Abt shows AS5 at Essen

This is the Abt Sportsline AS5, a car designed to appear as powerful as it does unobtrusive, all while delivering on the promises of performance its confident styling commits to. The new car is being exhibited all week at the Essen Motor Show in Germany.

In achieving the balance between elegance and sportiness, while retaining the Audi Coupe's refined character, the AS5 sports a modest Abt body kit, with somewhat more extravagant two-toned body panels. Abt Sportsline describe the car's style as that of beauty and uniqueness.

And so with a subtly aggressive front skirt highlighting the front fog lights and Audi grille as well as striking side features, fenders and air inlets, there is little point in arguing. At the rear, a new Abt skirt harmonises with new 4-pipe exhausts and rear spoiler. Abt recommend complementing new 20-inch alloy wheels with an imposing five-spoke design that creates an illusion of movement at standstill.

But understated design does not transfer to that of understated performance, with the Essen-exhibited Abt AS5 delivering a powerful 300 hp (221 kW) 3.0 TDI model to showgoers. The Abt Power S upgrade provides an increase of 60 hp over the production version's 240 hp (176 kW) with torque of 600 Nm being generated at 2,400 rpm. On the tarmac, acceleration to 100 kph (62 mph) is reached from standstill in exactly 5.3 seconds, while the AS5 is capable of a 264 kph (164 mph) top speed.

Keeping the AS5 on the road are a host of refined components including Abt thread sports suspension and an Abt brake system, developed with motor sport professional Christian Abt. The cabin is accentuated by Abt aluminium pedals and gear shift knob as well as a leather and carbon-look Abt multifunction sports steering wheel.

Unobtrusive design and powerful appearance - this is what the Abt AS5 stands for. With a discerning eye on the detail Abt enhances the elegant Audi Coupé with its breathtaking, pleasing contours and the stretched flanks. The team from Kempten has managed to upgrade the unique vehicle without changing its character. With the two coloured paint and the Abt body kit, the AS5 appears like a mannequin in an extravagant designer tailor-made suit.The front skirt, in which a grid element accents the front fog lights and the single-frame grill, the strikingly curved lateral parts, the fender insets and the gill-shaped air inlets form a shapely unit. The Coupé is a unique and beautiful car, no matter from which perspective. The rear skirt inset with the diffuser excellently harmonizes with the 4-pipe rear muffler, together with the perfectly designed rear spoiler it accentuates the rear of the vehicle. As ideal complement, Abt recommends the new BR wheel in 20 inch. With its superposed spokes, the wheel seems to rapidly move forward although it is standing still.

The Abt AS5 is not only optically a real sports car. In Essen it is presented with the powerful 3.0 TDI engine which, thanks to Abt Power S, now brings 300 HP (221 KW) onto the road instead of the serial 240 HP (176 KW). The torque of 600 Nm is getting free at already 2400 rpm and provide for shear force in all situations. Also impressive is the acceleration of the self-igniting engine. Exactly 5.3 seconds needs the car from standing still to 100 km/h, the top speed is 264 km/h - values which suit to a sporty Coupé like the Abt AS5. In order that the impressive power remains controllable, Christian Abt, motor sport professional, excellently adjusted the Abt thread sports suspension in detail. And the Abt brake system with discs 380 millimeters diameter powerfully grips.Abt multifunctional sports steering wheel, soft nappa leather grip and carbon look leather adorn the driver's workplace. Abt aluminium pedals and gear shift knob complete the sporty accent in the interior. A successful masterpiece can be seen at the ESSEN MOTOR SHOW, the Abt AS5. The only downside is: It wants to be driven and this, unfortunately, is impossible in the exhibition hall.