Oil Burning Badass: Abt AS7
Click image to enlarge
Abt Sportsline has prepared a version of the Audi Q7 they call the AS7. Based on the Euro-market 3.0 TDI version of Audi's new ute, the AS7 gets a host of visual refinements that set it apart from its other bretheren on the "streets of tomorrow," as well as the requisite tweaks to coax more power from the engine.
A subtle body kit enhances the SUV's already muscular appearance, incorporating new skirts all around and more pronounced fender extensions. A contrasting coat of orange paint highlights the changes to good effect. An orange trim ring around the Audi's signature grille and orange badging complete the two-tone scheme. You know a tuner ride's going to have a fresh set of rims, and the one-piece 20" or 22" Abt Sportsline AR wheels filling the openings look great. The final visual touches are a new rear wing and a pair of double-barreled exhaust tips peeking through the revised rear skirt.
As for the engine mods, Abt massages the 3.0-liter diesel to produce 272 horsepower -- an increase of 39 over the stock engine's output -- and a very healthy 426 lb ft of torque. No performance numbers are provided on the Abt site, but with that much torque, the driver's highly sophisticated seat-of-the-pants instrumentation is sure to feel the added punch. Hot looks, usable power, and diesel efficiency? That'll work. Sign us up!
(Additional photos, press release after the jump)
[Source: Abt Sportsline]
Click any image to enlarge:
PRESS RELEASE:
Abt Q7 – a special version of the performance SUV
Abt Sportsline's presentation of the tuned version of the Audi Q7 coincides with the sales launch of the multifunctional sports car from Ingolstadt
Combined experience: For 25 years Audi has been manufacturing all-wheel driven cars and the successful Kempten-based company Abt Sportsline has been upgrading vehicles for just as long. In the Abt Q7 the know-how of both companies is combined in a car that meets highest demands.
It is more than a mere successor of the legendary Quattro: The Audi Q7 is the perfect car for every opportunity, as it not only is suitable for all terrains, but a convincingly comfortable car for travelling long journeys at the same time. Since the Q7 innately is a true all-rounder, it proves to be a perfect tuning model. Once again Audi supplies the perfect basis for Abt Sportsline's experts. The vehicle was optically and technically upgraded without changing its characteristic features.
At first glance the Abt Q7 looks brawnier than its original counterpart which is mainly due to the fender extensions lending the vehicle a more powerful appearance. You can tell that it easily masters difficult terrains. The rear wing completes its harmonious look and ensures that the Abt Q7 never loses wheel grip. By means of a two-coloured contrasting paint in white aluminium on the marked front skirt, the elegant rear skirt and side skirts, the Abt SUV reveals itself as an exclusive cruiser. The vehicle sides are eye-catching as a result of the lateral white aluminium insets which give the Abt Q7 unmistakeable features and dignified and agile looks at the same time. The sporting impression is highlighted by the double twin-pipe exhaust system with a pipe diameter of 84 millimetres and the one-piece wheels. Abt Sportsline's wheels type AR with diamond-machined surface and exclusive exchange system are already available in the sizes 20 or 22 inch with tyres 275/45 R20 or 295/30 R22 Conti CrossContact. Another wheel option is the 22-inch SP-wheel.
Abt Sportsline's modifications meet all the Q7's demands, no matter whether off-road, on motor ways or in front of a luxury hotel – the Abt Q7 is the perfect car for every opportunity. Looks and technology form a unified whole; the Abt Q7 does not only look husky, it really is. Abt Sportsline's engineers succeeded in clearly enhancing the innately powerful 3.0 TDI power unit. The modified six cylinders V-engine now provides 272 HP instead of the standard 233 and an explosive torque of 580 Nm (standard: 500 Nm).
Audi has been manufacturing vehicles with permanent all-wheel drive for a quarter of a century and the Abt Q7 crowns this development. You may look forward to this one-of-a-kind SUV.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
barrybonds 7:19AM (7/26/2006)
GO SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS!
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carbuzzard 7:50AM (7/26/2006)
That thing should launch like a Touareg diesel, but did they find that body kit as J.C. Whitney? And who came up with the paint job, some kid in the Burger King parking lot? Ew.
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Finished.Law.School 8:37AM (7/26/2006)
It still looks like a minivan. Audi should stop calling it an SUV.
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Jackson 8:44AM (7/26/2006)
Fugliest SUV evah.
Why is it almost all SUVs except HUMMER look just like minivans?
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Paulo Becker 9:20AM (7/26/2006)
That car looks like a tennis shoe with those orange trims. Horrible, horrible.
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TheOne442 9:21AM (7/26/2006)
Looks good to me, I assume there are no changes to the interior worth showing a pic of? Maybe some black leather with orange inserts would look right.
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Alex Nunez 9:27AM (7/26/2006)
I know I'm in the minority (of one, possibly), but I am digging the orange. I'd take red, too, though -- for a little teutonic A-Team flavor...
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Hugh 9:27AM (7/26/2006)
Wow, I didn't think the Q7 could get wierder looking. Happy Halloween!
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Sandro 9:29AM (7/26/2006)
SWEET!
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Puff Chippy 10:00AM (7/26/2006)
I had a Hot Wheel that looked kinda like that once. I guess you could file this under Styling by Mattel...
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bigmike 10:21AM (7/26/2006)
Personally, I like the orange and black. Looks aggressive and it not your typical solid color. I am not a big fan of the Q, but I can see that color combo being used on other vehicles that truly have an attitude or could use a little more attitude. Something like the Dodge Caliber might look good in this.
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WB233629 10:41AM (7/26/2006)
Maybe I'm not the type of person they are trying to impress as I am only 19, but I would definatly consider that when my FX lease is up. However I would save the orange paint, just the kit for me please.
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Spear 11:19AM (7/26/2006)
thats the most beautiful SUV i have ever seen.......
seriously. the orange looks really good on the car.
too bad i doesen't have 4WD like Subies....
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Tri-Bob 11:54AM (7/26/2006)
I like it, compare this to my silver Venture and I bet anyone here would take this thing!
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Rodrigo 1:28PM (7/26/2006)
"Badass AS7", eh?
That AS-Seven looks like an ASS-Even.
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GDUB 2:13PM (7/26/2006)
Paint scheme is iffy but suv is burly thumbs up.
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Tim C 2:14PM (7/26/2006)
Just a minor point but isn't using the word "ute" to describe something other than a pick-up going to cause confusion? I've only ever heard the word used by Australians and this oversized monstrosity wouldn't be described as a ute by an Aussie.
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Ed 3:40PM (7/26/2006)
"Audi has been manufacturing vehicles with permanent all-wheel drive for a quarter of a century and the Abt Q7 crowns this development. You may look forward to this one-of-a-kind SUV."
I'll take Audi's awd system to Subaru's 4wd.
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Spear 2:07PM (7/27/2006)
18. "Audi has been manufacturing vehicles with permanent all-wheel drive for a quarter of a century and the Abt Q7 crowns this development. You may look forward to this one-of-a-kind SUV."
I'll take Audi's awd system to Subaru's 4wd.
i would like to correct you on that...
here's a quote from www.rallycars.com:
"Before going further the reader should be warned on some manufacturer's marketing policies. Not all cars advertised as 4 wheel drive are really 4WD. Volkswagen and Audi sell cars advertised as 4WD which, in fact, are not full time 4WD."
"The above mentioned cars use a Haldex type clutch center differential which is only activated when the front wheels spin and always deactivated when braking."
on the other hand, Subies have full time AWD using 3 LSD diffs.
Only the "real" quattro rally cars of the 80's (group B) had full time AWD
common misconception... don't worry about it.
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naturalyshocked 5:46PM (9/09/2009)
all audi with longitunaal mounted engines are full AWD with torsen differential.
just like the old UR quatro, the A4, A6, A8, Q7 ..... are 100% based on the legandary rally car.
the audi A3 is the only one that uses the haldex system, because the engine is transversal mounted.