ABT Audi TT-Limited Wide Body - Front Angle, 2002 #4

Can performance ever be a sin? "No", says Hans-Jurgen Abt, managing director of Abt Sportsline, with a wide grin, and looks satisfied to the IAA-debut of the most extreme tuning interpretation of the Audi TT. The shape leaves no doubt: this is the road-going version of the racing car from the DTM (German Touring Car Masters), that has matured to a multiple race winner this season.

Two well-known Abt highlights played a role in the concept of the TT-limited wide-body: the TT-Sport and the TT-limited. In the past few month, both of them have attracted many customers and even more fans. With the limited wide body, the Abt team is now showing a spectacular synthesis of its two most extreme tuning versions of the TT. Thus, the successful company from Kempten demonstrates the state-of-the-art in TT-tuning.

This becomes also clear to the average layman, who might be led to believe that the TT-limited wide-body has got lost from the race track directly on the open road. Responsible for this is the spectacular bodywork kit. As a result of extensive wind tunnel tests, the specialists from Kempten have established an aerodynamic kit, which results into more downforce and therefore a better road-holding. No matter if on local roads or on the motorway. And, of course, on the race track. For instance at the Nurburgring, where Laurent Aiello has scored two brilliant victories for the Team Abt Sportsline with the Hasseroder-yellow Abt-Audi TT-R. The limited wide body not only shares the front spoilers and the extended fenders with the race car, but also the side skirts, a rear wing and a complicated diffuser, which gives downforce at the rear. The several carbonfibre parts also add to the racy feeling.

The technicians that built the limited wide body have also used racing experience while conceiving the suspension. Christian Abt himself has taken care of the set-up. The professional racing driver opted for Abt wheels of the type A27 (9 x 19 inches at the front, 9.5 x 19 inches at the rear). ContiSportContact tyres with 235/35 size have been mounted on the front wheels, 275/30 tyres on the rear wheels.

Aerodynamics, suspension and the impressive sport braking system - all of this serves for controlling the fireworks, that the Abt-technicians are lighting underneath the bonnet. 228 kW (310 hp) are the result of a power boost, that turns the standard 165 kW (225 hp) strong engine into a racing machine. An Abt turbocharger with intercooler and exhaust system allow the standard power plant to breathe freely. A top speed of approx. 254 kph and an acceleration from 0-100 kph in approx. 5.6 seconds speak for themselves. The car shown at the IAA is a right-hand-driven version for the British market. Also in the UK, Abt Sportsline has many fans. The fascinating TT-limited wide body will surely excite them.