The most successful premium station wagon of its class offers excellent drivability, typically high Audi build quality and a range of storage solutions in its large, flexible load-carrying area.

It combines elegance with intelligent functionality, according to Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann.

“The new A4 Avant is both versatile and dynamic. The estate concept is a highly successful part of the Audi range and this new A4 Avant will follow in the footsteps of its popular predecessor and will add to the success to-date of its sedan 'sibling',” Mr Hofmann said.

Based on the same technological layout as the sedan, the newly developed five-link front axle has been shifted further forward, ensuring that the axle loads are ideally-distributed and guaranteeing the highest precision and handling agility.

In Australia, Audi has launched the A4 Avant with two engines, including the 118 kW 1.8 TFSI with 250 Nm and a 105 kW 2.0 TDI with 320 Nm.

Both engines feature the brand’s seamless, continuously variable multitronic transmission as a standard feature.

The design of the new Audi A4 Avant is exciting and dynamic. Compared to the previous model, the proportions have been reconfigured in a new and even sportier design. The front overhang has been shortened and the bonnet and the wheelbase have gained considerably in length.

The flat D-posts and extended, aerodynamic roofline lend the Audi A4 Avant a sleek silhouette, while the rear design focuses on width, with powerful, horizontal lines.

The new A4 Avant measures 4.70 metres in length, almost 12 cm longer than the former model. Its body is considerably more rigid and safer in build than its predecessor, yet is around 10% lighter.

Both engines are extremely economical with just 7.4 litres/100km for the 1.8 TFSI and 6.0 litres/100km for the 2.0 TDI version.

The new headlight design is proving extremely popular and distinctive and the Avant comes with daytime running lights as a standard feature.

With up to 1,430 litres in volume, the latest addition to the Audi family has a capacious luggage area which is lined with high-quality carpet and features intelligent details as standard such as a reversible cargo floor and a convenient cargo cover that retracts at a touch. Audi also offers luxury features such as an electro-mechanical drive for the rear tailgate or tie-down eyelets for securing luggage.

The ambience inside the new A4 Avant is light and spacious. The legroom in the rear measures 895 mm – the best figure in the premium mid-size segment – as is the headroom of 971 mm. The interior reflects Audi’s traditional strengths – a noble impression, uncompromising quality of workmanship with attention to every detail and intuitive operation.

The cockpit is driver-oriented, with the centre console tilted by eight degrees to the left. In the design of a great many details, the A4 Avant has taken cues from the larger A8. The instruments bear the classic Audi look, but have been newly-developed.

Thanks to the new electro-mechanical parking brake, the manual parking brake lever was no longer necessary. Even the standard climate control system is a completely redesigned component. It supplies 10% more cooling capacity, yet operates 20% more efficiently than the previous system – thus saving up to 0.2 litres of fuel per 100 km.

When it comes to safety, Audi has raised the bar once again. The adaptive airbags and two-stage belt force limiters have been even more finely-tuned, providing better passenger protection.

As with its sedan 'sibling', the new A4 Avant is available with an exceptional range of options including Side Assist, Lane Assist, Audi hold assist and radar assisted Adaptive Cruise Control to name a few.

A4 Avant range & pricing