VW Group tuning specialist ABT Sportsline
has tapped into the world of plug-in hybrids for the first time with the new
Audi Q5 TFSI e Quattro.
The premium compact SUV packs the ‘ABT
Power’ performance upgrade that has lifted the output of the 2.0-liter
turbo-four from 252 PS and 370 Nm of torque to
310 PS and 420 Nm.
With the additional 143 PS and 350 Nm produced by the electric motor that’s integrated
into the seven-speed S Tronic transmission, the total system output grows to
425 PS and the torque to 550 Nm.
In stock form, the Q5 TFSI e Quattro comes
with a combined 357 PS and 500 Nm, offering a
0-100 km/h of 5.3 seconds and a 239 km/h top speed. The
German company wasn’t ready to release the new performance numbers for its tuned
variant, so we don’t know how quick it is.
The exterior of the vehicle still looks
the same, bar the 20-inch alloy wheels from the tuner’s GR series, portrayed
here in glossy black with diamond-machined rim flange. These are also available
in matte black with diamond-machined surface as an alternative.
Nothing major has been changed inside
either, but fans of the model developed in Ingolstadt will notice that there is
a start/stop switch cap and custom shift knob cover, while the new integrated
entrance lights project the ABT logo onto the ground when opening the doors.
The Q5 TFSI e Quattro slots at the top of the Q5 range and is priced identical
to the 349 HP SQ5 in the U.S., at US$ 52,900, or US$ 9,600 more than the entry-level
grade.
