Perhaps lost just a tad in the hoo-ha about Audi’s current naming palaver is the fact that the latest S5 - what would have been the S4 previously - is a genuinely nice car. The new look is smart, as is the interior refresh, and the mild hybrid powertrain promises the best of both worlds: V6 charisma, with some electric efficiency on top - and no need to plug in.
It all bodes very well for the upcoming RS5, then, which is expected to boast something like 500hp from a plug-in powertrain and ramp up the styling menace even further. But Abt has something tempting in the meantime, a €15k upgrade package of more power, noise, and attitude to create an ‘even more compelling character that fully unleashes the S5’s athletic potential’.
The main news is the Abt Power S performance upgrade, a software tickle that liberates 440hp and 442lb ft from the 3.0-litre V6. There’s a quadrumvirate of 102mm exhaust pipes, too, for a bit more punch to the sound and look. Speaking of which, Abt’s overhaul introduces some new springs to drop the ride height an inch, with 20-inch wheels for ‘a perfectly balanced package that confidently transfers the increased performance to the road.’ Certainly anyone who reckons an S5 is a bit too subtle will find a lot to like here.
An Abt aero package and smattering of accents inside complete the makeover. In a colour other than grey, it’d probably make even more impact. Abt is asking for €15k (£12,500) to kit out an S5 Avant like this; interestingly, there’s no mention of a saloon yet, but you’d think that’ll be along soon enough. And there are Launch Editions available for almost £15k less than a brand-new one…
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