ABT Sportsline->ke1753 has made a career developing programs for Audi->ke14 vehicles. To this day, the German manufacturer continues to do that, none more recent than its work on the Audi A5 Sportback. The whole program is called the AS5 Sportback Dark and as you’d expect, the name alone implies that ABT Sportsline did something a little sinister to the A5->ke1188.

While it would have been cool, if not downright bizarre, to say that the German tuner invoked some form of the Dark Arts to create this program, the truth is a lot simpler than that. The AS5 Sportback Dark is called such because it’s exterior is wrapped in black.

This A5 is nothing too elaborate and definitely nothing out of the ordinary, but judging the program simply because of its simplicity doesn’t do justice to the meticulous work the German tuner put into it.

There is one thing I don’t like about the program. ABT Sportsline developed it without adding power to the A5’s 2.0-liter TFSI engine. Under its current configuration, the turbocharged four-banger develops 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, good enough to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds to go with a top speed of 130 mph.

If you can let that small yet significant detail pass, you’re going to enjoy the Audi AS5 Sportback Dark. But if you can’t live with only 220 ponies, you’ll probably wish that ABT Sportsline has some kind of a Stage 2 kit in the works.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A5 Sportback Dark By Abt Sportsline.

2014 Audi AS5 Sportback Dark By ABT Sportsline

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Audi AS5 Sportback Dark By ABT Sportsline
  • Horsepower: 220
  • Torque: 258
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Audi A5 Sportback Dark by Abt Sportsline in detail

The black body of the Audi AS5 Sportback is subtly accentuated by contrasting red elements on the front lip spoiler and the rear skirt. Some people can make an argument that any color goes well with black, but I’m of the mindset that it’s either red or white. But these bright-red elements give the AS5 a bit of flair an all-black look wouldn’t convey.

Any good artist would want to leave his signature on all of his creations, and the same applies here as ABT Sportsline included a "Dark" decal set and an ABT "Dark" emblem set spread throughout the vehicle.

There may not be any engine upgrades on this one, but ABT Sportsline did dress up the AS5 Sportback with a set of its 20-inch CR wheels wrapped in wide 265 tires. The wheel design complements the overall theme of the program quite nicely too.

ABT Sportsline put the finishing touches on the AS5 Sportback Dark by installing a new quad-pipe exhaust system with its four tailpipes plated in black chrome. If anything, the reinforced exhaust system should do wonders in creating a more muscular engine sound to compensate for the absence of any performance upgrades.

Audi A5