THE ABT SPORTSLINE UPGRADE FOR THE AUDI SQ8 IS BRILLIANT. IT BETTER BE FOR R750K.
When it comes to German performance SUVs, the Audi SQ8 is easily one of the best-looking and feature-packed you can buy today. These sizeable SUVs feature the stunning new-generation Audi design architecture, even in OEM form they please the eyes and have more than enough grunt to give you a mad amount of smiles for the miles. As good as they are, there are those out there who want more from their cars, and that’s where aftermarket tuners come into the picture. There are plenty of these to choose from, from huge well-known brand with a worldwide footprint to backyard kinds with a laptop and OBD cable. With something as expensive as the new Audi SQ8, it's probably best to have the car tweaked at a place with a good track record that also offers a warranty. One of the most well-known and trusted names in the aftermarket game is undoubtedly ABT Sportsline. The German tuner specialises in VAG cars, and when they release an upgrade kit or a makeover package you know it’s going to fit how they say it will and do what it’s advertised to do. If they do the job, you even get a decent warranty, which shows a healthy amount of trust in their own products. The latest upgrade package to be released by ABT Sportsline focuses on the aforementioned Audi SQ8. In OEM form, the big SUV is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that creates 373 kW of power with a decent 770 Nm of torque - needed to shift that 2,960 kg heft. The SUV can hit 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds and it has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. This changes a bit after it’s been through the house of ABT.
Back in October 2024, ABT Sportsline was one of the first vehicle tuners to present an extensive product range for the facelift of the Audi Q8 and SQ8. Equipped with the ABT Power S and 478 kW, the ABT SQ8 has already joined the ranks of the new Audi RSQ8, and now the specialists from the Allgäu region have pushed the performance of this imposing SUV even further. Power rises from that already powerful 373 kW to a pretty damn impressive 515 kW, and the torque gets a 100 Nm bump to 870 Nm - which makes it stronger than the OEM RSQ8. The ABT Power R performance upgrade includes a bigger intercooler, optimized airflow systems, and an ECU retune. ABT also put together an aerodynamics package, refinements to the interior and suspension modifications. The SUV by ABT wears a new front spoiler, a rear skirt insert, a rear spoiler and ABT HIGH-PERFORMANCE HR23 rims in Glossy Black, combined with 285/35 ZR23 tyres. The last bit is the 4-pipe tailpipe trim with a diameter of 95 mm. Inside there’s an ABT steering wheel badge, an ABT gear knob in glossy carbon fibre, door entry lighting, an ABT start-stop switch cap and customized ABT floor mats. A highlight is the ABT Level Control (ALC), that tweaks the standard air suspension and affords specific lowering levels. The Comfort level lowers the SUV by 25 mm on the front and rear axle, Dynamic level lowers it by 15 mm on the front and rear axle and Coffee Mode lowers it by a further 10 mm when stationary or at speeds of up to 5 km/h - stance life things. The package is set to retail for €34,900 incl. 19% VAT, plus assembly and TÜV approval. That sounds affordable, but here in our super-strong currency, that equates to nearly R750,000.
Take a look at the YouTube video that details the amazing results of the ABT package for the Audi SQ8 SUV that takes its power beyond that of the range-topping RSQ8. It totally transforms the manners of the SUV while still being luxurious and typically Audi: The new ABT Audi Q8 & SQ8 | Bodykit, Power & more | ABT Sportsline
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