What’s the news?
The latest iteration of the Volkswagen Golf R has not even begun to appear on owner’s driveways yet already ABT has released a hotter version. The self-professed ‘largest tuner of the Volkswagen Group’s brands’ has just announced its ABT Power New Generation Golf R which is running no less than 370hp and 460Nm of torque. With 300hp and 380Nm the standard car is no slouch but the ABT model shaves over half a second off the 0-100km/h time (4.5 seconds compared to 5.1) and ups the top speed from 250km/h to 265km/h.
With increases of almost 25 per cent over stock you would imagine the ABT upgrades would involve new turbos, a freer flowing exhaust system and an optimised intercooler – none of which come cheap. Yet the only thing that has changed is the engine’s control unit. The ABT unit features specially written software to unleash the potential of the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, which amazingly, despite the power increase uses the same amount of fuel as the car available from you local Volkswagen dealership.
Anything else?
In addition to the new control unit ABT will also sell you a complete bodykit for your Golf R. Comprising of a front grille, front spoiler with an integrated blade, head light covers, mirror caps, side skirt add-ons, a rear wing, tail gate and rear skirt we would probably leave them off the options list and roll stock instead. Though the 20-inch ER-C alloys do look nice...