ABT unveils hot diesel Beetle

German tuning house ABT has been meddling with the latest 2.0-litre diesel-powered Beetle, and come up with this – the Beetle ABT Sportsline, which combines an aggressive makeover with some under-bonnet tweaks.

Clearly, it’s out with cuddly retro and in with a dose of attitude for VW’s largest tuner’s take on a sportier new Beetle. A deeper front bumper and headlight eyebrows (you be the judge) lend the car additional rear-view mirror menace from the front, whilst at the back, twin oval exhausts and a larger rear valance provide some attitude.

First Drive Review: Volkswagen Beetle (2011 onwards)

Tuning companies’ maddest modified cars

The Sportsline also sits lower thanks to ABT springs, and comes with a choice of wheel designs from 18 to 20 inches in diameter wrapped in ‘sports’ rubber.

At the business end, the oil-burning Beetle’s 2.0-litre TDI motor has been uprated from 140bhp to 170bhp, whilst peak torque rises from 236 to 272 lb ft – enough to shave six tenths off the 0-62mph dash which falls to 8.8 seconds. Helping to rein in the additional performance are larger 345mm brake discs on the front axle, featuring black painted ABT calipers.

ABT stresses the diesel Beetle’s raison d’etre hasn’t been negated, so economy doesn’t suffer too badly, although it hasn’t actually quoted any revised economy figures for the uprated car.

ABT Sportsline CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt, said: “It is really the right engine for this car, and people who use their car quite a lot will really value how economical but also torquey it is.“

No word on prices just yet, although petrol fans can already choose ABT upgrades for the 2.0-litre TFSi version, including an engine package to boost power from 200 to 240bhp.

The wildest modified Ferraris

The wildest modified Lamborghinis

Find out how much a Volkswagen Beetle costs on Auto Trader

First Drive Review: Volkswagen Beetle (2011 onwards)

Tuning companies’ maddest modified cars