Audi's A4 replacement snapped in revealing spy photos

The forthcoming Audi A5 Avant has been spied in Europe with virtually no camouflage ahead of its expected reveal either late this year or during 2024.

The A5 Avant will replace today’s A4 Avant, while a new-generation A5 Sportback has been spied. It’s unclear if there will be direct replacements to today’s A4 sedan, A5 coupe and A5 convertible.

Earlier this year former Audi CEO Markus Duesmann confirmed the luxury brand is changing its model naming structure.

“The odd numbers will be the combustion engines and the even numbers will stand for the battery electric vehicles,” said Mr Duesmann.

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“The successor to today’s A4 will be called the A5, and today’s A6 will be called the A7. The A4 and A6 will then be electric.”

Compared to all the other Audi A5 prototypes spied to date, this particular example can be seen in all of its glory. It’s finished in black paint and there are only small bits of tape around the headlights and tail lights, as well as on the Audi badges.

The A5 Avant appears to be sleeker than the current A4 Avant with a completely new design language. There aren’t as many body creases on this new model.

The grille on this spied A5 prototype is wider and shorter than the current Audi A4’s, and around the side there are flush-fitting lift-up door handles.

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At the rear there looks like there’s going to be a full-width LED light bar but it’s covered up by black tape.

At this stage Audi hasn’t confirmed the powertrains for the A5 but it will likely receive updated versions of the existing turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains. Four-cylinder models could also receive a more sophisticated 48V mild-hybrid system than the current 12V system.

There’s also expected to be plug-in hybrid powertrains, as well as high-performance S and RS variants. An S5 Sportback prototype has already been previously spied.

This particular Audi A5 prototype is a plug-in hybrid version as there’s a covered-up charging port on the left-hand rear quarter panel. There’s also a yellow dot on the windscreen which is used to denote plug-in hybrids.

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We anticipate the new A5 will be based on an updated version of the MLB Evo architecture, with either front-or all-wheel drive.

Previous spy photos revealed the A5 will receive a rectangular digital instrument cluster, as well as a free-standing touchscreen infotainment system with integrated climate controls.

As noted above, standard version of the Audi A5 are expected to debut either late this year or early next, with the performance models likely to follow in the months after.

The new-generation range should hit Europe shortly after the reveal, with an Australian market launch likely to be the usual 6-12 months after that.

MORE: Everything Audi A4MORE: Everything Audi A5