SPY PICS: Audi A4 Sedan and Avant

The happy snappers at Automedia have been at work scoping the next generation B9 Audi A4 and have managed to capture images of a totally undisguised version that confirms our story last month where we said the new car would be a slightly sleeker interpretation of the current model.

In addition to the clearly evolutionary style of the new car, the images also show detail of the new headlight arrangement and the corporate, slit-like tail lights. The B9 A4 appears to be about the same size as the current model, although there are suggestions the rear track has increased.

The Automedia team also managed to get new images of the A4 Avant version on shakedown testing, this time showing a little more detail of the rear side windows.

Like the sedan version, the Avant will ride on the new MLB2 platform to be used widely across the Audi range, from the A4 upwards, with the engine mounted longitudinally rather than the current generation’s east-west configuration.

It’s anticipated the drivetrain will replicate that of the sedan, with front-drive the standard configuration and quattro all-wheel drive available as an option. Also like the sedan, the Avant will benefit from the weight savings – around 100kg – that come with the new platform’s use of high-strength steel, aluminium and composites to make up its overall structure.

Like the sedan A4, the Avant is also expected to be available in plug-in hybrid form to supplement a range of engines and transmissions similar to the current model with the exception of the Multitronic CVT system which will no longer figure in the line-up. Audi is expected to concentrate on six-speed manual and nine-speed automatic transmissions.

The Avant is expected to be announced around mid-2016 as a 2017 model and will also give rise to the less tarmac-focussed, slightly jacked-up Allroad quattro version.

With the mid-2016 European launch of the new Audi, we aren’t expecting to see it on sale in Australia until later next year.