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A low hum carries across the asphalt. Where the racetrack fades into the distance, a tiny speck appears, followed by another and another. The engine sound rises to a roar as the dots take shape; before long the silhouettes and then the insignia of the cars become visible. Leading the pack is a distinctive, bullet-shaped racer. Its low body, smooth lines and signature front grille have a reassuring familiarity to them, as do the four rings emblazoned on the bonnet. But the car hurtling towards the finish line isn't the Audi R8 on its way to making history at Le Mans in 2000. Nor is it the record-breaking diesel R10 in 2007. The year is 1935 and the racer is an earlier product of Vorsprung durch Technik: the Auto Union B-type, about to stun the world by winning the Italian Grand Prix. For Audi, innovation is nothing new. That's why motor journalists and Audi enthusiasts alike have watched the approach of the new Audi A4 with such anticipation and excitement – because the evolution of such an important model is sure to be breathtaking. And when the new Audi A4 was finally unveiled at the Frankfurt Motorshow in September, there were hints of the past as well as the future. Behind a front grille inspired by the legendary Auto Union cars, this compact executive saloon holds the very latest Audi technology – in a design which recalls the flowing lines of the elegant A5 as much as the original A4. Yet with its revised engines, long wheelbase and reduced overhangs, the new Audi A4 is just as assuredly its own car. From the moment you get behind the wheel, you can be confident that it will deliver everything the athletic exterior promises, thanks to a wide choice of powerful FSI and TDI engines. And it does this with even more efficiency than the original A4, using up to 15% less fuel. As with all Audi models, you can specify the new Audi A4's looks precisely, from paint finish to interior upholstery. But Audi Drive Select also allows you to personalise the feel of the car – tailoring pedal responses, shock absorption and steering to a particular style of driving. This means that, with just the touch of a button, you can transform the ride from luxury saloon to sports car, as you sit within a contoured body which already melds these two aspects to perfection. Altogether, it's the ideal balance of refinement and flair. The kind of incredible advance we've seen so many times before. Vorsprung durch Technik.