Cupra R ABT issues

Jenko

Active Member
Sep 9, 2019
81
71
Hello,

I brought my cupra R ABT a few months back now and absolutely loved it. I normally remap all my cars with revo but thought as the ABT kit didn’t effect the warranty it was a no brainier.
I brought he car as a daily driver with the intention of maybe doing a couple of track days a year.
Went on my first track day with the car at the end of September and thought it was great, handled really well, stopped really well I just noticed that up the main straight my mates stage 1 VRS was staying with me. And made me think well I should have at least an extra 60 bhp than him so should be pulling away.
I went away and thought I’d get the car dynoed to see what it was actually putting out. I’ve taken the car to two places and it put out between 306-309 at both. Obviously well down on what’s claimed. (I only run it on a min of 98ron).
I complained to both ABT and seat UK, they looked at my car and said that the kit was fitted properly and when hooked up to the diagnostic equipment was told it was functioning fine. It was explained to me that the ABT kit is standalone from The cars ECU and if it thinks it’s too hot it will cut the power to stock. It is a lot more sensitive than the cars heat sensor. I was told that the car would only show putting out the claimed power if it was put on ABTs rolling road in Germany because it’s temperature controlled. This is why after around half a lap the kit would stop working and car would only put out stock power.
So there’s no way of actually seeing what the kit is doing or how much of an increase it actually gives. It obviously does something because you can tell when it’s working and when it’s not.
Long story short seat have said they will take the kit off my car and pay for me to have it mapped else where (probably revo) when they release the software.
Just wanted to make people aware in case they had similar issues thoughts.
 

Kirky

Copper Cupra Advocate
Apr 10, 2019
1,042
497
Hello,

I brought my cupra R ABT a few months back now and absolutely loved it. I normally remap all my cars with revo but thought as the ABT kit didn’t effect the warranty it was a no brainier.
I brought he car as a daily driver with the intention of maybe doing a couple of track days a year.
Went on my first track day with the car at the end of September and thought it was great, handled really well, stopped really well I just noticed that up the main straight my mates stage 1 VRS was staying with me. And made me think well I should have at least an extra 60 bhp than him so should be pulling away.
I went away and thought I’d get the car dynoed to see what it was actually putting out. I’ve taken the car to two places and it put out between 306-309 at both. Obviously well down on what’s claimed. (I only run it on a min of 98ron).
I complained to both ABT and seat UK, they looked at my car and said that the kit was fitted properly and when hooked up to the diagnostic equipment was told it was functioning fine. It was explained to me that the ABT kit is standalone from The cars ECU and if it thinks it’s too hot it will cut the power to stock. It is a lot more sensitive than the cars heat sensor. I was told that the car would only show putting out the claimed power if it was put on ABTs rolling road in Germany because it’s temperature controlled. This is why after around half a lap the kit would stop working and car would only put out stock power.
So there’s no way of actually seeing what the kit is doing or how much of an increase it actually gives. It obviously does something because you can tell when it’s working and when it’s not.
Long story short seat have said they will take the kit off my car and pay for me to have it mapped else where (probably revo) when they release the software.
Just wanted to make people aware in case they had similar issues thoughts.
Shame on the ABT results but huge bonus if you get the Revo map! I'm waiting on a PPF remap from them which I've heard is coming soon.
 

Titchy

Active Member
Jun 10, 2017
520
208
Buckinghamshire
Its a shame but this seems to be the case with the ABT cupra r st...

This part "seat have said they will take the kit off my car and pay for me to have it mapped else where" makes me think SEAT are very much aware of the 'issue/safety feature" and unit under delivering what they promised.

Would this map come with a warranty? I'm hoping its a Racingline oem+ map.
Keep us posted...
 

Jenko

Active Member
Sep 9, 2019
81
71
Its a shame but this seems to be the case with the ABT cupra r st...

This part "seat have said they will take the kit off my car and pay for me to have it mapped else where" makes me think SEAT are very much aware of the 'issue/safety feature" and unit under delivering what they promised.

Would this map come with a warranty? I'm hoping its a Racingline oem+ map.
Keep us posted...
No warranty with the new map I’m afraid, there was a lot of back and forth with seat UK but eventually it’s getting sorted. On a side note the dealer has been brilliant as always.
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
Hello,

I brought my cupra R ABT a few months back now and absolutely loved it. I normally remap all my cars with revo but thought as the ABT kit didn’t effect the warranty it was a no brainier.
I brought he car as a daily driver with the intention of maybe doing a couple of track days a year.
Went on my first track day with the car at the end of September and thought it was great, handled really well, stopped really well I just noticed that up the main straight my mates stage 1 VRS was staying with me. And made me think well I should have at least an extra 60 bhp than him so should be pulling away.
I went away and thought I’d get the car dynoed to see what it was actually putting out. I’ve taken the car to two places and it put out between 306-309 at both. Obviously well down on what’s claimed. (I only run it on a min of 98ron).

One point. The figures you saw on that dyno bear no relation to ABT's figures on their dyno. Correct me if I'm wrong, but SEAT and ABT are quoting engine HP.
I would also expect that a factory approved upgrade would have more conservative safety margins in their settings than aftermarket suppliers.
Which is why SEAT will not cover a non approved Remap.
 

Damo H

Remind me, what's an indicator?
Staff member
Moderator
Oct 3, 2012
4,710
2,804
Car Length In Front
One point. The figures you saw on that dyno bear no relation to ABT's figures on their dyno. Correct me if I'm wrong, but SEAT and ABT are quoting engine HP.
I would also expect that a factory approved upgrade would have more conservative safety margins in their settings than aftermarket suppliers.
Which is why SEAT will not cover a non approved Remap.
The dyno calculates the BHP after measuring WHP and then some weird thing it does on the slow down. Not saying its accurate, always better to compare cars against other cars on the same day.
 

Slickric21

Active Member
Feb 23, 2019
549
250
Norfolk
Thanks for sharing this info with us @Jenko im sure this info will be useful for other owners to know and understand their cars.

I had planned on taking mine for a track day and maybe Santa Pod also.... I won’t bother now and save myself the embarrassment of having a slower car than I think I have :)

Hopefully an intake and intercooler which I’m planning will help keep temps reasonable and allow the ABT box to provide the extra power for a bit longer than it normally would !!!
 

Jenko

Active Member
Sep 9, 2019
81
71
One point. The figures you saw on that dyno bear no relation to ABT's figures on their dyno. Correct me if I'm wrong, but SEAT and ABT are quoting engine HP.
I would also expect that a factory approved upgrade would have more conservative safety margins in their settings than aftermarket suppliers.
Which is why SEAT will not cover a non approved Remap.
As per the last comment it’s not whp. As a comparison one of the garages had a stock 2018 S3 in the day before and they showed me the print out and it was nearly the same as mine. I knew that it was going to be a conservative map when I brought the car it’s the fact it doesn’t work at all in certain situations that annoyed me.
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
The dyno calculates the BHP after measuring WHP and then some weird thing it does on the slow down. Not saying its accurate, always better to compare cars against other cars on the same day.
Yes, inertial dynos. But they are subject to forces that a proper engine dyno isn't, tyre slippage, alignment of the car on the rollers, etc.
Hub dynos are a bit better in that regard.
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
Thanks for sharing this info with us @Jenko im sure this info will be useful for other owners to know and understand their cars.

I had planned on taking mine for a track day and maybe Santa Pod also.... I won’t bother now and save myself the embarrassment of having a slower car than I think I have :)

Hopefully an intake and intercooler which I’m planning will help keep temps reasonable and allow the ABT box to provide the extra power for a bit longer than it normally would !!!
Do you know what temps the ABT is measuring? You may be able to trick the sensor.
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
481
Nelson, New Zealand
As per the last comment it’s not whp. As a comparison one of the garages had a stock 2018 S3 in the day before and they showed me the print out and it was nearly the same as mine. I knew that it was going to be a conservative map when I brought the car it’s the fact it doesn’t work at all in certain situations that annoyed me.
You took the car to two engine dyno shops?
 

Nora2004

Active Member
Oct 15, 2017
176
80
Suppose you could swap it over for a JB4 if you wanted to try and maintain the warranty!
 

BigJase88

Jase
Apr 20, 2008
3,767
1,069
Transmission losses on 4wd will be greater than 2wd so that will be why the stage 1 vrs isn’t too far behind
 

Damo H

Remind me, what's an indicator?
Staff member
Moderator
Oct 3, 2012
4,710
2,804
Car Length In Front
Yes, inertial dynos. But they are subject to forces that a proper engine dyno isn't, tyre slippage, alignment of the car on the rollers, etc.
Hub dynos are a bit better in that regard.
Your preaching to the choir mate lol
 
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Jenko

Active Member
Sep 9, 2019
81
71
I only put the post up to make people aware of the issues I was having in case others were having the same. I’m not having a dig at anyone just stating facts.
Here’s one of the dyno print outs people can make what they want of it
upload_2019-11-25_23-38-12.jpeg
 
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