Based on the new A4 Avant and bringing the same weight reductions – up to 90kg compared to the previous model, the allroad quattro adds in beefed-up styling including flared wheel arches, underbody cladding and rear diffuser. It also features quattro four-wheel drive as standard and features an extra 23mm ride height, with larger wheels – 17-inch alloys come as standard – helping to provide an additional 34mm of ground clearance.

The A4 allroad quattro also offers 505 litres of boot space rising to 1,510 litres. Powered luggage compartment cover and tailgate are standard while sensor control for the tailgate and a rail and load-securing kit are options along with the electronic trailer hitch. It’s also rated for towed loads of up to 2,100kg.

TFSI and TDI engines between 148 and 268bhp are offered from launch and bring CO2 emissions reduced by up to 21g/km.

Depending on the engine, there is a choice of the manual six-speed transmission, the seven-speed S tronic and the eight-speed tiptronic – with the latter available for the first time on the model.

Also offered for the first time is optional suspension with damper control, with the driver able to alter settings as desired.

The new Audi A4 allroad quattro also brings a new version of Audi drive select with an expanded range of functions that now includes an offroad mode.

Key features of the cockpit are the new MMI operating concept with rotary pushbutton including MMI touch, the large MMI display of up to 8.3 inches and the optional all-digital, 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit. Also available is a new voice control system and head-up display.