The next-generation Audi A4 (B9) has returned in a fresh batch of spy shots revealing the headlight and taillight design.

Audi has been testing the all-new A4 for quite some time as the first spy images hit the web more than a year ago and now the latest pics show a fully camouflaged prototype wearing the production body. The engineers from Ingolstadt decided to remove most of the disguise on the headlights and taillights, thus giving us the chance to take a better look at the lighting clusters equipped with LED technology.

The car appears to sit lower than the outgoing model but it could be because Audi was testing the suspension to make some final adjustments before revealing the car. It will be a bit larger than the outgoing model which makes sense taking into account Audi now sells an A3 Sedan so they have to create enough distance between the two.

The overhauled A4 will ride on the second-gen MLB platform so it should go through a considerable diet despite the bigger proportions. Under the hood will likely be updated versions of the familiar 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI engines along with a new 3.0-liter TFSI motor while on the diesel side there will be the usual 1.6 and 2.0 TDIs but also a newly developed 3.0 TDI. These engines will be teamed up with a standard six-speed manual gearbox and an optional nine-speed automatic transmission channeling power to the front wheels or to an optional all-wheel drive quattro setup.

Gasoline-electric and diesel-electric hybrid derivatives are likely in the works as well as an interesting A4 e-quattro model mixing up a combustion engine with two e-motors. The latter is believed to offer three driving modes: front-wheel drive on combustion engine power, rear-wheel drive on electric power and all-wheel drive on hybrid power.

The sedan will be the first to come out and will be followed shortly by the Avant while the new A5 lineup is scheduled for a 2016 launch in the usual coupe, cabriolet and Sportback body styles.