Audi has lifted the wraps on the fifth-generation A4, revealing its evolutionary exterior design and contemporary new interior as well as details to its revised engine line-up and newly developed chassis for the first time.

Set to make its public premiere in both sedan and wagon (Avant) guise at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the new A4 is planned to reach Australian showrooms in early 2016 at prices Audi officials suggest will be close to those of the outgoing fourth-generation model on sale here since 2008.

Styled under former Audi design boss, Wolfgang Egger, prior to his departure to head up the Audi-owned Giugario design studio in Italy in early 2014, the new A4 boasts an evolutionary appearance that is intended to make it look more formal than its main rivals, the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The familiar look is in line with feedback Audi says it gained from existing customers in its largest markets, China, Germany and USA.

Key elements in the exterior design of the new sedan and wagon include a wider single frame grille, newly shaped headlamps with altered LED day time running light graphics, a clamshell style bonnet, larger wheelhouses, flatter roof, a more prominent shoulder with a deep swage line running the length of the flanks, greater structure in the lower part of the doors, sharp new tail lamps featuring a new take on Audi's traditional LED graphics and, on the sedan, a higher boot lid.

Although appearing a lot like a facelifted version of its predecessor, every body panel used by the latest A4 is described as new. Greater attention to aerodynamic properties, including the adoption of a largely flat undertray and detailed sculpturing around the rear end, has also netted the new Audi a class leading drag co-efficient for the sedan of 0.23.

The new A4 has grown, but only slightly. With a length of 4726mm, width of 1842mm and height of 1427mm, it is 25mm longer, 16mm wider and the same height as its predecessor in sedan guise. This makes it 41mm longer, 32mm wider and 13mm lower than the latest Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan. The adoption of the latest evolution of Audi's MLB platform has also seen its wheelbase increase by 12mm to 2820mm.

Despite the bump in size, Audi claims the A4's weight has been reduced by up to 120kg depending on the engine through the adoption of greater hot-formed high strength steel within the body structure and aluminium for various body panels, including the roof.

While its exterior styling leans heavily on that of its predecessor, the interior of the new A4 boasts a contemporary new design with greater space and higher levels of perceived quality than ever before.

The dashboard, which uses a combination of soft touch plastics and bushed aluminium, receives a minimalist look similar to that of the latest-generation TT sports car.

Audi claims an additional 24mm of head room in combination with 11mm more shoulder room up front. The incremental stretch in the wheelbase has also provided the basis for a 23mm increase in rear seat legroom.

The German car maker also promises added levels of comfort through the adoption of newly designed seats that are claimed to weigh 9 kilograms less than those of the old model.

Boot space is up by 15 litres in the new A4 Avant at 505 litres, increasing to 1510 litres when the standard 40:20:40 rear seat is folded away. By comparison, the BMW 3-series Touring boasts a nominal 495 litres, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate offers 490 litres.

Taking cues from other recently launched Audi models, buyers can choose between a wide range of high-end options, including a 12.3 inch digital instrument panel in place of the combination of analogue instruments and digital readout that comes as standard. There's also an 8.3 inch monitor in place of the standard 7-inch unit, inductive charging pad for mobile phones, sensor control opening of the luggage compartment, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, tablet based rear seat entertainment and the latest version of the German car maker's MMI (Multi Media Interface) system that features an LTE internet connection.

Among a long list of standard safety items is Audi's pre sense city system, which has been developed to prevent accidents at typical urban driving speeds. Using a windscreen mounted stereo camera to monitor the road, it provides an acoustic warning and full preventative braking at speeds up to 40km/h.

The new A4 will be launched with the choice of three turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, two four-cylinder common rail diesel and two V6 common rail diesel engines – all featuring EU6 emission compliance. They are claimed to provide power increases of up to 25 per cent and economy gains of up to 21 per cent over the engines they succeed, although details to which units will be offered in Australia are yet to be made official.

Kicking off proceedings in Europe is a new 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 125kW, or 7kW more than the previous base 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine it replaces in the line-up. This is sufficient to provide the new price leading A4 1.4 TFSI sedan with 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.9sec, a 210km/h top speed together with combined consumption of 4.9L/100km and CO2 emissions of 114g/km in combination with the optional S-tronic dual clutch gearbox.

Further up the range is a reworked version of Audi's 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It comes in two differing states of tune, providing the new A4 2.0 TFSI with either 140kW or 185kW. Audi quotes a 0-100kmh time of 7.3sec, top speed of 240km/h along with consumption figures of 4.8L/100km and 109g/km for the former, while the latter boasts a 0-100km/h time of 5.8sec, limited 250km/h top speed, 5.7L/100km and 129g/km – both in combination with the optional S-tronic dual clutch gearbox.

Among the quartet of diesels to be made available at launch is Audi's familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder. Updated with a new AdBlue exhaust injection system as mandated by EU6 emission regulations, it comes with in either 110kW or 140kW in what has traditionally been the strongest selling model in the line-up, the A4 2.0 TDI.

The former provides 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.6sec and a 219km/h top speed, together with combined consumption of 3.8L/100km and CO2 emissions of 99g/km in combination with the optional S-tronic dual clutch gearbox. The latter boasts an official 0-100km/h time of 7.7sec, 237km/h top speed as well as 4.1L/100km and 107g/km.

In line with recent new Audi models, the A4 2.0 TDI will be available in as an aerodynamically optimized Ultra model featuring exterior styling tweaks, revised gearbox ratios, lowered suspension and low rolling resistance tyres. In 110kW guise, it is claimed possess combined cycle consumption of 3.7L/100km and 95g/km in sedan form, making the new four-door A4 the most economical car in its class.

Rounding out the launch line-up is a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. As with the outgoing A4, it comes in two states of tune, developing either 160kW or 200kW in the A4 3.0 TDI. Provisional figures suggest the former will return 4.2L/100km for average CO2 emissions of 110g/km, with the latter achieving 4.9L/100km and 129g/km.

Also planned but not confirmed for Australian sale just yet is a natural gas powered model. Set for sale during the second half of 2016 in Avant guise only, the A4 Avant g-tron runs a 125kW version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine used in other new A4 models adapted to run on either petrol or natural gas. Allied with a series of tanks mounted at the rear, it is claimed to provide a range of up to 500km on natural gas and 450km on petrol.

Front-wheel drive is standard on all models save for the initial top-of-the-range A4 3.0 TDI, which receives an all-wheel drive system that apportions power in a nominal 40:60 front-to-rear split. All-wheel-drive is also optional on the 185kW A4 2.0 TFSI as well as the 140kW A4 2.0 TDI.

Gearbox choices include a newly developed six-speed manual on all four-cylinder engines. It eschews the aluminium housing of the old unit for a new magnesium housing, which in combination with a new differential, hollows shafts and a smaller clutch plate helps bring a 16kg reduction in weight.

Gone is the old continuously variable multitronic gearbox. It is replaced by a revised version of the existing seven-speed dual clutch S-tronic unit, which is available for the first time on front-wheel drive A4 models and comes as standard on the least powerful of the two 3.0-litre V6 diesels, allowing a combination of both manual and automatic operation. The more powerful of 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine receives a standard eight-speed automatic featuring a coasting function that idles the engine on a trailing throttle for added fuel saving.

The 2015 model year A4 is underpinned by a newly developed suspension featuring a five link arrangement both front and rear and either standard 16- or 17--inch wheels and tyres depending on the engine. The components for the front suspension are now made predominantly out of aluminium, reducing its weight by a claimed 8 kilograms.

The adoption of the new five link design at the rear in place of the previous trapezoidal link arrangement has saved a further 5 kilograms, according to Audi. The steering is via a new speed sensitive electric-mechanical system that boats a nominal 15.9:1 ratio is claimed to be 3.5 kilograms lighter than that used on the outgoing model.

In models from the 140kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel upwards, the new A4 comes with Audi's so-called Drive Select system as standard, allowing the driver to alter the characteristics of the throttle, steering and gearbox.

In a bid to provide the new car with broader dynamic appeal, buyers can option it up with variable shock absorbers providing the choice between comfort and sports modes and a variable ratio steering system.

Models running Quattro four-wheel drive can also be enhanced with a revised torque vectoring function, which varies the amount of drive going to each rear wheels in a bid to provide more neutral cornering characteristics. This so-called Sport Differential is claimed to react faster and weigh 1.0kg less than that offered on the fourth-generation A4.

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