Audi Q8 50 TDI Gets Its ABT Makeover And 325HP To Go With It

Following a rather timid first attempt last year, ABT Sportsline is giving the Audi Q8 a proper styling and performance upgrade.

Debuting in Geneva next month, the aerodynamic kit and performance boost are aimed at enhancing the Q8’s sporty side. Design-wise, the aftermarket company has made significant changes inside and out that will surely be noticed this time.

On the outside, the Q8 gains a front skirt add-on with front blade and air inlet panels, a rear skirt set including add-on and fins, as well as a rear wing. All are available in a glossy black finish, as is the ABT lettering. The tuner also fitted the SUV with 10×22-inch ABT Sport GR wheels with concave rim base.

The massive alloys are available in matt black with a diamond-polished surface or in glossy black with diamond-polished rim flange. Come the Geneva Motor Show debut ABT will also unveil new 23-inch rims for the Q8.

For the cabin, the tuner offers a carbon fiber covers for the shift knob, shifting gate cover, as well as the seat frames. Furthermore, customers can have the start-stop switch cap in a metal finish as well as ABT integrated welcome lights that project the company logo onto the asphalt when the door is open.

To ensure the Audi Q8 gets a performance boost worthy of the styling upgrades, the 3.0-liter TDI engine received the ABT Engine Control (AEC) unit that unlocks 330 PS (325 hp) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque from the V6 unit.

Those are respectable gains over the stock Q8 50 TDI’s 286 PS (282 hp) and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque. We’re not told how the added power and torque improve performance, though. Besides the chip tuning, the aftermarket company fitted the Q8 with the ABT Level Control that enables electronic lowering of the standard air suspension for better cornering abilities and a more aggressive stance.