The Audi SQ8 is not exactly slow - the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood develops an impressive 500 horsepower and 569 lb-ft of torque - but that hasn't stopped ABT Sportsline from increasing its performance. The German tuner has previously worked on Europe's diesel version of the SQ8 and has already revealed a hardcore, limited-edition version of the faster RS Q8, called the RSQ8-R. But now it's time for our gasoline-powered SQ8 to get some hands-on attention, and as you can imagine, the results mean loads of power and, in true ABT fashion, lots of horizontal strakes on the new-look body.

Fortunately, the changes aren't too obnoxious and are fairly subtle when the SUV is finished in black paint. So what are we looking at here? Cosmetically, ABT has added a front spoiler, a new rear diffuser with matte black quad exhaust finishers, and a rear spoiler on the roof. There are 22- and 23-inch wheel options in various designs: Flowforming HR wheels are offered in Dark Smoke or Glossy Black while GR wheels come in Glossy Black or Matt Black.

Inside, carbon fiber accents adorn the shift knob cover, the dashboard, and the seat panels. Also available are things like a start/stop switch cap, dashboard side covers, illuminated door sills, and a few other exterior add-ons.

As for power, ABT has tuned the software on the ECU to cause that 4.0-liter V8 to produce an astonishing 640 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque. No specific 0-60 mph or top speed figures have been quoted, but ABT says that "the acceleration is now on par with the bigger performance brother RS Q8."

For reference, that car accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds while a stock SQ8 is claimed to achieve the sprint in a relatively pedestrian 4.3 seconds. As for pricing, brace yourself: all of the cosmetic options available for the SQ8 add up to $14,024, while the performance upgrade costs $1,630 on its own. Added to a base SQ8 ($89,100), that still less than a new RS Q8 at $114,500 before options.