The Audi A4 is about to raise its stock yet again as new generation Saloon, Avant and allroad versions of the accomplished premium compact executive adopt an even more sharply tailored look and a blue chip portfolio of new or revised engines which pay even greater economy dividends. Due with their first UK customers in March 2012, the new generation A4 ranges will carry a premium of just £200 over their outgoing equivalents, despite significant styling enhancements and efficiency gains of up to 21 per cent. Prices will start at under £24,000, and orders can be taken from today (Tuesday November 8).

Efficiency was at front of mind during the redevelopment of this eighth generation A4 range, so as a starting point all nine of the turbo charged and directly injected engines that power it are linked without exception to start/stop and recuperation systems. These help to bring about economy improvements that average 11 per cent across the board, but actually amount to as much as 21 per cent.

The petrol range will kick off, as it did before, with the 1.8-litre TFSI with 120PS, which is due to open for orders in early 2012, slightly later than the first phase. Until then, the lead-in unit is a more powerful 1.8-litre TFSI which has been completely redesigned for the A4 to include ground-breaking innovations in many areas, including control of the valves and their lift, thermal management, fuel injection, turbocharging and the integration of the exhaust manifold. With power increased from the previous 160PS to 170PS, and an even more significant torque hike from 250Nm to 320Nm, it combines 49.6mpg economy potential with CO2 output down from 169g/km to 134g/km – a 21 per cent improvement. With the departure of the 3.2-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine from the latest range, the perennially popular 2.0-litre TFSI unit with 211PS now completes the petrol line-up.