Tuner ABT Sportsline Confirms FIA Formula E Entry

There are only three more spots left on the starting grid for the inaugural FIA Formula E championship set to commence next year. Drayson Racing (UK), China Racing, Andretti Autosport (US), Dragon Racing (US), e.dams (FR) and Super Aguri Formula E (JP) have already signed up and now the series gets its first entrants from Germany: tuner ABT Sportsline; the seventh squad so far.

The managing director of the company and racing team boss Hans-Jürgen Abt expressed his feelings on the matter, an interesting turn in the company’s history:

“We’re proud to have the opportunity to take part in the debut of this new racing series. Participating in the new FIA Formula E Championship marks a completely new chapter in our more than 60-year motorsport history… As a company that has been active in the field of regenerative powertrains and electric mobility we’re convinced of the series’ concept. It’s innovative, delivers motorsport at the highest level and a great show for fans around the world – all of which are a perfect fit for ABT Sportsline.”

The full competition name for the team will mirror that of the outfit’s DTM racing effort, called 'Audi Sport ABT Formula-E Team'. They will be taking part in all of the ten races, the first of which is set to take place in Beijing, China, on September 20, 2014, according to the official calednar.

Check out the two trailers for the series below!

By Andrei Nedelea

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ABT Raises the Audi S3's Performance Bar with 365HP Version

Mercedes has rightfully earned the bragging rights for the most potent series production hot hatch with the 355hp (360PS) A45 AMG, but if numbers are of concern, you can always drop some cash to tuners and get your ride up to spec.

ABT Sportsline has released a performance package for the Audi S3 that starts off with a kit boosting output of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged unit from 296hp (300PS) to 365hp (370PS) and peak torque from 380Nm to 460Nm.

With this newly found power, ABT's S3 cuts an impressive 0.5 seconds off the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint, dropping the run time from 5.1 seconds to 4.6 seconds, while along with the removal of the top speed limiter, the hatch can now reach 265km/h (164mph).

Available accessories and parts include fender inserts and a choice of alloy wheels, the largest of which is 20-inches in diameter shod in tires size 235/30 R20.

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ABT Sportsline Does the Audi A4 Facelift, S4 gets up to 435HP

Whenever Audi presents a new or a revised model, ABT Sportsline follows up with a host of upgrades. The refreshed Audi A4 / S4 sedan is no exception to the rule with the German tuning firm offering a number of styling and performance parts and accesories.
To give a more aggressive look to the facelifted A4's exterior, ABT designed a new aero kit that includes a front apron, rocker panels, a rear apron and diffuser combo, side air vents plus a three-piece boot lid spoiler that wraps around the body.

ABT Rolls Out Performance and Design Packages for Audi A1

The largest tuner of vehicles from the VW group has set its eyes on Audi's smallest model, the all-new A1 supermini, with the release of performance and styling packages. ABT's design proposal for the A1 comes in three flavors "KLECKS" (translates to 'splash'), "ALOHA" and "HIGH-VOLTAGE".

ABT Kicks Off 2012 VW Beetle Tuning Party with the Speedle

The 2012 VW Beetle tuning wars have began. Leaving aside the Beetle RS project with some very light styling modifications by the enthusiast website VWVortex that we showed you back in June, ABT Sportsline is the first mainstream tuning firm to take on the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, or as the company likes to call it, the Speedle.
The noted VW Group tuner said it is still working on the performance upgrades for the latest Beetle, which won’t arrive in customer hands until September, but it can give us an idea of what to expect based on its current offerings.

Volkswagen Transporter Tuned up by MR Car Design

Just because Volkswagen’s Transporter can be used in a professional manner moving goods, people or even both, doesn’t mean that tuners aren’t paying attention to it. On the contrary, the Transporter has received a lot of tuning love over the many years it has been in production. The tuning proposal for the pre-facelift Transporter you see pictured here comes from German aftermarket specialist, MR Car Design.

ABT Sportsline Presents its Tune on the 2012 Audi A6 Sedan

ABT Sportsline has released details on its first tuning operation performed on the latest generation Audi A6. The German aftermarket specialist proposes a series of power upgrades and a fairly cosmetic make up with various aero parts and new alloy wheel options.

Geneva 2011: ABT Carves a 620HP Beast out the Audi R8 V10 Spyder

At last year's Geneva motor show, VW Group specialist ABT unveiled a 600HP version of the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. The German tuning house returned to this year's edition of the Swiss show with an updated tune on Ingolstadt's flagship roadster model featuring 620 ponies and a red and black styling theme.

Geneva Preshow: ABT Adds Style and Power to New Audi A7 Sportback

Less than month after ABT announced its plans to unveil its tuning take on the new Audi A7 Sportback at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the Volkswagen Group specialist has shared the first photos and details on its available packages.

ABT Sportsline Readying New Audi Models for 2011 Geneva Motor Show

VW Group specialist ABT Sportsline will bring several Audi models to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, including the eye-catching R8 GTR with a chrome finish pictured above, as well as its newest tuning proposals for the A7 Sportback and 2012MY A6 sedan.
Alongside the R8 GT-R, A7 Sportback and A6, the German tuner will also be presenting a fourth model, which is being kept a secret for now. “We will be bringing along a sports car which I personally like a lot. For it shows our technical capabilities and offers a maximum level of driving enjoyment. I am looking forward to seeing how it is received by the public in Geneva," said the ABT general manager, Hans-Jürgen.

ABT Sportsline Presents Discrete Tuning Package for 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

According to ABT, the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg should be tuned without diluting its distinct character. As a result, the Bavarian specialist concentrated on increasing the power of the German SUV, while keeping the exterior changes to a minimum.

ABT Treats New Audi A8 with 385-Diesel-Ponies and Styling Kit

Not quite the Audi S8-alternative we were expecting from ABT, but the diesel-powered AS8 appears to be a promising start. Using the 2011 A8 with the 4.2-liter V8 TDI as a base, ABT Sportsline tweaked the turbo diesel engine boosting output from 350HP and 800Nm to 385HP and 880Nm / 649 lb-ft of peak torque.

As no ABT conversion would be complete without the usual styling upgrades, the German tuner bundled a body kit comprising of a front spoiler, side skirt, a somewhat discreet boot lid spoiler and a new rear apron housing a diffuser and the new quad tail pipes.

ABT Wraps the R8, A4 and Q7 in Mate Black Carbon Fiber Film

Matte colors are becoming extremely popular lately among enthusiasts and this is something that doesn't go by unnoticed from large tuning houses like ABT. The German customization firm not only presented a matte black film for the Q7 SUV but it also took a step further by introducing a new matte black carbon-fiber wrap that's available for the AS4, AS7 and R8 ABT vehicles as well as for the standard factory Audi A4, Q7 and R8 models. In both cases the film covers the bodywork from top to bottom. -Continued


ABT supports that the faux carbon-fiber film is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing as even the texture of the synthetic material has been precisely reproduced.

"When the vehicle is fully wrapped in Carbon Film, it appears more aggressive and dynamic", said Hans-Jürgen Abt, Managing Director of ABT Sportsline. Well maybe for Hans, but seeing R8 dressed in the faux carbon suite in the above picture, we think we'd prefer it in a simple matte black wrap. ABT has yet to announce pricing for its new wraparound matte colored films. (R8 Picture edited by Carscoop)