Golf R Goes Mental With 400 HP Tuning Kit from ABT in Essen

400 horsepower is just a number, but to get that much from a 2-liter turbo engine is very cool. That's like a Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost having 200 horsepower. Yet German tuner ABT has managed to squeeze out 400 HP, 25% more than standard, from the engine of the Golf R just in time for the Essen Motor Show.

If an extra 100 HP doesn't impress you, consider the top speed of the car, which is now in excess of 300 km/h (186 mph). Think about it! Going that fast in a Golf is something completely unnatural and strange. It sounds so naughty that it should be against the law… and it probably is.

Right, let's get to the actual tuning part of the project. The turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder has been fitted with a sport-type catalytic converter, which frees up the back-pressure and allows the engine to breath more freely. For those worried about lag and reliability, ABT still sells the 370 HP turbo kit. Both the ABT Power and the new strong ABT Power S kit are based upon the specially developed New Generation ABT control unit. The base upgrade can be yours for €2,350 ($2,920), while the Power S costs €4,200 ($4,200).

“To top our previous uprating to 370 hp, we have not only optimized the ABT Engine Control software but also installed a sport-type catalytic converter,“ says CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt.

Cosmetic changes to the Golf R are subtle so as not to alert rival racers about the monstrous power of this car. But ABT has installed a height adjustable sports suspension system that enhances the handling of the car by lowering the center of gravity. It has helped bring the Golf R not only 45mm (1.7 inches) closer to the ground, but also closer to its 20-inch alloy wheels. The LED headlight now have a subtle brow, while the exhaust tips and VW badges are blacked out. That's it!

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