seconds.

Also in April, the SQ5 plus will grow the standard SQ5's outputs from 230kW/650Nm to 250kW/700Nm, allowing it to hit 100km/h a tenth of a second sooner in 5.1 seconds.

Audi's new product onslaught continues in September with the new A4 allroad crossover and the yet-to-be-revealed A3 facelift late this year.

Also due on sale here in the final quarter of this year are the new TT RS Coupe, the SQ7 TDI plus to be revealed later this week and the S4 sedan and wagon.

Details of the new-generation S4 Avant were released in recent days ahead of its Geneva show debut.

Like the new S4 sedan revealed at September's Frankfurt show, the new S4 Avant is powered by a direct-injection, turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 producing 260kW and 500Nm, with peak torque on tap between 1300 and 4500rpm.

Audi's eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive system are standard, propelling the S4 sedan to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds (4.9 for the S4 Avant).

The 2017 S4 Avant is heavier than the sedan at 1675kg, but about 75kg lighter than its predecessor, resulting average fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km.

Like the S4 sedan, the S4 Avant rides 23mm lower than mainstream A4 models and offers Continuous Damping Control as part of the Audi Drive Select system.

A visual boost is provided by an aluminium grille surround, more aggressive bumpers and side skits, 18-inch alloy wheels (our models could come with Europe's optional 19s as standard) and four exhaust outlets.

Inside, there's Nappa leather trim, aluminium highlights, S badging and Audi’s new Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, plus 505 litres of luggage space behind the rear seats (1510 in total).

What's coming from Audi:
A4 sedan – March
A4 Avant – April
SQ5 plus – April
S8 plus – April
RS 6 Avant performance – April
RS 7 Sportback performance – April
R8 V10 Plus – May
RS Q3 performance – July
A4 allroad – September
S4 sedan and Avant – Q4
A3 facelift – Q4
SQ7 plus – Q4
TT RS – Q4