2012 Audi S4 Avant Photos, engines & full specs

The ninth generation of the A4 was introduced in 2008 and was based on the same platform as its predecessor, although with some aesthetic changes.

Fast forward to 2012, and the financial crisis was over, and Audi was ready to revamp its compact-sized lineup. So, along with the sedan version, the station wagon, traditionally named Avant, had received a refresh for the entire range, including the sporty S4.

The car's front fascia received new, waved-shaped headlights that featured LED daytime running lights. They flanked the big, single-frame grille crossed by horizontally mounted double slats and a fat cross-section for the license plate. A small red-and-gray badge warned bystanders that it wasn't just a regular A4 but the S4. In its station wagon shape, the car sported a sloped-down roof line ended by the raked-forward tailgate at the back. Underneath the rear bumper, the S4 Avant boasted four oval-shaped exhausts.

Inside the cabin, Audi installed high-bolstered front seats with an option for sports seats. Inside the instrument cluster, the S4 logo adorned the tachometer's dial. The same badge was embroidered into the front seats' seatbacks as well. At the back, the 60/40 split-folding bench seat was profiled for two passengers but with a third headrest between them for a third occupant.

The same supercharged V6 powerplant introduced in 2008 powered the facelifted version of the S4 Avant, and it was mated with the same six-speed manual, with an option for a seven-speed automatic.