In the middle class, if this still exists, you drive the VW Passat as a down-to-earth driver. At least that was the general mood for a long time. The discussion about the gap between rich and poor, the middle class and other classes, should not be conducted here. It is much more about the fact that the Wolfsburg classic is mainly used in the fleet business. A good 80 percent of new registrations are company cars. That was a little different in the early days of the Passat: in 1973 people also liked to drive a mid-range vehicle from Lower Saxony privately. Since then, ABT Sportline has also been accompanying the Wolfsburg, making it not only more attractive, but also faster. Let's take a look at what the current ABT Passat is up to.
Fleet drivers are usually traveling with a diesel - that's clear and should probably remain so in the near future. But ABT Sportsline has not only the diesel on the screen, but also the gasoline engines - so the gasoline. Allen common: performance gains in a reasonable frame. Thus, the standard 150 PS strong 1.4 TSI is increased to 180 PS and now delivers 290 instead of 250 Newton meters.
In general, the Kempten refiners paid a lot of attention to the gasoline engine. So you can also get a performance increase for the 1.8 TSI. Here the power grows from 180 to 210 hp and brings an increase in torque with it. It increases by 60 to a total of 310 Nm. The abbots also have something up their sleeves for the most powerful petrol engines in the VW Passat: Both 2.0 TSIs - both with 280 and 220 hp - are regaining their strength. The 220 horses become 290 horses, the standard 280 even a stately 336 turbo steeds. Identical in both: the increase in torque from 350 to 420 Nm.
In the diesels, the Allgäu limited to the engines with 2.0 liter displacement. They increase the performance of 150 to 170 PS on the smaller version and increase the power of 340 to 380 Nm. With the next larger 2.0 TDI the yield is 215 PS, which means 25 additional horses compared to the base. The torque grew here by 40 to a total of 440 Nm. Even for the not very weak top model among the auto-igniters you have something in the program at ABT. The standard 240 will be increased to 270 PS. The torque increases from 500 to 540 Nm. And all this from just 2.0 liters of displacement, mind you.
Of course, such a performance also requires a corresponding appearance. How fitting that ABT has designed an attractive body kit for the Passat. It includes a front apron and radiator grille attachment and side skirts. In addition, the Allgäu decorate the exterior mirrors with eye-catching caps, donate the Wolfsburg a rear spoiler and also a rear apron set. Here you will find the rear silencer with tailpipes optimally integrated again.
Suspension springs provide the sporty touch when driving. They bring the ABT Passat closer to the ground in front of 35 mm. At the back the middle grader is lowered by 30mm. Added to this is a stabilizer set that not only reduces side roll in turns, but also reduces the roll and understeer tendency.
The crowning glory is, as always, the many variants of rims from ABT. The models CR, DR, ER-C and FR are available. They cover the spectrum from 18 to 20 inches. The DR even exists in 21 inches. That corresponds then already rather upper class format. But that's another topic again.