DIESELS may be a dying breed, according to motor industry pundits - but clearly nobody has told Audi.

For the company's extensively revised range of A4 and S4 compact executive models feature more oil burners than ever before with even the top of the range sporting S variants switching from petrol to diesel power.

The big difference, however, is that most of the engines available in the new range come with 12 volt mild hybrid systems while the 340hp V6 diesel which replaces petrol power in S4 models comes with a 48 volt system.

With 700Nm of torque and 342bhp the S4's new three-litre TDI engine powers the S4TDI Saloon from zero to 62mph in 4.8 seconds on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 155mph.

The extensively updated range, which will be available in the UK in September, covers saloon - interestingly being marketed as a ‘limousine' by Audi in Germany - the Avant estate and allroad quattro variants.

Cosmetic changes to the styling moves the A4 family into step with Audi's latest design language and include newly designed LED headlights which flank a broader, flatter, single frame grille and re-sculpted bumpers with bigger air intakes.

Inside, the facia has been redesigned around a 10.1-inch high resolution MMI touch display which is tilted slightly towards the driver in the centre of the instrument panel and features touch and voice control.

The all-digital Audi virtualcockpit plus is another standard feature of the latest A4 models. The driver can operate the 12.3-inch display with full HD resolution using the multifunction steering wheel with a choice of three views.

Numerous high-tech driver assistance systems will be available which have been bundled into three packages - Tour, City and Park - with features such as adaptive cruise control and automatic distance control which can brake and accelerate the car predictively even where there is no vehicle ahead.

The new range will initially be available with three two-litre TFSI mild-hybrid petrol engines and both two and three-litre diesels. A pair of mild hybrid turbodiesel engines will be available later. Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system will be offered as standard for the most powerful diesel and petrol engines as well as the S4 TDI saloon and Avant models which also come with an eight-speed Tiptronic auto transmission and sports suspension.