km : Automotive News

Audi was ahead of the trend when it released the "allroad" station wagon in 2000, based on the A6 Avant of the day. Not simply a lifted station wagon, the original allroad featured an adjustable ride height thanks to its air suspension, and wore unique off-road cladding around the bumpers and fenders to fend off potential damage from unkind debris littering the more rugged trails it was designed to conquer.

The allroad has lived on in Europe, but we've been without a version since 2005. Later this year, Audi will reintroduce the allroad badge to America, but this time it will be based on the new A4 platform. The 2013 Audi A4 allroad will be the only version of the A4 station wagon, or Avant, that North America will get.

Gone is the adjustable-height ride, but the A4 allroad will still gain an inch and a half of ground clearance over the outgoing A4 Avant. Signature allroad elements like matte-finished body cladding will live on, however, accented by stainless steel skid plates for the full bush-beater effect. Full matte-finish paint will be an option. A panoramic moonroof will come standard, opening up the cabin to the world outside.

Power for the A4 allroad will come from Audi's 2.0T FSI four-cylinder, making 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft or torque. The only transmission will be an eight-speed automatic, and all-wheel-drive will be standard as well, naturally.

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