In recent weeks rumors have been going around that Audi are looking to bring the Allroad nameplate back to the US, and as if like magic we now have some of the very first photos of the brand-new Audi A4 Allroad being given a thorough test drive in southern Europe. The snaps appear to show a few exterior updates; the headlamps, for example, appear to be very similar to those on the new range A5, whilst the single-frame grille has been revised with a semi-hexagonal geometry.

It is reasonable to assume that the A4 Allroad, touted to return stateside, will be similar to the European counterpart that sports flared and gray-colored bumpers and skid plate-like detailing on the front and rear fascias. Under the hood we should find a 1.8-liter TFSI 170hp or 2.0-liter TDI 177hp engine, with the latter the more likely to power the American version, which should be available sometime in late 2013.