BANG! Audi S5 V6T w/ ARMYTRIX Cat-Back Valved Exhaust

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Hide Your Children: The ABT RS6-R Thunderbus

Hide Your Children: The ABT RS6-R Thunderbus

These cars make it possible for the happily married man or woman to inject a little bit of fossil-burning fun into their lives without compromising on practicality. Mercedes has its AMG models, BMW has its teutonic M division and Audi has quattro GmbH responsible for the S and RS models. 

The chunkiest of them all – the RS6 – came out at the end of 2012 sporting a 4.0-litre V8 twin turbo motor and enough luggshury to waft five people in comfort very swiftly across the German landscape. It was a fast-moving, mile-munching ship that quickly became popular among enthusiasts.With a power output of 560PS and a top speed electronically limited to 250km/h, this was enough to do the school run in peace, followed by a generous shopping session, and then be driven back home as if you had forgotten to turn off the stove. At this point, most rational humans would think, ‘Ample power, plenty of space, peace and sheer luxury – this is it!’

This is where ABT Sportsline comes in. These guys are loosely related to the Audi works DTM team involving our own Mattias Ekström. When it comes to extracting power from Audis while keeping the car driveable and more challengingly – street legal in Germany, the engineers at ABT aren’t exactly what you’d call sane.

They’re the kinda guys who will look at a small aircraft carrier and suggest it needs a power boost.So when Audi launched the RS6 they quickly got to work at their headquarters in the little town of Kempten in Allgäu, Germany, adjacent to the building where their DTM race cars are built.

After nearly two years of intense engineering and testing they came up with this, the ABT RS6-R.If a very strong muscle and a very powerful explosion were to mate, this would be the result. Sitting here, black-on-black, this car just oozes menace.

One of the first things ABT got to work on was the power, and there’s a good chunk of it – a full 170PS up from stock to be precise. ABT achieves this using a performance package they call ABT Power. This includes an extensive ECU upgrade and a custom stainless steel exhaust system complete with a Y-pipe and a sports catalytic convertor.

Do we really need a business estate with 730 horsepower? With its extremely low production run and a price tag just shy of 200,000 euros, I know I can never afford the ABT RS6-R. But at the same time, I am extremely glad I live in a world that facilitates the existence of a batsh!t-insane car like this.

ABT Sportsline RS6-R

Engine: 

Audi 4.0L TFSI V8, ABT Power ECU upgrade, ABT stainless steel exhaust system with Y-pipe & sports catalytic converter, black ABT tail pipes

Driveline

Audi 8-speed automatic

Suspension/Brakes

ABT adjustable coilovers, RS6 carbon ceramic disc brakes

Wheels/Tires:

ABT DR wheels 22×10-inch +52 offset, Dunlop 295/25ZR22 tires

Exterior:

ABT front lip with blades, air inlet covers, side skirt attachments with side blades, rear skirt attachment (all red carbon fibre); ABT carbon fibre rear spoiler, ABT carbon fibre mirror covers, ABT fender inserts

Interior

ABT sports steering wheel with LED shift lights & carbon shift paddles, ABT floor mats, ABT embroidery on seat headrests, red carbon fibre insert

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