Update: The new Audi A4 has been announced.

Autobild has a couple of sketches of and some interesting news on the next generation Audi A4.

Autobild starts by noting that last year was the first time that the Audi A4 surpassed the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class in terms of sales, thanks also to the fact that the new 3 Series was on sale only for part of the year (especially the Touring) and that the C-Class is starting to feel the weight of its age.

To face off current and future models from its german rivals in this segment, Audi’s plan for an “A4 family” is pretty much this : the first to be announced will be the A5 coupè at the beginning of 2007, followed by the A4 saloon at the end of 2007, by the A4 Avant in mid-2008, by the Roadjet at the end of 2008 and by the SUV Q5 and the A5 Convertible at the beginning of 2009.

The main novelty is the platform, based on a technology called “Modularer Längsbaukasten” (MLB, Modular-length components) which will be used also in future A6 and A8 models. The engine will be moved rearwards, while gearbox and differential will exchange positions, so that the new A4 will be less front-heavy than the current model.

With these changes the front overhang will be shortened quite a bit (about 15 cm), as you can see from the following picture, which show the front of the current A4 attuale over that of the Roadjet concept, which is an anticipation of these solutions. The changed position of the engine will result in more space between the front wheel and the cockpit (the wheelbase will need to be lenghtened to offer the same space to occupants of the car).

New front and rear axles will result in an improved 4-wheel steering system. Improvements are expected also in the braking system. Thanks to the new weight distribution, in 4 wheel drive versions the Quattro system’s torque distribution will be more biased towards the rear axle.

Last but not least, the engines: the 4 cylinder direct injection engines, both turbocharged and naturally aspirated, will have power outputs ranging from 115 to 215 hp; the turbodiesel TDI engines will have between 120 and 245 hp; the V6 and V8 gasoline engines will have between 250 and 500 hp (!!!).

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