Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in general and MRA of the abdominal vessels in particular have undergone substantial improvements in the past 5 years triggered by the introduction and application of parallel imaging (PI), new sequence techniques such as centric k-space trajectories and undersampling, dedicated contrast agents and clinical high-field scanners. All of these techniques have the potential to improve image quality and resolution or decrease the image acquisition time. However, each of them has its own specific advantages and drawbacks. This review describes the main technical innovations and focuses on the impact these developments may have on abdominal MRA. Special consideration is given to the interaction of these various technical advances. The clinical value of advanced MRA techniques is discussed and illustrated by characteristic cases.