2017 Audi A4 sharpens up (pictures)

The 2017 Audi A4 has an icier stare and sharper creases than before.

Audi's hexagonal "Single-Frame" grille is now more angular than before, and does a better job of disguising the bumper's strike plate.

It's hard to tell from here, but the A4's wheelbase and length are up slightly, although overall height remains the same as last year's model.

You can't see it, but the A4's underbelly is now enshrouded in order to improve aerodynamics. It's a big reason why the car's coefficient of drag has dropped down to o.23, making this Audi one of the sleekest cars on the planet.

The A4's rear end is, like many sedans of this type, rather anonymous, but LED tail lamps help update the look.

This photography car is in fact a European-spec TDI model, one of several different A4 models I drove on the launch. Text impressions are of the TFSI gasoline model.

Not only has the belt-line crease been redone to flow into the hood shut line, the rocker panel's creases are deeper and more angular than before.

These LED headlamps are optional, but bi-xenon units are now standard. Dumping conventional halogen headlamps meant Audi could go with a smaller, lighter housing.

Two-piece tail lamps (now with LED illumination) are used to emphasize width and give the A4 a broader stance.

Note the well-disguised camera hidden under Audi's iconic Four Ring logo.

Multi-tone wheels are all the rage these days. These upsized alloys have both machined and charcoal gray surfacing.

The A4 2-liter TFSI features a single pair of  chromed exhaust outlets on the driver's side.

Redesigned mirrors now mount on the door skins and feature LED turn signals. Their mirror surface is nice and wide, which is good for visibility.

This interior features a traditional and somewhat sober color scheme, but more assertive leather tones and trim colors are available.

The A4's interior is all new, including a fixed (not retractable) center screen and a slimmer dashboard design that emphasizes width to help the cabin feel roomier.

This interior featured aluminum trim, but real wood in both glossy and matte finishes is available.

This leather-wrapped wheel is a new piece that's actually made out of magnesium to keep weight down. It features a commendably small airbag boss and an array of easy-to-access controls.

The rear seat has better leg- and knee-room than before. My 5-foot-9-inch frame was comfortable enough, though I didn't have much headroom to spare.

The dual-clutch transmission's gear selector has been redesigned. The placement of the P for Parking button near the driver's thumb takes some getting used to.

Audi's longstanding thumbwheel switches are among the best in the business.

Note the cruise-control stalk, which incorporates controls for Audi's active lane assist technology.

The optional Virtual Cockpit is a stunning piece of tech.

This particular screen showing the navigation system using Google Maps topography has the speedometer and tachometer minimized.

The A4 features excellent new tri-zone climate control (driver, passenger and rear seats). The system uses a trio of TFT displays (the central one and two smaller ones to display temperatures in the knobs themselves), along with trick capacitive-touch toggles.

Note how when you touch a button, new menu options can appear, or sometimes the system simply enlarges the iconography for easier viewing.

This system works easily and beautifully.

At 17 cubic feet, the A4's trunk is appreciably larger than most rivals. With the rear seats folded, space expands to 34.1 cubic feet.