Audi R8 V10 gets tuned up by ABT

Mon, 20 May 2013

Bavarian tuners ABT have done another job on the Audi R8 V10, pumping up the 5.2-liter FSI V10 from 525 horsepower to 600 hp, and torque from 391 pound-feet to 406 lb-ft. With 50 more horsepower than the R8 V10 Plus - but not the extreme weight-loss scheme - ABT claims a 0-62 mile per hour run of 3.5 seconds, the same as the R8 V10 Plus, and a top speed for the mid-engined coupe of 198 miles per hour "is no problem at all."

Managing all that speed are the aero tweaks provided by a comprehensive body kit including a rear wing, a lowered and beefed-up suspension, a stainless steel exhaust and 19-inch wheels in two different designs.

The press release below has a few more bits of info on the matter. And while ABT hasn't put a price on the Audi upgrades, but it's safe to say that nearly 200 mph in an R8 won't come cheap.

ABT Sportsline 2013 – Press release CW20
The new ABT R8 V10 – elegant sportiness all over

It is the first Audi mid-engine sports car that has found its way from the race track to the road, as it were. And for ABT Sportsline this dream car also is a real success. The globally leading tuner of cars produced by the Volkswagen Group uses ABT POWER and extravagant and stylish elements to underscore the normal Audi R8 portfolio's dynamism and sportiness in a consistent fashion (The ABT R8 GTR as a special edition is the tuned top model).

The ABT R8 V10 is an extreme athlete with a lot of motor sport experience. The 5.2 FSI engine (serial 525 hp / 386 kW) has been "ABT POWERed" and now shows 600 PS / 441 kW; torque now being 550 Nm. It only takes 3.5 seconds to go from naught to 100 kph, and it goes without saying that a top speed of 320 kph is no problem at all. To make the super sportsman roadworthy, the uprating is complemented by ABT suspension springs that make for an adequate lowering and an even better road behaviour. For the V8 version, ABT also has coilovers. The Bavarian specialists see to a perfect roadholding, even at the limit.

"The athletic sportiness cannot only be felt: this power and dynamism are also reflected in the car's looks," says Hans-Jürgen Abt, the Bavarian tuning company's CEO. ABT Sportsline has developed style elements for the R8 that are mostly made of clearly visible carbon. Weight reduction was as important here as was a striking appearance. Front skirt and grille make the two-seater's front appear even more energetic. The also specially developed side skirts underscore the car' sporty character and at the rear end a wing and rear skirt leave the right impression. This is a successful interplay that also makes for an ideal weight reduction. This R8 has a weight-optimised exhaust system made of stainless steel. And finally it's the sport-type wheels in 9 and 11 x 19 inches made by ABT Sportsline with tires in 235/35 and 305/30 R19 that "make the world go round": these wheels are perfect, whether it's the CR or the brand new, forged and very light-weight ER-F.

The ABT R8 is consistently sporty and powerful, assertive and superior, down to the last detail. That's how winners look... and drive, and that's what ABT Sportsline, the traditional tuning company, stands for.

The new ABT R8 V10 – data and facts
ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

Engine: 5.2 FSI, V10, 5.204 cc capacity
Performance Tuning: ABT POWER
Performance: 600 HP/441 kW (standard: 525 PS/386 kW), 550 Nm (standard: 530 Nm)

ABT AERODYNAMICS
ABT Front skirt (weight optimized, CFK)
ABT Front grille
ABT Rear skirt (weight optimized, CFK)
ABT Rear wing (weight optimized, CFK)
ABT Side skirts (weight optimized, CFK)

ABT WHEEL TECHNOLOGY
Design CR and ER-F in 9 and 11 x 19 inch with tires in 235/35 and 305/30 R19

ABT EXHAUST TECHNOLOGY
ABT exhaust system (stainless steel, weight optimized)

ABT CHASSIS TECHNOLOGY
ABT Suspension springs (V10)
ABT height adjustable suspension kit

By Jonathon Ramsey