ABT Whips Up A Hot Audi A5 Cabrio

If there's one thing you can say about VW's and Audi's, it's that they have an impressive aftermarket. It seems a new model from the brand can't be on the market more than a month without a tuning company having a go at improving it in their own special way.  Today we'll take a look at ABT's newest offering, the AS5, based on the gorgeous new A5 Cabriolet.

Visually, the biggest change on the ABT car is the bespoke black front grille that minimizes the presence of the rather noticeable Audi "waterfall" grille as well as much more aggressive front fascia.  There are also aerodynamic side skirts, and an ABT rear bumper designed to integrate with quad-tip exhaust system.  Wheel options include 19 and 20" BR alloys in a rather well suited twisted-vane pattern.  I can dig it.  Not so hot to trot on the fender vents, though - they're played out like Lamborghini doors at this point.

Of course, under the hood is where the big changes are made.  ABT has multiple packages available depending on which engine you order:

-2.0TFSI Direct-Injection 4 cylinder: power jumps from 180 or 211 (stock) to 275 through software and hardware changes

-2.7L TDI V6: power increases from 190bhp to 230bhp

-3.0L TDI V6: two packages available, one bumping stock output from 240bhp to 282bhp.  There's a larger turbocharger available for this engine which further increases power to 310bhp(!) and 610nM of torque - which works out to 450 lb-ft of torque.  THAT sounds like the powertrain for me...

Of course, all these upgrades are worthless without the control to harness them, which is why ABT also offers suspension and brake upgrade packages to better take advantage of the other upgrades.

All of these parts are also available for the equally stunning A5 Coupe.  For more information, visit ABT's Website.