Is it still a V6?
In December 2021, our spy team captured the next-generation Audi A4 and has been sending us photos of different prototypes since. The wagon is shown in all photos, but the long-roof test vehicle makes it stand out. It’s the S4 from the quad exhausts and the cutouts in its rear bumper which don’t match the tips. These photos show that the Avant was missing some final bits, such as the taillights.
The new Audi S4 Avant was seen riding low in the Austrian Alps while hiding the sleek new door handle design. The tire sidewall is tall enough to indicate that the wheels were too small for the performance model, but the production model will have a much larger set. We believe the center caps are sensors that connect to the car’s interior. There is also a lot of hardware in the passenger seat.
The interior of the new S4 will be a highly reworked dashboard featuring a large digital screen. We can’t tell from the spy photo if the display will be large enough to include the infotainment, echoing the newly facelifted BMW M340i Touring. The touchscreen probably won’t be integrated into the center console, as it did on the previous S4.
While the flat-bottomed steering wheels are reminiscent of the Q4 ETron, the bulky gear levers of the automatic transmission have been replaced by a smaller one. Another sign that we are dealing with an early prototype is the simplicity of this door card. It looks cheap and definitely not appropriate for a luxury vehicle. The start/stop button appears to be in the same spot, while the red switches/buttons are for emergency use to shut off the electric system of the car in the event of an accident.
Audi has announced that it will launch its last ICE-powered car in 2025. The S4 Avant will be the last model with a gasoline engine. The question is: will the V6 be kept? AMG has reduced the Estate to just four cylinders, and added electrification. Don’t be surprised if Ingolstadt does the same. The RS4 Avant already has PHEV power.
Audi will offer the Avant and A4 Sedan in standard form in 2023. The S and RS are likely to follow in 2024.