The Audi A4 and A5 go into the new model year in May 2021 with the "S line competition" and "S line competition plus", two new appearance packages that with attractive features that make these two models look truly sporty.

The appearance package "S line competition" for the Audi A4 includes the S line exterior package as well as an additional black package. It includes a matte radiator grille, a blade, a strip to protect from stone chipping, an S4 spoiler as well as the Audi rings in the Singleframe grille all in black. 19" cast wheels make the package even more dynamic. For the Audi A4, the "S line competition plus" package also includes LED headlights, an ambient lighting package, black side mirrors and an illuminated entry sills with aluminum inlays in the front. All motorizations with 150 kW and more also feature red brake calipers.

In the new model year, customers can also order both versions of the Audi A4 sedan with a roof in Brilliant black. The spectrum of colors for exterior paint ranges from Terra gray, Quantum gray, Daytona gray, Tango red, Glacier white, Navarra blue and Turbo blue to Mythos black. In addition, solid finish in Ibis white is also available with Brilliant black side mirrors.

As with the Audi A4, customers can also choose their Audi A5 between the "S line competition" and "S line competition plus" editions. The exterior design of the "S line competition" for the Audi A5, with 20" wheels, is based on the S line exterior and additionally features striking black elements such as the spoiler and radiator grille. With the "S line competition plus" for the Audi A5, matrix LED headlights, black side mirrors, red brake calipers for motorizations of 150 kW and more as well as the ambient lighting package highlight the car's dynamic look. Exterior finish options are Distrikt green, Quantum gray, Daytona gray, Tango red, Glacier white, Navarra blue, Turbo blue and Mythos black. The Audi A5 coupé is also available with a roof in Brilliant black.

The Audi A4 and the Audi A5 with "S line competition" and "S line competition plus" will be available to order on the German market from May 20, 2021. Delivery will begin in July 2021. In Germany, the Audi A4 S line competition is available starting at 38,250 euros and the Audi A4 S line competition plus starting at 45,400 euros. The Audi A5 S line competition starts at 43,200 euros and the Audi A5 competition plus starts at 49,600 euros.

The B9 generation of the Audi A4 is getting ready to blow seven candles off its birthday cake this year, and that’s pretty much considered retirement age nowadays.
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As a result, the German automaker has started working on its successor, which will be the last of its kind to feature internal combustion engines.

Subsequent to making its spy photo debut a little over a month ago, the 2024 Audi A4 was spotted yet again, this time close to the Arctic Circle. The model is still in the estate body style, or Avant in Audi slang, and looks about the same, though the background is radically different.

Compared to its predecessor, the new generation will feature a slightly smaller grille, flanked by slender headlamps. The side air intakes in the front bumper appear to have been shrunken, yet it could be the camouflage tricking us. It has a much cleaner profile design, new door handles, provisional taillights, two visible exhaust pipes, and appears to be sitting closer to the ground, so we might be looking at an S line variant.

As we already mentioned, this will be the last A4 (and not only) to feature internal combustion engines. It is expected with the usual 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline mills, and a TDI diesel might be offered as well, in Europe at least. Mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids will likely be part of the offering, and it appears that the upcoming RS 4 will have some sort of electrification too. A zero-emission variant is likely in the pipeline, yet it might use a different architecture than the updated MLB, on which the new A4 will presumably be built around.

The unveiling should take place sometime next year, and it will go on sale shortly after. In North America, it will probably arrive as a 2024 model.

Unlike BMW, Audi has nailed the big grille design, but it appears that it is now failing in the steering wheel department. Before saying that it doesn’t matter, it actually does, because it is one of the things that owners see, and touch the most, and the one equipping the 2024 Audi S4 Avant isn’t the prettiest we’ve seen.
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Shared with the Q4 e-tron, alongside several other gizmos, it looks odd with its flat top and bottom, and spoke shape. And speaking of odd things, if you look behind it, you will see a tablet-like digital instrument cluster, next to the free-standing infotainment system.

Most of the dashboard panel is under wraps, but even so, we can see that the center console is somewhat similar to that equipping its electric high-riding sibling mentioned above. The pictured prototype also reveals its door cards, front sports seats, and black leather upholstery. Additional details remain a mystery for now, but you do know what else to expect, don’t you? Different upholstery and trim, special sub-menus in the screens, and a plethora of ‘S line’ badges.

Setting it apart from the normal A4 Avant models on the outside will be the sportier-looking front and rear bumpers, bigger tailgate-mounted spoiler, and the usual logos. The upcoming S4 Avant will have quad exhaust pipes too, bigger wheels with exclusive patterns, uprated brakes, and will sit closer to the road.

The current S4 uses a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 for international markets, making 349 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and quattro all-wheel drive, enabling a 0 to 60 mph (0-97 kph) in 4.4 seconds, and a top speed capped at 155 mph (250 kph). It is possible that the new generation, expected in early 2023, will feature the same engine, albeit with mild-hybrid assistance, and slightly more power.

We have written many things about the next-gen Audi A4 Avant that is expected to arrive next year, but what is the case with the more traditional three-box bodystyle? The four-door sedan could transform into a sexier and more practical five-door Sportback bodystyle, which if materialized could also serve as a replacement for the A5 Sportback, merging two models into one.

​​​​​​​Starting with the A4, all of the camouflaged prototypes caught by our spy photographers at the time of writing had the Avant bodystyle, with no reported sightings of a sedan. However, we are confident that Audi won’t let the rival BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans unanswered, so it is safe to assume that an A4 with three-box proportions will arrive shortly. Still, with sedans getting sleeker rooflines and fastback models becoming more common, Audi designers could come up with an A4 Sportback instead of a traditional sedan. Our associates Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien created a rendering of the hypothetical model giving us a better idea of what to expect.

The A4 Sportback would share the entire front end with the A4 Avant, including the aggressive matrix LED headlights, the wide Singleframe grille, the sculpted bumper with the triangular intakes, the wide front fenders and the distinctive bonnet. The differences would appear from the B-Pillar and back, with a dropping roofline and pronounced shoulders adding more drama into the mix. It would also share the same dashboard with two separate screens – a smaller free-standing instrument cluster and a larger central touchscreen for the infotainment.

Such a vehicle would be very close to the current A5 Sportback, making it obsolete. Audi hasn’t given any information about the future of the A5 family, but rumors about a possible demise of the A5 Sportback are circulating the web since 2019. Merging the A4 sedan and the A5 Sportback into a single model would make sense from a financial standpoint, as the automaker tries to sustain both its ICE-powered range while at the same time offering BEV alternatives for every single line for the remaining part of the decade.

We already know that the next generation of the Audi A4 will be split into two separate models. The ICE-powered A4 that we have been detailing will be based on either an evolved version of the current model’s MLB platform or the rumoured PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture that is said to underpin the last combustion models from Audi. Then, there will also be a fully electric A4 e-tron that will be based on the completely different PPE architecture and possibly feature a uniquely designed Sportback body, similar to the larger A6 e-tron.

Having two separate models for each model line for one more generation will significantly increase the size of Audi’s lineup. The automaker has already announced it will axe the A1 and the Q2, but more bodystyle variants could end up on the chopping block in order to free up space and resources for the EVs. Mind you, the last model with a combustion engine will be unveiled in 2026, before Audi becomes an EV-only brand in 2033.

The fifth-gen Audi A4 debuted in 2015 and received a facelift in 2019. Likewise, the current second-gen A5 was introduced in 2016 and was updated in 2019. This means that both models could be replaced at around the same time, making it easier to merge bodystyle variants. What we don’t know is whether Audi will go for a more drastic solution and discontinue the entire A5 range including the Coupe, Cabriolet, and Sportback, or keep the two-door models alive for one more generation, fighting against the BMW 4-Series and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLE.

In any case, all bodystyle variants of the next ICE-powered Audi A4 and A5 would share the same platform and engine lineup. This would include an updated version of the mild-hybrid 2.0 TFSI petrol engine, a new plug-in hybrid powertrain with increased EV range, an electrified V6 TFSI for the S models, and a stronger plug-in hybrid setup for the performance-focused RS.

We expect to learn more about the sixth-gen Audi A4 in the next few months, and hopefully spot camouflaged prototypes with the three-box bodystyle in order to see how it looks in real life.

Designed for maximum on-track thrills, the highly-exclusive Audi RS4 Avant Competition has been elevated to the next level without compromising its everyday usability. Limited to only 75 units for the UK market and finished in Sebring Black, the Competition model features bespoke coilover suspension, RS sports exhaust system plus, dynamic steering and unique 20-inch Competition wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Its already outstanding handling capabilities have been enhanced with a 10mm reduction in ride height that can be reduced by a further 10mm thanks to the manually adjustable coilover suspension. Shorter gearshift times have also resulted in faster acceleration - 0-62mph now takes only 3.9 seconds an improvement of 0.2 seconds over the standard model.

"As the successor to the seminal RS2 Avant, which rewrote the rule book for the traditional estate car, the RS4 has been a milestone model in our range for well over two decades," commented Audi UK Director Andrew Doyle. "With every evolutionary step over the years it has cemented our eminent position in the segment even more firmly, and this new Competition version with its elevated performance and exclusivity definitely continues that trend."

UK specification: performance upgrades

RS Sport Suspension Pro (coilover suspension) is an exclusive feature of the new Audi RS4 Avant Competition. Designed to maximise handling performance without compromising everyday usability, the coilover suspension is manually adjustable across a broad range, enabling the driver to prioritise comfort or agility as required. The Competition model sits 10mm lower than a standard RS4 Avant, and its ride height can be reduced by a further 10mm by the driver if required. A higher spring rate, three-way adjustable dampers, and stiffer anti-roll bars guarantee exceptional precision, composure and control.

The potent biturbo 2.9-litre V6 develops 450 PS and 600Nm of torque from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm. Further improvements have been made to the updated software in the transmission control unit, resulting in shorter shift times and enhanced acceleration; the Audi RS4 Avant Competition can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, an improvement of 0.2 seconds over the standard model. The top speed has also increased to 180mph, making it the fastest RS4 Avant in the model range.

The dynamic steering is fixed at a ratio of 1:13.1, and the enhanced quattro sport differential ensures an increased degree of adjustability - especially in the "dynamic" driving mode - while a new data set in the control unit with revised parameters places more emphasis on the rear axle. Further fine-tuning to the engine control unit software makes for tighter load changes in S mode when "dynamic" mode is active. The result of these chassis improvements is improved handling and even greater precision.

A new RS Sports Exhaust System Plus featuring tailpipes in matte black has also been developed especially for the Audi RS4 Avant Competition. It generates a more intense sound pattern, thanks not only to system modifications but also to adjustments to engine soundproofing, an added benefit of which is a reduction in kerb weight of around eight kilograms.

UK specification: visual enhancements

A single, very high level of specification will be common to all 75 UK-bound examples of the RS4 Competition. Each track-focussed model will be finished in Sebring Crystal Black Paint, a fitting link to Audi's motorsport pedigree and in honour of the 10th anniversary of Audi's win at the inaugural World Endurance Championship at Sebring in 2012.

Unique 20-inch Competition wheels with Pirelli P Zero Corsa high-performance tyres designed for the road and the racetrack will help to set the Audi RS4 Avant Competition apart externally, while standard red brake calipers will further hint at its even more acute focus on performance. An exclusive carbon matte finish for the front splitter, mirror housings, front air intake inserts and rear diffuser will round off the exterior enhancements.

Inside, the standard RS Sports seats feature piano black gloss side trims and a leather / Dinamica honeycomb combination upholstery that is exclusive to the Audi RS4 Avant Competition. Further exclusive touches include red decorative stitching on the RS floor mats, centre console and door armrests and red edging on the seatbelts. The track-focused model is also the only RS4 Avant to benefit from an Alcantara flat-bottomed steering wheel.

Upgraded standard equipment also includes an advanced key, the Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System, a 360-degree camera and a multi-coloured extended LED interior Lighting Pack.