Audi continues its sporty model offensive with the launch of a limited edition A4. Just 250 right hand drive examples of the A4 DTM Edition will make it to the UK. Dealers are now taking orders for the £29,980 saloon for September delivery.

The A4 DTM is being built to celebrate Audi's success in the German touring car championship in 2004. Alas, the road car's styling is nowhere near as wild as the bewinged racecar, though it does enhance the visual appeal of the A4 2.0 T FSI Quattro the DTM Edition is based on. It is not too surprising that the press photographs show the car in a similar colour to those for the incredibly well received RS4. A significant number of styling changes have been made to the special edition, including the tasty 18-inch alloys as fitted to the Audi TT Quattro Sport. The bumpers, front and rear, have been redesigned, with a carbon fibre spoiler jutting below the front and another relatively discreet item on the bootlid. You will also notice large twin exhaust pipe and what appears to be a rear diffuser.

For your £6,265 premium over the regular car, you would hope for more than just rarity and a styling overhaul; you shouldn't be disappointed. The DTM Edition is fitted with sports suspension similar to that available as an 'S-line' option, but with unique spring and damper settings. Under the bonnet, the direct injection engine has been tweaked by quattro GmbH to increase maximum power output from 197bhp to 217bhp, with the peak torque figure also rising (from 207lb.ft to 221lb.ft). The DTM Edition accelerates from rest to 62mph (100 km/h) in a respectable 7.1 seconds and hits 153mph on the autobahn (compared to 7.2 seconds and 147mph for the original car).

The interior also receives a boost, with embossed sill strips and silver-piped floor mats, Recaro sports seats with silver side stitching upholstered in 'Nardia' microfibre fabric with leather side sections. Leather and Nardia microfibre also covers the three-spoke sports steering wheel, handbrake lever and gear knob. Carbon fibre inlays feature in the instrument panel and door trims.

No doubt the UK allocation will sell out quickly, buoyed on by the renewed interest in the A4 range the RS4 has garnered. We will attempt to get our hands on one to test for ourselves, so keep an eye on the main Road Tests page for the review.

Shane O' Donoghue - 3 May 2005