The minds at ABT Sportsline have turned their tuning guns on the diesel version of the new Volkswagen Beetle that benefits from a power upgrade as well as the usual cosmetic and chassis improvements.

“It is really the right engine for this car,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO and founder of ABT Sportsline. “Particularly people who use their car quite a lot will really value how economical but also torquey it is,” he added.

The German firm tweaks the 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit to increase power from 138hp (140PS) and 320Nm (236 lb-ft) to 168hp (170PS) and 370Nm (273 lb-ft) and as a result, acceleration to 100km/h (62mph) drops from 9.4 seconds to 8.8 seconds.

ABT then fits the Beetle 2.0 TDI with a lowered sports suspension and a larger brake kit for the front axle with black painted calipers.

An available styling kit includes a front spoiler, a rear apron that encompasses a diffuser and the new twin oval exhaust pipes, head- and tail-lamp covers and a license plate insert.

Customers also can select from a variety of alloy wheels, in diameters from 18 to 20 inches shod in performance tires.

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