German tuning firm ABT Sportsline has turned its attention to an unlikely product from the Volkswagen Group portfolio - the T5 Bus getting its latest raft of upgrades, which under the bonnet are known as the ABT Power New Generation (PNG) - presumably the name was inspired by Prince's 1990-2009 backing band.
Exterior
ABT gives the T5 a 'comprehensive aerodynamics package', which comprises front, rear and side skirts, a rear spoiler, a revised front grille and the addition of daytime running lights for both short and long wheelbase models. This aero kit is sculpted from heavy-duty, PUR-RIM plastic. At the back, quad exhaust tips peek out as an indicator of the stainless steel four-branch exhaust ABT fits as part of the work.
Mechanicals
ABT is focusing on the top-spec, twin-turbo version of the 2.0-litre TDI engine, which it boosts from 180hp and 400Nm as standard to the 200hp and 440Nm headline figures. It claims this isn't just a re-flash of the existing chip, though, as the heart of the ABT PNG upgrade is a custom-developed control unit with its own specific software. "The resulting durability, efficiency and power are like a new engine's characteristics, rather than a simple uprating of the existing set-up," says ABT's CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt. "We also provide extensive quality guarantees."
ABT also offers the PNG for the petrol-fuelled 2.0 TSI T5 with 204hp, which takes it to 240hp. The company will fit uprated springs or a full sports suspension kit to your Bus, should you fancy it.
Anything else?
Don't despair if you've got one of the lesser 2.0 TDI models - ABT provides the Power First Generation (PFG) upgrade for the 84-, 102- and 140hp diesels.