The Audi S4 is currently in its sixth generation. If this sounds weird, since there are only five A4 generations, it is because the first generation S4 was based on the Audi 100, and it wasn't until 1997 that it moved to the same platform as the A4. Ever since 1997, the S7 is evolving at the same time as the A4, and with a new generation A4 around the corner, there will also be a new S4. Audi managed to keep the car a secret so far - we've only seen one or two prototypes out for testing - but today we've got a fresh look at the upcoming S4.

Audi is currently testing the next A4 and S4 models on the winding roads of the Alps, and our spy photographers just happened to be there. They weren't only able to offer us the first pictures of the next generation Audi S4 Avant, but also the first look at the new interior. With the next A4 growing in size and sitting closer to the A6, we expect the interior to be a little bit more luxurious too. And the new interior spy shots prove just that. It appears that the next S4 will drop the current digital instrument cluster and will be offered with the recently announced Audi virtual cockpit. The steering wheel, the entire center console, and the infotainment appears to also be new.

As for the exterior, the prototype caught testing is still very heavily camouflaged, so it is hard to know what changes it will offer. One thing is for sure: this is no regular A4. If you look at the pictures of the rear you will notice the exhaust system end with double tailpipes on each side – a mark of the S4 model. Of course, you shouldn’t expect any revolutionary design, maybe think of the next A4/S4 as a facelift of the current model.

No major changes will be offered under the hood either, and that’s mostly because the next A4 will be the last of the series to feature combustion engines. The standard A4 will continue to be offered with both gasoline and diesel engines, with some sort of hybridization, while the S4 will most likely carry the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine. If Audi will opt to hybridize the V-6 engine, you should expect the final output to be a little bit higher than the current model's 350 horsepower.

The new Audi A4/S4 will be unveiled sometime in 2023 and will be put on sale shortly after. It is expected to remain on the market until the end of the decade. After that, Audi will only offer an electric A4.