2016 Audi A4 spied with less camouflage

With the new Mercedes C-Class shaking up the segment with strong sales and the refreshed BMW 3 Series returning to fight for the top spot, Audi is under pressure to replace its aging A4.

Slated for debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September this year, the next-generation Audi A4 is at its final stages of development, as yet another prototype has been spotted undergoing public road testing, this time in the dark.

With less camouflaged, the latest A4 prototype to hit the street reveals an evolutionary design with styling elements influenced by the recently unveiled Q7 and rear lights that are reminiscent of those on the A6 sedan.

The new A4 (codenamed B9) is built on the second-generation Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLB) platform and weights approximately 100kg lighter than the current model. A range of petrol and diesel powertrains in both front and all-wheel drive will be available.

Two plug-in hybrid versions will also be introduced, which will be sold under the e-tron badge. The petrol variant will use a 2.0 TFSI matched with an electric motor and a 9-speed S-tronic gearbox, while the diesel will get a 2.0 TDI paired with two electric motors along with the 9-speed S-tronic transmission.