Abt Sportsline, the German tuner best known for its enhanced Volkswagen and Audi products, is celebrating a big anniversary this year. All the way back in 1896, Johann Baptist Abt took over a local blacksmith shop, crafting horseshoes and developing novel enhancements like ski-skids for carriages to improve stability in deep snow. Now, 130 years later, the "Sportsline" company that bears his name has gone through many different changes, but that doesn't make the anniversary any less special.
Part of a trio of anniversary specials that kicked off with the RS 6-LE 800, the latest celebration comes in the form of a modified RS Q8. Although no slouch from the factory with 631 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, the SUV was merely a jumping-off point for ABT. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 became the target of the company's Power R performance upgrade, which includes ABT-designed turbochargers, intercooler, and a water-methanol injection system to keep the engine frosty.
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