ABT’s VW T-Roc Wants To Be A High-Riding Golf GTI

The Volkswagen T-Roc isn’t anywhere as exciting as Wolfsburg’s Golf GTI, but with ABT’s upgrades, it edges closer to the compact hot hatch.

For starters, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine delivers 228PS (225hp / 168kW) and 360Nm (266lb-ft) of torque. The 38PS (37hp / 28kW) and 40Nm (30lb-ft) of torque increase over the stock model comes courtesy of the tuner’s Engine Control unit.

In this flavor, the Volkswagen T-Roc SEL’s lump works together with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox that channels the output to the 4Motion all-wheel drive system. The standard 0-100km/h (0-62mph) acceleration takes 7.2sec and top speed is 216km/h (134mph), but ABT doesn’t say anything about the specs that come with the power boost.

Instead, they’re also offering owners of the compact crossover a set of suspension springs, which lower the ride height by 35 to 40mm (1.38-1.57in), making it “much more dynamic”, in their own words.

Finally, there’s no body kit fitted to this Volkswagen T-Roc, as ABT Sportsline chose to keep things simple. As a result, the vehicle has welcomed various sets of aftermarket wheels, from the DR, FR and ER-C series, 18-, 19- and 20-inch in size, which can be had in different finishes.