Bavarian tuner ABT has been fiddling with the Audi SQ5 since the early days of the hot crossover and has been offering an upgrade package for the latest generation for quite some time. Now, the aftermarket specialists are revising the temporary top dog in the Q5 family to give it a wider array of upgrades for those who simply can’t wait much longer for Audi Sport to come out with the RS Q5.

Starting with the exterior, ABT has worked its magic to develop a more aggressive and slightly wider body kit, which they say makes the SQ5 “look even more dominant in a rearview mirror.” It’s a pretty comprehensive package, encompassing those wide hips granted by the fender extensions, along with a more in-your-face front skirt, and muscular side skirts making the performance crossover more imposing.

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The back of the SQ5 has also gone through several changes as it now features a newly developed exhaust system with real tips covered in carbon replacing the decorative chrome housings of the standard model. These quad tips flank a pseudo diffuser to help the crossover send out a sportier vibe also enhanced by the prominent roof-mounted spoiler.

Multiple alloy wheels options are available, ranging in size from a 20-inch set to this massive 22-inch making the Audi SQ5 look sportier. ABT’s pièce de résistance is a coilover suspension with springs allowing owners to lower the crossover by as much as 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) to make the vehicle seem more like a big hatchback rather than a CUV. The tuner says it’s not just for show as it also helps with handling.

It wouldn’t be a complete tuning package without some changes underneath the hood where the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 has been tuned to develop a muscular 425 horsepower (313 kilowatts) and 405 pound-feet (550 Newton-meters) of torque, up from the series 354 hp (260 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm).

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The newly gained force must have slashed the 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) sprint time from the standard 5.4 seconds needed by the stock SQ5. There’s no word about top speed, but Audi installs an electronic limiter programmed to kick in at 155 mph (250 kph).

ABT hasn’t released images with the interior, though it says some of the trim pieces have been covered in real carbon fiber, including the start/stop button and the gearstick cover. As a final touch, the tuner’s logo is projected onto the ground once you open the door.

Source: ABT

Gallery: Audi SQ5 by ABT

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Striking in power and design – ABT Audi SQ5 with Widebody Aerokit and 425 HP

ABT Sportsline takes the three-liter turbo gasoline engine in the new Audi SQ5 to a fiery 425 HP (313 kW) and a torque increase of 10% to 550 Nm. A bold statement from the world’s largest tuner for vehicles from the Audi and Volkswagen Group, as the production version offers 354 HP (260 kW) – just like its predecessor with compressor. After installation of the additional ABT Engine Control unit, there is definitely more than enough power for a commanding appearance in any situation! And ABT Sportsline also gives the SQ5 the visible tailpipes back. On the production model, the rear end features two decorative chrome brackets, while the real exhaust is hidden. The great-sounding ABT Carbon Tailpipes are part of the new ABT Widebody Aerokit, which makes the SQ5 look even more dominant in a rear view mirror.

The kit includes an aggressively designed front skirt, fender extensions, door strip attachments and a distinctive rear skirt set. Optionally, SQ5 owners can order a particularly attractive ABT Rear Wing. But having something slapped on its roof certainly does not bring the ABT SQ5 to its knees. That is ensured by the new ABT Coilover Suspension Springs which provide lowering of 35 to 60 mm. That benefits the appearance and the handling.

But the ensemble is not complete without a set of matching ABT Alloy Wheels, which are available in different designs, sizes and finishes: “The wide-body version even makes it possible to mount 22 inch sport rims to create an even clearer distinction from the production models,” CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt explains. These are available in the GR, DR and FR designs with TÜV certificate. Additional alloy wheels in 20 and 21 inch sizes are available as an alternative.

That this is not just any standard SQ5 should also be evident on the inside, though. ABT therefore offers the ABT Start-Stop Button and the ABT Gearstick Cover made from real carbon as additional extras. “You will never want to get out of this car again,” Hans-Jürgen Abt jokes. But when you do, the optional ABT Integrated Entrance Light nonchalantly projects the logo of the Bavarian tuner onto the ground when the door is opened.

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