ABT has tuned the Volkswagen T6.1 van

By topgear, 17 January 2020

In the UK, we get Volkswagen’s recently-updated T6.1 as either the Transporter panel van, the California camper or the Caravelle people carrier. Start paying attention and you’ll likely see one on every street corner.

What if you want something a little different to the norm though, something that’ll differentiate you from the masses? Well, German tuner ABT has just announced a range of tuning upgrades for the VW van.

There’s nothing that outrageous, although a new ECU means power rises from 196bhp to 223bhp in the top-spec 2.0-litre TDI. The all-important torque figure goes from 450Nm to a hefty 490Nm too. Should we all just agree that every campervan needs a power boost?

If you want ABT to go all out, fancy Bilstein height-adjustable suspension is an option and means the T6.1 can sit between 40mm and 70mm lower than standard. Then there are the wheels – what work Transporter doesn’t need ‘mystic black’ 19-inchers or matte black 20s?

Prices haven’t been announced yet, but it might be worth tapping up your bosses early doors to see if they’ll let you expense the upgrades. After all, more speed = more productivity…