The release of the VW Mk8 and Audi 8Y chassis brought many improvements, including the 4th generation of the venerable EA888 2.0T engine. With this latest generation of engine, tuning companies have been hard at work to extract every last little bit of power they can.
We’ve put together this post so those of you blessed with a VW Mk8 or Audi 8Y vehicle will have an easier time seeing all of your tuning options on one page. All of the tunes are listed in alphabetical order, so there is no bias towards one tune over another. We’ll also be sure to add other tunes as they become available.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to have any of these tunes installed, please feel free to contact us. However, if you would prefer to install one of these tunes in the comfort of your own home, several of the companies below offer tuning cables to allow you to do just that.
034Motorsport
034Motorsport Dynamic+ Performance Tuning Software for the MK8 Volkswagen GTI, Golf R and Audi S3 equipped with the EA888 Gen 4 2.0T inline-four engine is designed to transform the driving experience of your vehicle! Flashed directly through your vehicle’s OBD-II port, 034Motorsport’s proprietary calibrations for the ECU and TCU safely and effectively increase the power output of the turbocharged inline-four in a refined manner. The result is a significant improvement in acceleration and throttle response without sacrificing driveability or reliability.
034Motorsport Dynamic+ offers manual transmission users Low Torque files to maximize performance and the clutch life of stock clutch equipped manual MK8 GTI and Golf R’s. These files are included at no additional cost for all octanes!
VW Mk8 Golf R & Audi 8Y S3 Performance:
- Stage 1 91: 408 HP / 374 TQ
- Stage 1 91 Low Torque: Figures Coming Soon!
- Stage 1 93: 427 HP / 402 TQ
- Stage 1 93 Low Torque: Figures Coming Soon!
- Stage 1 E85: 449 HP / 418 TQ
- Stage 1 E85 Low Torque: Figures Coming Soon!
VW Mk8 GTI Performance:
- Stage 1 91: 355 HP / 412 TQ
- Stage 1 91 Low Torque: Figures Coming Soon!
- Stage 1 93: 366 HP / 428 TQ
- Stage 1 93 Low Torque: Figures Coming Soon!
- Stage 1 E85: 394 HP / 418 TQ
- Stage 1 E85 Low Torque: Figures Coming Soon!
Included at no extra cost is the Stage 1 Dynamic+ Performance TCU Software for MK8 Volkswagen GTI, Golf R and Audi S3 models equipped with the DQ381 G2 7-Speed DSG transmission. At an extra cost, upgrade to the Stage 2 TCU Tuning to further enhance the shifting and acceleration of your DSG Equipped 2.0T! Flashed directly through your vehicle’s OBD-II port, 034Motorsport’s proprietary calibrations for the DQ381 G2 TCU safely and effectively raise the torque limits of the DSG, allowing your car to make use of Stage 1 Performance Software.
Find out more about the 034Motorsport ECU Software for the VW Mk8 Golf R and Audi 8Y S3 here.
Find out more about the 034Motorsport ECU Software for the VW Mk8 GTI here.
APR
Expect massive gains with up to 398-455 HP with 385-436 FT-LBS of torque on tap, depending on octane and mods! This represents up to 43% more horsepower at the wheels, over stock! Additionally APR Plus is available which adds a factory term limit matching limited powertrain warranty and is offered on our 91 AKI ECU upgrades!
Features:
- Supports 91 AKI, 93 AKI, 100 AKI, 104 AKI, and E60-E85 fuel grades (Stage 1 & 2) (NAR)
- Supports 95 RON, 98 RON, 104 RON, 108 RON, and E60-E85 fuel grades (Stage 1 & 2) (ROW)
- Supports 91 AKI fuel grade (APR Plus) (NAR)
- Ethanol support with no additional hardware required (Stage 1 & 2)
- Factory term limit matching limited powertrain warranty (APR Plus)
- Makes more power with more mods without a new reflash
- Makes more torque with our TCU upgrade
- Standing RPM soft limiter increased
- Left-foot braking / brake boosting added
- Speed limiter removed
- Auto Start/Stop defaults to your last picked option
- Properly rescaled performance gauges
- Properly rescaled boost gauge
- Linear throttle mapping
- Flat torque mapping
- Optional torque limited mapping available for manual transmissions
- ECO mode limits output to further promote fuel savings
- No additional hardware or software required
- Supports standard bolt on modifications and TCU upgrades
- Optimized thermal management and additional protection
- Optimized high-gear LSPI protection and turbocharger protection added
- Free lifetime updates
- Direct OBDII port flash (No ECU removal required)
- 30 day money back guarantee
VW Mk8 Golf R & Audi 8Y S3 Performance:
- Up to 398-442 HP with 385-430 FT-LBS (Stage 1)
- Up to 410-455 HP with 389-436 FT-LBS (Stage 2)
- Max gains of +64-112 HP and +76-118 FT-LBS at the wheels (Stage 1)
- Max gains of +74-123 HP and +80-125 FT-LBS at the wheels (Stage 2)
- HP gains as high as 22-39% over stock at the wheels (Stage 1)
- HP gains as high as 26-43% over stock at the wheels (Stage 2)
- Torque gains as high as 26-41% over stock at the wheels (Stage 1)
- Torque gains as high as 28-44% over stock at the wheels (Stage 2)
VW Mk8 GTI & Audi 8Y A3 Performance:
- Up to 328-375 HP with 391-427 FT-LBS (Stage 1)
- Up to 345-392 HP with 391-428 FT-LBS (Stage 2)
- Max gains of +63-105 HP and +96-129 FT-LBS at the wheels (Stage 1)
- Max gains of +76-122 HP and +96-131 FT-LBS at the wheels (Stage 2)
- HP gains as high as 25-47% over stock at the wheels (Stage 1)
- HP gains as high as 34-57% over stock at the wheels (Stage 2)
- Torque gains as high as 35-47% over stock at the wheels (Stage 1)
- Torque gains as high as 35-50% over stock at the wheels (Stage 2)
Find out more about the APR ECU Software for the VW Mk8 Golf R and Audi 8Y S3 here.
Find out more about the APR ECU Software for the VW Mk8 GTI here.
APR VW Mk8 and Audi 8Y TCU Software
The DSG transmission found in the new 2022+ Volkswagen Golf R, GTI, and Audi S3 is nothing short of amazing. It’s incredibly fast and capable and requires no hardware upgrades to hold dramatically more torque than what’s possible on other transmissions. However, from the factory the transmission tells the engine to limit power and torque. APR’s engineers fix this by recalibrating the system to maximize torque capacity and clutch pressure to avoided transmission slipping and damage, and in doing so allows the engine to dramatically increase horsepower and torque! On the MK8 GTI APR saw +25-32 WHP and +34-44 WFT-LBS of torque simply by adding their TCU upgrade on top of our ECU Upgrade. On the MK8 Golf R APR saw +18-55 AWHP and +23-64 AWFT-LBS of torque by doing the same. This and other changes make the TCU upgrade a substantial upgrade on any tuned vehicle!
Find out more about the APR TCU Software for the VW Mk8 GTI, Golf R and Audi 8Y S3
Unitronic
With testing and validations completed, power outputs on the MK8 Golf R and 8Y S3 are increased by up to +133HP / +121LB-FT with Unitronic Stage 2 93octane/98ron Performance Software for a maximum of 470HP / 431LB-FT. Power outputs on the MK8 GTI are increased by up to +119HP / +115LB-FT with Unitronic Stage 2 93octane/98ron Performance Software for a maximum of 385HP / 399LB-FT. These software upgrades are fully compatible with the UniCONNECT+ cable, empowering Clients to tune their vehicles directly through the OBD-2 port within minutes, from the comfort of their own home or garage. Support for E85 is coming soon!
Features:
- Optimized Responsiveness, Smoothness, Drivability, and Comfort
Unitronic’s ECU calibrations are engineered to improve engine response and reduce low-end lag. Unitronic’s Performance Software has gained worldwide recognition and is well known for its broad powerband, with smooth power delivery, maximizing responsiveness and “area under the curve, under normal and hard acceleration. - Ignition Timing Precisely Calibrated for Higher Octane Fuel
Engine calibration optimized to take advantage of higher fuel quality to extract maximum energy from the combustion. Therefore, when using a higher octane fuel, more power and better fuel efficiency will be achieved. - Optimized Maximum Output
Unitronic’s ECU Calibrators deliver the maximum power output while staying within the operational limits of the factory engine and drivetrain components. Specifically, this results in the highest engine performance without sacrificing the reliability of the engine, turbocharger, or other engine and drivetrain components. - Factory Safety Limiters Retained
OEM fail safes are retained within the ECU calibration. Close monitoring of all operation parameters ensures that engine operation stays within factory components limits, resulting in reliability. - Power Delivery Perfectly Optimized Throughout the Power Band
Aligned with the OEM strategy, the calibration is designed to offer a large flat torque plateau to provide a smooth and linear power band. Maximum torque output is achieved sooner and maintained longer which creates a broader torque plateau and greater area under the curve. This results in an improved acceleration and optimal engine operation. - Speed Governor Removed
Vehicle speed limiter within ECU is removed. (Subject to transmission rotational speed limit.) - Improved Fuel Efficiency
Optimized timing and injection in cruising condition allows for an improved fuel efficiency, under normalized driving conditions. - Engineered with Strict Industry Standards
With over 10 years of experience with Bosch and Siemens engine management systems and calibrations, Unitronic is able to utilize its expertise, industry leading tools and equipment to ensure an optimal calibration; delivering maximum performance, while maintaining complete OEM-like reliability and drivability. - Extensively Tested Under Various Driving Conditions
Development begins using Unitronic’s in-house Maha Chassis dyno housed in an environmentally controlled cell; closely monitoring a plethora of operational data, utilizing industry leading calibration tools and resources. Beta calibrations are then tested in street and track scenarios, using multiple cars under various driving conditions. This engine calibration strategy ensures Unitronic Performance Software delivers maximum performance, OEM-like drivability and reliability anywhere in the world. Unitronic Performance Software is only released to its Clients once development is thoroughly completed in accordance to Unitronic’s strict standards.
VW Mk8 Golf R & Audi 8Y S3 Performance:
- Stage 1 91 Octane – 386HP / 367LB-FT
- Stage 1 93 Octane – 446HP / 410LB-FT
- Stage 2 91 Octane – 441HP / 405LB-FT
- Stage 2 93 Octane – 470HP / 431LB-FT
VW Mk8 GTI & Audi 8Y A3 Performance:
- Stage 1 91 Octane – 336HP / 352LB-FT
- Stage 1 93 Octane – 361HP / 377LB-FT
- Stage 2 93 Octane – 363HP / 380LB-FT
- Stage 2 93 Octane – 385HP / 399LB-FT
Find out more about the Unitronic ECU Software for the VW Mk8 Golf R and Audi 8Y S3 here.
Find out more about the Unitronic ECU Software for the VW Mk8 GTI here.
Unitronic VW Mk8 GTI, Golf R and Audi 8Y S3 TCU Software
Continuing along and similar to the requirements for Unitronic’s Stage 1+ unlimited torque calibrations, Unitronic Engineers also quickly identified gearbox originating torque limitations on the TCU side of the DQ381.2 gearbox. In order to overcome these limitations while ensuring proper torque management and thus, clutch operation with maximum torque calibrations, TCU Performance Software is required for Stage 2 ECU calibrations. Unitronic Stage 1 TCU Performance Software increase clutch pressure to support up to 600NM and is suitable for all Stage 1-2 ECU calibrations. It was developed to improve your overall driving experience through calibration adjustments including an increased torque limiter, advanced torque management, adjustable launch control, optimized gear shift points, quicker shifts, and gear display enabled. At the moment, only DQ381.2 gearboxes with BLvXXXX0301 are currently tunable through the OBD2 port with support for the newer TCUs with BLvXXXX0401 in the works.
Find out more about the Unitronic TCU Software for the VW Mk8 Golf R and Audi 8Y S3 here.
Find out more about the Unitronic TCU Software for the VW Mk8 GTI here.