Bolzano, Italy

THE premise of"'under-promise and over-deliver" probably sends marketing folk into paroxysms of denied opportunity, but in an era of constant exhibitionism, the old-fashioned way of pleasing clients is more valuable than ever.

Audi's refreshed A4 sedan embodies that approach. On the face of things, it's had a simple, mid-life facelift, the kind that all cars undergo three or four years into their product life cycle to boost sales and remind potential customers of their existence.