29/11/2008 00:43. THE importance of the A4 to Audi cannot be overstated. It accounts for half the vehicles made by the company and is charged with taking on the two big sellers from its German rivals, the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class.

If the A4 is the bedrock of Audis incredible sales surge over the past couple of decades, then the two-litre diesel offering is the backbone of the 24-strong range.

And the prettiest star must be the S-line version, standing proud on its lowered sports suspension, with extended side skirts, exclusive front and rear bumper design, chrome exhaust tailpipes, 18-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlights flanked by daytime running lights that have become the hallmark of Audis with higher specification.

Those 14 white light-emitting diodes under each headlamp are starting to... // The Press, York