All-new Audi A4 Avant – first official pics

With a 490-litre capacity, the Audi A4 Avant boasts the biggest boot in its class, which extends to 1,430-litres with the rear seats folded

These are the first official pictures of the all-new Audi A4 Avant – the German car maker’s mid-sized load lugger.

With a 490-litre capacity, the Audi A4 Avant boasts the biggest boot in its class, which extends to 1,430-litres with the rear seats folded.

The Audi A4 Avant will be available with two petrol and three diesel engines at launch with a 157bhp 1.8-litre, and 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 petrol lumps sitting alongside a 140bhp 2-litre, 186bhp 2.7-litre and 235bhp 3-litre oil burners.

The 1.8-litre Audi A4 should hit 62mph (100kph) in about nine seconds and run on to 135mph while the 3.2-litre V6 will be limited to 155mph.

Buyers looking for a more efficient car should look at the 2-litre diesel which should average about 48mpg.

The V6 will feature four-wheel drive as standard.

View more pictures of the Audi A4 Avant

Audi is yet to confirm plans for a hot RS model to sit beneath the bonkers 572bhp Audi RS6 Avant.

But if Audi does opt for an RS4 Avant, expect to the brilliant 4.2-litre, 400bhp engine used in the Audi RS4 super saloon.

There will be two trim levels available – the SE and the sportier S Line which is likely to feature bigger wheels, a stiffened suspension and leather seats.

The Audi A4 Avant will also be available with the Audi Drive system as an optional extra. Audi drive enables the car’s suspension setting, steering behaviour and throttle response be adjusted via dashboard controls. 

Despite being 120mm longer than the existing Audi A4 Avant, the new model is ten per cent lighter and has a longer wheelbase, optimising weight distributing and improving the estate’s handling.

The Audi A4 Avant is available to order from March 3 with the car delivered to showrooms from early June.

Expect prices to start from about £23,790 for the 1.8-litre SE rising to £31,490 for the 3.2-litre V6 SE – an increase of £1,200 over the equivalent saloon.

The Audi A4 Avant will make its official debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

Other sexy models making their world debut in Geneva include the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, Land Rover LRX and a special Bugatti Veyron while the Nissan GT-R will makes its official European debut.

We’ll be reporting live from Switzerland so don’t forget to come back for all the big news as it happens.

View more pictures of the Audi A4 Avant