Audi’s off-road-focused Allroad Quattro model has historically been based on the A6 Avant. Now, it appears the Allroad package will make the jump to the next-smaller wagon in Audi’s lineup, the A4 Avant. Taken in Southern Europe, these spy shots show the next-gen Allroad undergoing final tests before its anticipated European launch, which could be sometime early 2012.
Identifying this A4 wagon as an Allroad are the increased ride height and pronounced fender guards, all trademarks of past Allroad Quattro models. We can also see this car wears unique rocker panel moldings as well as a slightly different front valance, complete with extra fog lamp holes. An Allroad-specific grille is also present, which replaces the characteristic horizontal slats with metallic-looking vertical ones. This motif first began on the A6 Allroad Quattro, which is currently on sale in Europe. A black rectangular piece covers part of the grille, likely blocking out the Audi emblem, assuming this is the final grille design.
All we can presume to know about the drivetrain is that it features Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. Powering this Allroad model could be the standard A4’s turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4, which makes 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Audi might also pull from the A4’s range of other turbocharged four-cylinder engines, which include both gasoline and TDI turbodiesel options. A dark horse powertrain option would be the 333-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, an engine already available in the larger A6 Allroad in Europe. It’s hard to say at this point whether or not this model will make it across the pond, but if it does, we say there’s always room for more wagons in the U.S.
