S line’ spec brings a number of smart trim additions, while the extra £675 asked for this special edition gets you not only that power hike, but also sports suspension

It’s a given these days that the Audi A4 is a beautifully built bit of kit, but this latest version goes one stage further, offering a new level of real-world competence thanks to the adoption of some of the latest direct- injection technology.

Up until now, if someone asked what cooking A4 to buy, it invariably meant recommending one of the dull but sensible diesels. Thankfully the petrol engineers have been staging a bit of a comeback of late, and the 217bhp 2.0 unit fitted to this special edition A4 is the best example yet.

Up a useful 20bhp on the standard 2.0 TFSI, at low revs it pumps out delicious chunks of torque in a similar fashion to a good oil-burner, but then it spins on to a 7000rpm red line. It’s much more fun to drive than the rev-challenged diesel versions, but it still managed a diesel-worrying 34mpg on my daily commute. Impressive stuff for a 151mph saloon capable of 0-62mph in just 6.9sec.

‘S line’ spec brings a number of smart trim additions, while the extra £675 asked for this special edition gets you not only that power hike, but also sports suspension. The front-wheel-drive handling is still secure rather than spectacular, but then that’s what a lot of people look for in a car like this.

The best bit, though, is the price. At £24,315, maybe this latest A4 spells the end of the recent, seemingly unstoppable diesel revolution. Let’s hope so.