Federal Auto opens largest ABT showroom in Asia
Federal Auto Holdings Bhd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Federal Auto Sports Tuning Sdn Bhd (FAST), has opened an all-new ABT Sportsline flagship showroom today. The new showroom is situated adjacent to the parent company’s existing Volvo showroom in Glenmarie.
Boasting some 12,000 sq ft of floor space, the new showroom, which cost Federal Auto a handsome RM 1 million, is the largest showroom in Asia for ABT, a renowned tuner of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. Compliant with ABT’s corporate identity, the showroom can accomodate up to 10 display cars if so needed.
Appointed exclusive distributor of ABT products for Malaysian in March 2010, FAST has plans in motion to expand the ABT network, with one more showroom set for opening in Petaling Jaya later this year, and at least two more, in Penang and Johor Bahru, by end 2011.
Speaking of his company’s tie-up with ABT, Federal Auto Managing Director Mr Cheng Seng Fook said, “We believe that there is tremendous market potential due to growing consumer affluence and the increasing popularity of the Volkswagen and Audi brands here in Malaysia. We are naturally proud to be recognised by a global brand such as ABT as an exclusive partner.”
Cheng’s counterpart in ABT Sportsline, Mr Hans-Jürgen Abt, was equally upbeat, noting that, “Federal Auto is the perfect fit for us as it has the experience, expertise and infrastructure to help grow the ABT brand here in Malaysia. Asia is a very important market for us. With both Volkswagen and Audi registering strong growth, we expect the demand for our products to rise as owners seek to optimise the performance and looks of their cars. At ABT, we ensure that the character of every car that we tune is not lost but instead, underlined.”
Besides offering cosmetic enhancements such as rims and bodykit upgrades, ABT also offers performance enhancing solutions for its customers as well. Enhancements are focused on six major areas, namely – engine power, aerodynamics, exhaust, suspensions, brakes and sports
wheels.
We recently reviewed the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and in its stock form of 210hp, it is by no means an underpowered machine. However, if your requirements for power is somewhat more severe than ours, ABT offers you a chip tuning solution that bumps the engine power output up to 260hp, with torque also increased from 280Nm to 360Nm. Another upgrade kit on offer raises the output of the 1.4-litre twincharged motor from 156hp to 210hp.
ABT works closely with engineers from the Volkswagen Group to ensure that their performance part upgrades do not adversely affect their car’s long term reliability. Cars which undergo technical tinkering by ABT will have to live with a voided factory warranty, though ABT themselves are looking to eventually provide warranty coverage for customers in the future.
ABT currently offers a variety of tuning packages for the popular Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco. They are priced from RM6,636 for engine chip tuning alone to RM43,610 for a complete set comprising full body kit, sport springs, rims and tyres.
