ABT Gives Us 60 More Reasons To Like The Audi RS4 Avant

In stock form, the Audi RS4 Avant is less powerful than one of its main rivals, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, but that’s not much of a problem these days.

ABT Sportsline’s engine control unit, created for the 2.9-liter twin-turbo that’s shared with the RS5 Coupe, increases the engine’s output by 60 horses, from 450PS (444hp) and 600Nm (443lb-ft) of torque to 510PS (503hp) and 680Nm (502lb-ft).

Perhaps this sounds like a modest upgrade, but at least now the Audi RS4 Avant can now wrestle with the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Estate in terms of power. The latter uses a larger 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 510PS (503hp) and 700Nm (516lb-ft), so the two are evenly matched.

In a straight line, the Mercedes needs 4.1sec to reach 100km/h (62mph) from a standstill, which is identical to the stock RS4, so with ABT’s upgrades, Ingolstadt’s super wagon should (probably) be faster.

The tuner is offering other upgrades for the potent premium estate, such as a new suspension and sports stabilizers for both axles. Said to “exclude rolling motion during fast cornering”, these work hand in hand with new 20-inch wheels, which can be painted in mystic black, glossy black, or matte black.

Besides presenting their latest project, ABT Sportsline has announced its presence at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in early March. According to the company’s CEO, Hans-Jurgen Abtwith, they have “a little surprise” in store for the show, which may (or may not) be the recently unveiled RS5-R, a 530PS (523hp) version of the RS5 Coupe.