The German Federal Ministry of Transports has long been working together with VDAT (nationwide tuners’ association) on a strategy called ‘Tune it! Safe!’ that calls for a more responsible attitude towards car customization. Their latest joint project is this ABT RS4-R exhibited at the ongoing 2019 Essen Motor Show.
The car comes based on the pre-facelift version of the Audi RS4 Avant family wagon and joins the performance police vehicle lineup alongside the Brabus CLS V12 S Rocket and the Police BMW i8 by AC Schnitzer. Naturally, it boasts a considerable power upgrade aside from all the visual eye candy.
Installed here is the ABT Power S kit, which primarily improves surface cooling and air intake performance of the standard 2.9-litersix-cylinder turbo mill the RS4 comes with. What used to be 450 hp (336 kW) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque becomes 530 hp (395 kW) alongside 690 Nm (510 lb-ft).
The factory-stock RS4 needs 4.1 seconds to sprint and maxes out at 250 km/h (155 mph), although you can pay extra for a lift to 280 km/h (174 mph). ABT does not reveal how much faster its tuned example is.
Outside, the wagon boasts carbon fiber trim, new quad exhaust tips 102 mm (4 inches) in diameter, Hankook tires, Hella lighting, and everything it needs to be a fully featured police car. The cabin also boasts carbon fiber inserts here and there.
That said, the ABT RS4-R police car is a show exhibit and likely won’t find any practical application soon. Its main goal is to demonstrate the Tune it! Safe! approach to the audience at large and advertise the products of the Kempton-based aftermarket firm that made it.