Audi Planning to Bring Allroad Back to the U.S., This Time as A4

Audi Planning to Bring Allroad Back to the U.S., This Time as A4:

Allroads will lead to Rome (New York) once again, as Audi tells us that the Allroad, its jacked-up all-wheel-drive station wagon, will return to the U.S. The only Audi Allroad model offered in the U.S. was an A6, last seen here in 2005. Since then, Audi has canceled the A6 Avant here altogether, making a lower-volume upgrade trim like the Allroad pretty much unfeasible. But there are plans to bring Allroad back, albeit in a smaller travel size.

Because we do get the A4 Avant here, and because Audi apparently sees extra sales in that slot, the A4 Allroad is likely to be the model that brings the gray bumpers, wider track, and extra ground clearance back to our shores. In Europe, the A4 Allroad is available with the 2.0-liter turbo four we get in our A4, as well as 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter turbo-diesels. Bet on the 2.0T gas engine. Timing should coincide with the current A4′s mid-cycle refresh, which would logically come for the 2014 model year, following (and mirroring) the A5′s 2013 face lift.

For those wondering why we don’t get the larger A6 Avant or its Allroad version, the thinking is this: If the U.S. market is going to get low-volume products from Audi, they’re going to be fun, halo vehicles. Like the TT RS and RS5. So we’ll settle for that A4.

Source : Googler Reader