Abt Sporstline has unveiled a more potent version of the Volkswagen Golf R which has a standard 199kW (270 PS / 266 hp) TSI engine displacing 2.0-litres.

“The compact car is really good fun, particularly on corners”, says Hans-Juergen Abt.”"VW gave the Golf dynamism when it was in the cradle – it defines sportiness in its class. And the Golf R is the champion of fast Golfs.”

Abt has thus endowed the car with new powers going up to 228kW (310 PS /306 hp). It is now capable of going from 0 – 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 261km/h (162 mph).

Body installations from the previously announced Abt Golf VI GTI include a front skirt, a front lip spoiler, Abt daytime running lights and wheels measuring between 18-inch and 19-inch in size.

Abt Sportsline has announced plans to unveil four new tuning programs at the Geneva Motor Show.

While details are limited, the company stated they will show the Abt AS8 (a modified version of the 2011 Audi A8), the Abt R8 GTR, the Abt R8 Spyder, and the Abt Golf R. According to Hans-Jürgen Abt, “I can say with pride that it (the Abt display in Geneva) is worth a visit, as we have put together extraordinary, innovative and classy cars.”

Stay tuned to WCF for full coverage of the Geneva Motor Show.

German tuners Abt Sportsline have created a tuning package for the facelifted Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Clean Diesel, the first diesel SUV to comply with the Euro 6 emission standard.  Abt engineers developed a package of performance and aerodynamic modifications that increases power without increasing emissions.

Front-and-center is the 16% increase in raw power, bringing the engine up to 278 hp, from 240 hp.  Torque was boosted by 5% to 580 Nm, from 550 Nm.  Still, the tuning outfit claims that, “The Clean Diesel still remains as economic as before its power upgrade in Bavaria.”

Aerodynamic upgrades include exhaust covers, rear skirt, side skirts, and wing extensions.  20- or 22-inch diamond-cut wheels are available in silver or matte black.  The company has several other options on offer, including a quad-pipe exhaust, 30mm lowered suspension, and sport brakes.

The set of upgrades is already up on Abt Sportsline’s website.  Pricing was not detailed.

ABT Sportsline has released details of its new Golf GTD. The car is based on the new Golf TDI with a 103kW (140hp) 2.0 TDI engine, but the more powerful factory GTD makes 125kW (170hp). ABT engineers have improved both power and torque to give it 140kW (190hp) and maximum torque of 390Nm. Zero to 100km/h is reached in 7.1 seconds and top speed is 230km/h. Driving the front wheels is a 7-speed DSG transmission. Fuel consumption figures were not provided but ABT says its car remains fuel efficient with low C02 emissions.

Exterior modifications include a new front grille, front skirt, side skirts, a rear skirt, a rear wing and a four-pipe rear muffler. The wheels and tyres can be selected in either 18-inch or 19-inch sizes. The suspension can be lowered by 30mm for improved handling and performance. It does not do the overall looks any harm either.

Because of these enhancements ABT – the biggest tuner of Volkswagen/ Audi vehicles – changed the GTD abbreviation to stand for “Gewinner Tanken Diesel” or “Winners tank diesel” instead of the official Gran Touring Diesel.

Following the recently reported MTM Audi S4 enhancement, Abt Sportsline takes the Audi S4 into RS4 territory.

The German tuner is now offering a package that provides a considerable kick upstairs in power to the standard Audi S4 model. The S4’s already hefty 3.0 liter TFSI V6 is dialed up to 435 hp (320 kW) and 520 Nm of torque as opposed to the production version’s 333 hp (245 kW) and 440 Nm.

The resulting performance improvement is evidenced by the new numbers – 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, compared to 5.1 seconds for the Audi dealer-issued S4. The juiced up model also offers a top speed of 282 km/h (175mph), with Abt having lifted the electronic limiter that keeps Audi’s S4 maxed out at 250 km/h (155mph).

Abt promises lots of driving pleasure (to borrow a phrasing from Audi arch-competitor BMW) from the performance kit and assures us it is perfectly in tune with the Ingolstadt-based brand’s 7-speed DSG gearbox in keeping the Abt S4 properly humming along.

The Allgäu-based tuner also offers a quad sports exhaust unit and 18 to 20-inch Abt or BR wheels for the S4.

Abt likely intends this performance tuning package to go along with the styling kit it offers for the A4 model range seen in the photos of the white and silver A4.

Abt website prices the upgrade at €3800 plus €60 for installation and €130 for TÜV certification.

Racing and tuning house Abt Sportline finally reveals expected upgrades to the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI. Previously Abt had released aero kit and modest performance upgrades for the Golf VI at Essen last year.

The standard GTI is known for producing 155kW (211hp) out of its 2.0-litre four-pot turbo engine. Power has been upped to 191kW (260hp) which is the same as the Mazda3 Speed/MPS. The engine size remains the same but the ECU and exhaust system have been reworked. A new turbocharger has also been used. It does not stop there however. A second package takes the power up to 221kW (300hp) which is just 4kW (5hp) short of a BMW 135i. Performance is 0 – 100km/h in 6 seconds.

Abt suspension springs and brakes are fitted and the suspension system itself is lowered by 30mm. A four-pipe exhaust emits a sporty sound to compliment the kit. The body kit consists of LED lights, a new Abt front grille, spoiler, side bar and a rear spoiler. There is also a front lip. Customers will have a choice of between 18-inch and 19-inch wheels.

The interior is different with red accents on the instrument panel, the dashboard, door trim and the steering wheel.

Pricing for the aerodynamic kit is €3,276 in Germany. To install and paint will cost €1,080 and €1,170 respectively. The 260hp package comes to €1,490, plus €60 installation and €130 TÜV-registration. The 300hp package is priced at €5,300 and that includes installation and TÜV-registration.

German tuners ABT Sportsline need your help.  The company is looking to throw together a 50th anniversary celebration featuring the best of their tuning history.

All current owners of an ABT Sportsline tuned car that was manufactured at least 20 years ago are invited to contact the company.  ABT is looking to hear from owners of all types of cars, including the Golf Breitbau and the DKW F12.

General Manager Hans-Jürgen Abt said, “With the approaching anniversary the longing has grown to see some family members again, who have left us over the years.”

The owner of the “best car will receive a unique prize, which is not on any price list.”  You will have the best chance of winning if your car is as true to its original form as possible.  The company says, “the more ABT there is inside, the better the chance of victory.”  The owner will also get an overnight stay in the Allgäu region of Germany, and a tour of ABT’s facilities hosted by Hans-Jürgen Abt and his partner/brother/racecar driver Christian Abt.

If you want to be involved, you can send an e-mail to company representative Florian Büngener at info[at]abt-sportsline.de.  Make sure you send along photos, too!

ABT has released a tuning kit for the facelift Audi A3. The tuner calls it AS3 and it’s more than just a cosmetic surgery. Getting into the exterior detail first we see that ABT has modified a few components such as the front grille, the bonnet, the fenders and the front bumpers. Even the front LED lights have changed shape form the standard bulbs.

The rest of the bodywork is made up of new side skirts, a front spoiler insert, fender inserts and a rear apron. ABT’s recognisable four tailpipe unit gives the cars more presence. ABT AR or BR alloy wheels measuring 18 or 19-inch are recommended for the AS3. The suspension has been lowered by 35mm to improve handling and agility.

For power ABT extracted even more juice out of the standard units in order to match looks with performance. So the baseline 1.4 TSI which normally comes in at 92kW (125hp) has been increased to 118kW (160hp). Audi produces a standard 118kW (160hp) 1.4 TSI as well but that has been bumped up to 154kW (210hp). The 2.0-litre petrol gets the most boost from what is comparatively a pedestrian 147kW (200hp) to 177kW (240hp).

On the diesel side the 2.0 TDI is puffed up to either 125kW (170hp) or 140kW (190hp) depending on where in the power band it starts in its normal life. ABT says fuel consumption and engine reliability have not been affected by these power increases.

ABT Sportline does a makeover of the Audi A5 Cabrio and calls its little reinvention the AS5.

First off, let’s have a look-see under the hood.

Well, ABT POWER provides some tweaking of the electronic engine management system which is offered on four different power plants. The 2.0 TFSI gets a substantial kick upstairs to 275 hp instead of the standard-issue 180 or 211. The 2.7 TDI is taken from 190 hp to a livelier 230. The 3.0 liter TDI diesel also gets an up-tuning to 282 hp from the production version’s 240.

Also available is the ABT POWER S package, which can do a little more to that 3.0 liter diesel engine to take it well past 300 horses to a power output of 310 hp and 610 Nm of dump-truck-like torque.

All models will come with the ABT or ABT Sports braking units in order to have on hand the heftier reigns to safely bring the AS5 Cabrio thoroughbred to a halt.

On the exterior we get the usual ABT grill, side skirts, new front and rear skirts with the standard ABT quad-exhaust. Both 19 and 20-inch wheels are available, in the “cool bold BR alloys” style. Also on offer are the more exclusive ABT wheel sets with high-performance tires for maximum road munching traction.

German tuners Abt Sportsline will be giving their new Abt Q5 a power boost. The company already increases horsepower on the 2.0-liter TFSI from 211 to 240, but the tuner firm says a 275hp upgrade will be available in due time. The 3.0-liter TDI is available with up 310 hp and 611 Nm of torque.

Along with this announcement, they released some new images of the SUV. Introduced in Essen, Abt’s Audi Q5 receives new styling from front-to-back and top-to-bottom, as well as performance upgrades. Modifications are done to each of the three engine choices, which begins with a 2.0-liter TDI getting a boost to 190 hp. Bigger brakes are included to keep the vehicle under control. The company’s Level Control air-spring suspension kit is an available option, with lowering springs as standard.

Other benefits include a custom built muffler which leads to quad-exhaust pipes. A new rear wing and apron, larger front grill, new front spoiler, large fender extensions, and door trims round out the list of body improvements. Abt has also added new 22-inch BR alloys, and carbon fiber pattern leather to the interior.

If you’re interested in purchasing an Abt Q5, you will be glad to know that the firm has sales partners in many major cities across the world. Sadly, they have no sales outlet in Australia/New Zealand.