Short answers, pulled from the story.
The M1 Abrams uses a Lycoming AGT1500 gas turbine engine that produces 1,500 horsepower. This engine allows the tank to accelerate from zero to thirty miles per hour in just six seconds. The engine consumes fuel at a rate that requires the tank to carry nearly twice as much fuel as a comparable diesel tank.
The United States Army awarded Chrysler a $4.9 billion development contract on the 12th of November 1976. This decision followed a political intervention by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who mandated the use of a gas turbine engine. The contract made Chrysler the sole viable bidder after General Motors was disqualified.
The Chobham armor combines ceramic blocks with steel and resin to create a protective shield. The turret armor arrays include depleted uranium which is 1.7 times denser than lead. The M1A1HA variant introduced in 1988 incorporated this depleted uranium armor to double the protection of the original M1 model.
The M1 Abrams proved superior to Soviet-designed T-54, T-55, and T-72 tanks during the Gulf War in 1991. American tanks engaged Iraqi forces at ranges in excess of 2,000 meters while thermal imaging systems allowed crews to see and engage enemy forces at night. No M1 tank was destroyed by enemy fire during the conflict despite three tanks being destroyed by friendly fire.
The Army developed the Tank Urban Survival Kit or TUSK to address vulnerabilities in urban combat environments. This kit added reactive armor to the sides and rear of the tank along with slat armor to protect against rocket-propelled grenades. The TUSK also included a transparent gun shield for the loader's machine gun and a remote weapon station for the commander.