2009 ABT Audi Q5: The Seamless Blend of Sport and Luxury
As we enter into the last stretch of 2009, the year’s automotive landscape sees a new challenger rise, not content with sitting in the shadow of its predecessors. ABT, the world’s leading tuner of VW group vehicles, has set its sights on an Audi classic, revealing a reimagined version of the much-loved Audi Q5. This ABT Q5 manages to strike a harmonious balance between the elegant luxury of an SUV and the robust aggression of a sports vehicle. Is it a mere continuation of the lineage that started with the Touareg and later flowed through the AS7 and Tiguan, or does the ABT Q5 bring something more to the SUV table? Let's delve into the details.
Imposing Aesthetics: Not Just Another Pretty Face
The new ABT Q5 stands as a testimony to the design philosophy that ABT has cultivated over the years, offering a visually striking embodiment of power and confidence. With its aesthetic extending from the bold front spoiler and front grille, down to the fender extensions and door trims, every design element is crafted to ooze power. The combination of a rear wing and rear apron brings a concluding touch of harmonious integration to this redesigned masterpiece.
Moving into the interior, the ABT Q5 continues to exhibit class, featuring decorative carbon leather inserts that create a chic, stylish ambiance, one that is expected from a premium SUV. The exhaust system is no less impressive, with the ABT muffler and its quartet of tailpipes clearly hinting at the sporting DNA lurking within the Q5. Not to be left out, the recommended use of BR alloys, especially the eye-catching 22-inch variant, enhances the vehicle's imposing stance and offers a unique visual appeal.
Under the Hood: Muscle Meets Grace
But the beauty of the ABT Q5 is more than skin-deep. The engineers at ABT have worked their magic to bolster the engine capabilities of the SUV. With ABT POWER, the 2.0 TDI variant of the Q5 has been enhanced to deliver a robust 190 HP (140 kW), a significant boost from the standard 170 HP (125 kW).
Equally impressive, the 3.0 TDI variant, featuring ABT POWER S, now puts forth a hefty 310 HP (228 kW) on asphalt. Backed by an enormous torque of 610 Nm, the SUV maintains its robustness in any driving scenario. Moreover, the 2.0 TSI model, also powered by ABT, is now tuned to offer a sportier 240 HP (177 kW), promising an upgrade to 275 HP (203 kW) in the near future.
Tuning in Tandem: The Role of Chassis and Brakes
Power, though central, isn't everything in a vehicle's performance. Understanding this, ABT has crafted a finely tuned package to lower the car's centre of gravity and included appropriate springs. Paired with the ABT Sports braking unit, complete with flexible steel brake lines and large brake discs, the new Q5 is set to deliver superior braking performance with lower fading during repeat braking maneuvers. All these enhancements work together to ensure that control is never compromised, no matter the power under the hood.
The ABT Q5: More Than Meets the Eye
From the streets to the opera house, and everywhere in between, the 2009 ABT Audi Q5 seamlessly combines sport and luxury, promising to captivate the market with its redesigned aesthetics and enhanced performance. While it continues the ABT tradition of refined SUVs, it carves out its own unique place, raising the bar for future iterations. The ABT Q5 seems to declare: 'An SUV can be more than just an SUV'.
-Ed
2009 ABT Audi Q5
