Looking for more power? APR, long a leader in providing engine software “tunes” for Audi and VW, continues to grow and expand their solution set.

These are true “flashes” of the engine computer (DME / ECU). These cover many of the Audi / VW car models.  APR continues to expand the list all the time, so check often if you don’t see your car / model / engine today.

APR’s ECU Upgrades are the best dollar-per-horsepower modification one can make to the forced induction (read “turbo” based) engines. The upgrades dramatically increase horsepower and torque, making for an exceptionally quicker and more exciting vehicle. This is made possible through APR’s optimization of the factory engine management system to take full advantage of the engine’s capabilities, without needing any end user adjustment. The software loads to the factory ECU through the OBD-II port, resulting in a clean and headache-free install.

Tuning 101:
Example:  The Audi 2.0T engine uses a Continental Simos 18 ECU for engine management. Basically, it’s a computer that tells the engine how to operate. Tuning software, like the APR ECU Upgrade, tells the engine how to make more power. It does this by running more boost pressure, optimizing the cam shaft positions, valve lift actuation, adjusting the air/fuel ratio, advancing ignition timing, and more.

A Better Engine Management System:
The 2.0T’s ECU is incredible. Without the driver knowing otherwise, the ECU makes intelligent adjustments to the engine’s operations to keep it running smoothly. Unlike ECUs found in many other makes and models, when properly tuned, the ECU eliminates the need for custom tuning to maximize output, even when weather conditions change dramatically.

How APR Differs from the Competition:
The ECU is powerful, but extremely difficult to master. Without mastery, the ECU must be simplified, removing what makes it so desirable. The result is an incomplete product that often requires end user adjustment to maximize output in limited scenarios. On the contrary, APR’s Engineers spent years mastering the ECU to unlock its full potential. With complete access to the thousands of maps, tables and variables within, as well as a high-level understanding of how it works, APR’s Engineers were able to take advantage of everything the ECU has to offer. Power is maximized in nearly all scenarios, eliminating the need for end user adjustments. High performance operational modes are enabled and calibrated to deliver smooth daily driving, with a snappy and responsive throttle during moments of spirited driving. Mastery of the boost control system makes for an impressively predictable driving experience as the turbo spools quickly, delivering instant power, while torque-by-gear helps with traction control and protects the engine from being lugged out in tall gears. Lastly advanced high-output protection routines are enabled, allowing the ECU to make constant adjustments to airflow and fuel to cool and protect the engine, all without the driver knowing otherwise.

APR’s proprietary ECU Explorer gives APR’s Calibration Engineers unparalleled access to the vehicle’s entire engine management system. Typical commercially available data logging tools, used by most tuners, only allow logging up to 12 engine-operating variables at extremely low data rates. These tools are also limited to a small, specific list of variables. APR’s ECU Explorer is capable of logging every variable found within the ECU with far more variables logged at once, at very high data rates.

Features: APR Exhaust Crackle:
Enhance your exhaust note just like Audi’s latest RS models! The APR Exhaust Crackle, lovingly called “pops and bangs” by many, adds a distinct crackle to the exhaust note upon lifting off the throttle, gear changes on a manual, decelerating, or while free revving at a stand standstill. This optional feature is available at no cost, at the time of flashing, for most compatible ECUs at stage 2 and higher stages. For convenience, the feature is only enabled when the vehicle is placed into sport/race mode. Lastly, for safety, this feature has built in hardware protection limits, and will only function when it’s considered safe to do so. We offer this in both a “soft” and “aggresive” mode as illustrated below with our 2019 Golf R featuring a full APR Valved Catback Exhaust System.

Here are sample dyno graphs for the corresponding vehicles that the tune’s were installed on:

The dyno plot below, for an Audi V8 “naturally aspirated” (read, non-turbo) engine is included for two reasons, (1) APR does offer “tunes” for naturally aspirated engines, and (2) to demonstrate, with naturally aspirated, highly efficient engines, there is not a lot of “head room” to find more power.

Then, there are software upgrades like this for the Audi Q7 / SQ7 / Q8 / SQ8 that can make your heart stop….look at the almost unbelieveable power gains from a Stage 1, 91 octane APR tune:

Talk to us about your Audi or VW to find out what an APR “software upgrade” can do for your car.

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