Audi might have opted not to bring the RS4 Avant to North America, but in other parts of the world fast, combustion-engined, compact premium wagons are a core part of German brand’s lineup, so work is well underway on the next RS4 and its S4 little brother. That’s the next S4 Avant pictured at the top of this page, or at least it’s the replacement for the old S4 Avant because according to a recent report the new one could lose the S4 badge. The UK’s Auto Express claims Audi is switching to a new naming system that will mean EVs have even numbers and the combustion cars still on sale before Audi switches wholesale to electric power in 2033 will come with odd numbers.

The intel, which hasn’t been confirmed by Audi, suggests the regular A4 and S4 sedans will die altogether, four-door fans being guided towards the A5 and S5 Sportback sedans, while the S4 and RS4 wagons will retain their shooting brake designs but become S5 and RS5 Avants. But even if the story is true and the S4 Avant is changing its name, the car itself doesn’t appear to be straying too far from a successful formula. Like the replacement for the regular A4 Avant, the next S4 abides by Audi’s evolutionary design principles which will ensure non-car-fans will struggle to easily identify old from new, preserving residual values, and geeks will have fun spotting the important changes.

 

Chief among those is the new LED headlights and the dual-row bank of DRL light cubes mounted above them. The hood shrinks on all sides, presumably to keep it out of harms way in minor accidents and help reduce repair costs, and for the first time in years the grille appears smaller in the newer car, leaving room for another long intake below. Other changes are more subtle, and include less heavily sculpted lower door panels, flush door handles and a more sporty slope to the rear window above the quad circular tailpipes that tell us this is an S-model.

Things get more interesting inside, where we know from previous spy shots Audi is planning a freestanding digital instrument cluster and a floating infotainment system. We can also expect a new steering wheel and a revamped center console with a Q4-like shifter for the S4/5’s powertrain. We know that powertrain won’t be fully electric, but still aren’t sure if Audi is planning to turn the S4 into a PHEV or whether it will hang on to a version of the 349 hp turbocharged V6 fitted to the current car.

But hopefully we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out. We’re expecting Audi to reveal full details of both the A4 and S4 replacements within the next six months. Sadly for American wagon fans the S5 is only likely to be offered in sedan and not wagon form in the U.S. while in other markets, like the UK, where wagons are still seen as wicked, get to enjoy the wagon body style.