Plug-in hybrid vehicles (that’s PHEV to those in ‘the know’) are a great way of getting into the world of electric motoring, but the technology hasn’t quite reached the world of performance cars yet. But Audi tuning legends Abt Sportsline are looking to change that, as the firm has just turned its attention to the Q5 PHEV.
Specifically, the company has tuned the Q5 55 TFSIe PHEV and it’s transformed the car from a sensible, if a bit mundane, SUV into a performance car with an electric kick. Abt has upgraded the Q5’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine from 249bhp to 306bhp, while leaving the hybrid system alone for a total power output of 419bhp and 550Nm of torque.
That’s right, the PHEV is more powerful than the 342bhp SQ5. Take out the hybrid motor and the petrol engine alone is almost as powerful as the 335bhp five-cylinder unit found in the RSQ3.
As the hybrid system has been left as standard, you still get the same 14.1kWh battery pack as the regular Q5 PHEV. That means you can travel up to 26 miles on electric energy alone, before firing up the full 419bhp powertrain.
You also get a few visual upgrades, including Abt GR 20-inch wheels, puddle lights that project the tuning arm’s logo onto the floor when you open the doors and a new cover for the gear selector.
There’s no word on pricing just yet, but Abt upgrades don’t come cheap. Expect the tuned Q5 PHEV to carry a significantly higher price than the standard car’s cost of £50,000.
Keyword: Abt Sportsline boosts Audi Q5 55 PHEV to 419bhp