1999 Abt TT-R BT350

Brochure Abt Sportline 2000

Abt TT-R BT350; concept car with the V6 2.8 litre

The most spectacular and one of the first Abt versions was based on the V6 2.8 litre. This Abt TT-R BT 350 had an output of 350 hp and a torque of 380 Nm, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 286 km/h.

The TT-R BT 350 with its twin-turbo V6 was presented as a concept car at the end of 1999 and may have been shown at the IAA Frankfurt in 2005, but there is no evidence of this as the photos have disappeared.

Mysteries surrounding the Abt TT-R BT350

Due to the limited information available on the internet, there are a number of mysteries surrounding this model:

What is the year: 1999 or 2005? The version was developed in 1999, because:
1. The Abt TT-R with V6 appeared in Autovisie on 6 November 1999
2. In photos, it can be seen together with a spoilerless Abt TT Roadster (IAA 1999).
3. The 2000 Abt brochure refers to it as: ‘Die Studie. Der Abt TT-R’
Is it the VR6 2.8 or the 3.2 litre? It is the V6 2.8 litre:
1. Autovisie (1999) explicitly mentions the 2.8
2. The 2000 Abt brochure leaves it open, but the VR6 3.2 has only been around since 2001 (VW Beetle RSi)
3. Comparison with the VW 2.8 V6 shows strong similarities in, among other things, the engine cover

The production number, 1 or more? Probably a one-off:
1. Camblin.fr mentions a single example
2. The numbers mentioned earlier (6 units) are unlikely; there would have been more sightings
3. Abt itself refers to a study in 2000

Conclusions that can be refined when the photos from 2005 surface.

The first TT with a V6 under the bonnet
If we assume 1999 as its year of birth, this was the very first TT with a V6 under the bonnet. Something that Audi itself only took up for production in 2003. In 1999, the car reportedly cost around 250,000 German marks* (€128,000).

The “standard” modifications to the Abt versions of the TT 8N consist of:

Interior

Abt door sill plates
Abt aluminium gear knob & ring
Abt embossing on the front seats
Abt logo on the floor mats
Abt logo in the boot

Exterior

Abt body kit (grille, front and rear spoilers, and diffuser)
Single wiper arm
Abt logo on front and rear
Abt fuel cap in colour with logo

Chassis

Abt valve caps
Abt rims
Abt sports brake system
Wheel spacers
Abt sports suspension

Engine / drivetrain

Abt rear silencer with 2 double trim pieces

In addition to the above “standard” Abt modifications, the Abt TT-R BT350 has the following distinctive specifications:

Interior equipment

Abt Recaro sports seats with
- 2 colour leather/Alcantara
- electric adjustment

Modified speedometer, 320 km/h (199 mph)
Abt dials in white
Roll bar aluminium polished
Removed rear seat

Audi A4 3-spoke steering wheel with gearbox controls,
gear lever has been removed

Exterior equipment

Abt front spoiler lip in carbon fibre
Abt diffuser in carbon fibre
Widened mudguards (18 cm wider in total)
‘TT-R’ logo above side indicators and on diffuser
Abt fuel flap not in colour with Abt logo

Chassis

Abt rims type A27 in the following sizes:
- Front 9x19J with 235/35 R19 tyres
- Rear 9.5x19J with 275/30 R19 tyres
Abt chassis lowered by 50 mm

Engine / drivetrain

2.8 litre 6-cylinder bi-turbo engine 350 hp / 380 Nm
6-speed gearbox, hydropneumatic, operated via the steering wheel
“Abt BT350” logo on engine cover

Point colour

Silbersee-Metallic LY7W (for the concept model)

Abt modifications also available separately
Because many of the Abt modifications were also available separately, Abt versions regularly appeared on the market. Sometimes they were offered as one of a series of special versions. However, they often lacked some of the specific features of the limited editions.

If you happen to come across an Abt TT-R BT350, please send us an email!

* Prices for the German market