The Audi SQ5 TDI tests ABT's forbidden fruit to come close to 400 CV

It was a few months ago when Audi unveiled its new diesel performance offensive to the world, something that was not well received by many lovers of the S and RS models from the German brand. Until a few years ago, only the Q5 and Q7 used diesel engines in their sportiest variants, but it was in 2019 that their siblings in the range, the A5, A6 and A7, succumbed to that lifeblood as well. However, ABT, far from seeing the use of these engines as something negative, has decided to play with the SQ5 TDI and tempt it to increase its power.

The concept of the sporty SUV is taking hold more and more, and the German tuner has wanted to take advantage of the warm reception to give the Q5 a slight “spark.” With this premise, ABT has resorted to its best tricks to squeeze out every last drop of power and sportiness from the four-ring SUV, a vehicle that in its S variant already stands out for a considerable level of performance.

And the thing is that Audi does not mess around when it comes to creating a sporty vehicle, regardless of whether it is diesel, petrol or electric. The letters SQ5 take care of installing in the heart of the German SUV a 3.0-litre V6 engine capable of producing 347 CV and a whopping 700 Nm of torque, figures that catapult it to 100 km/h in an impressive 5.1 seconds.

But we already know all too well ABT’s dissatisfaction, which is why it has decided to bring out the hidden potential of the Audi SQ5. To achieve this, the brand’s engineers have resorted to a new power-upgrade kit capable of increasing both power and torque up to 384 CV and 760 Nm respectively. Thanks to this new power threshold, the Audi SUV reduces the sprint from 5.1 to 4.9 seconds.

Accompanying this increase in performance is a spicier look, a feature that stands out through new 22-inch wheels with a design capable of improving aerodynamics. At the same time, the coilover-type suspension can lower the body height by between 35 and 60 mm, thus providing better dynamic behaviour and a more aggressive appearance.

As the final touch we can see a ducktail-type spoiler, a diffuser with a quad cylindrical exhaust outlet finished in carbon fibre and a more pronounced splitter. In this way, ABT has made sure that the Audi SQ5 becomes an even more imposing vehicle, something that can be accentuated with the installation of the wide body kit that the German company also offers.