Did you know there is a stone statue of the Mk1 Golf GTI in Reifnitz? For most, this is just an ordinary family hatch with a bigger engine, but the legend of the GTI is larger than all the gods of Greek mythology. This is Ares, god of war and chip tuning, otherwise known as a 400 horsepower Golf GTI from ABT.
The tuners themselves explain it best. 300 Spartan warriors were all that was needed to keep a mighty conquering army at bay. But it wouldn't hurt to have 400 instead. That's why the 2-liter turbo TSI engine of a Golf R has been tuned to have a third more horsepower.
To achieve this, they introduced a sports catalytic converter. This, together with a new ECU map, allows the Golf R's two-liter turbo to deliver as much power as a Porsche 911 Carrera S. The speed limiter has also been removed, which means it will accelerate all the way to 300 km/h (186 mph).
Mind you, this isn't the first 400 horsepower we've seen, not even this month, but the colors are impressive. ABT chose a theme that combined neon green and carbon fiber to give it a special glow the crowd will love in Worthersee. We can almost see them in their folding chairs saying "dass ist genial".
Cosmetic changes to the Golf rocket are subtle so as not to alert rival street racers to the godlike power. But ABT has installed a height-adjustable sports suspension system that enhances the handling of the car by lowering the center of gravity. It has helped bring the Golf R not only 45mm (1.7 inches) closer to the ground, but also closer to its 20-inch alloy wheels. The LED headlights now have a subtle brow, while the exhaust tips are blacked out.
To achieve this, they introduced a sports catalytic converter. This, together with a new ECU map, allows the Golf R's two-liter turbo to deliver as much power as a Porsche 911 Carrera S. The speed limiter has also been removed, which means it will accelerate all the way to 300 km/h (186 mph).
Mind you, this isn't the first 400 horsepower we've seen, not even this month, but the colors are impressive. ABT chose a theme that combined neon green and carbon fiber to give it a special glow the crowd will love in Worthersee. We can almost see them in their folding chairs saying "dass ist genial".
Cosmetic changes to the Golf rocket are subtle so as not to alert rival street racers to the godlike power. But ABT has installed a height-adjustable sports suspension system that enhances the handling of the car by lowering the center of gravity. It has helped bring the Golf R not only 45mm (1.7 inches) closer to the ground, but also closer to its 20-inch alloy wheels. The LED headlights now have a subtle brow, while the exhaust tips are blacked out.