Product Description

APR is pleased to present the ultimate engine control unit (ECU) upgrade for the 5.2L FSI V10 engine!

APR’s ECU Upgrades are the best dollar-per-horsepower modification one can make to the 5.2L FSI V10 engine. 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. Optional features, such as APR’s EMCS Program Switching and APR Mobile are available. Furthermore, for those looking for tuning with a limited powertrain warranty, APR Plus has you covered!

APR ECU Upgrade Stages

APR’s ECU Upgrades support various octanes. Each upgrade is fully compatible with an upgraded intake filter, catback exhaust, or other minor bolt on modifications.

Each stage includes optimizations to the power and torque gauges to match the increased output. All modes performance modes have the speed limiter removed and left foot braking enabled. We’ve raised the rev-limiter to 9,000 RPM in manual mode (or with a TCU Upgrade), and adjusted the thermal managerment system to optimize engine temperature. The throttle, intake, and exhaust flaps were optimized for power delivery. Furthermore we’ve completely optimized lambda control, port / DI split, cam phasing, igntion timing, and more to increase power. Lastly, we’ve added an optional quite cold-start mode that’s an excellent addition for cars equipped with a loud exhaust.

APR Plus ECU Upgrade with a Limited Powertrain Warranty

The APR Plus ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power, and it includes our limited powertrain warranty. This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications, and produces 634 HP with 420 FT-LBS of torque.

The APR Plus ECU Upgrade matches the performance of our Stage 1 ECU Upgrade (91 octane version). To get even more power, you can add any of our other Stage 1 compatible products and still be covered under the APR Plus warranty! To learn more about APR Plus, please visit the APR Plus website.

If you’re not interested in the APR Plus limited powertrain warranty, and want even more power, check out our other Stages.

APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade (540 HP Models)

The APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications, and produces 634-653 HP with 420-427 FT-LBS of torque, depending on octane. Gains as high as 86-104 HP and 53-64 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with upgraded intake filters, catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU.

APR Stage 1 is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, and E85 fuel grades in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, and E85 fuel grades in the Rest of the World.

Please note, our E85 software is not a full flex fuel program. In this mode the engine is only designed to work on E85, as found directly at the pump, including both summer and winter blends from E60-E85. Using traditional pump fuels in this mode may result in engine damage. Do not manually blend with traditional pump fuel or race fuels or use race specific barrels of E85. To ensure proper E85 content levels, APR recommends using an E85 content sensor. Before using Ethanol, educate yourself and follow our switching guide below.

APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade (580 HP Models)

The APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications, and produces 634-653 HP with 420-427 FT-LBS of torque, depending on octane. Gains as high as 47-66 HP and 29-40 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with upgraded intake filters, catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU.

APR Stage 1 is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, and E85 fuel grades in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, and E85 fuel grades in the Rest of the World.

Please note, our E85 software is not a full flex fuel program. In this mode the engine is only designed to work on E85, as found directly at the pump, including both summer and winter blends from E60-E85. Using traditional pump fuels in this mode may result in engine damage. Do not manually blend with traditional pump fuel or race fuels or use race specific barrels of E85. To ensure proper E85 content levels, APR recommends using an E85 content sensor. Before using Ethanol, educate yourself and follow our switching guide below.

APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade (610 HP Models)

The APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications, and produces 634-653 HP with 420-427 FT-LBS of torque, depending on octane. Gains as high as 17-35 HP and 13-30 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with upgraded intake filters, catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU.

APR Stage 1 is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, and E85 fuel grades in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, and E85 fuel grades in the Rest of the World.

Please note, our E85 software is not a full flex fuel program. In this mode the engine is only designed to work on E85, as found directly at the pump, including both summer and winter blends from E60-E85. Using traditional pump fuels in this mode may result in engine damage. Do not manually blend with traditional pump fuel or race fuels or use race specific barrels of E85. To ensure proper E85 content levels, APR recommends using an E85 content sensor. Before using Ethanol, educate yourself and follow our switching guide below.

APR Ethanol and Race Fuel Maps

**Switching from a lower octane fuel to Ethanol or Race Fuel**

Running Ethanol and Race Fuel maps with lower quality fuel can and will destroy your spark plugs and potentially your engine. Please follow these instructions when switching from a lower octane map to a higher octane map.

-Drain the gas tank of all fuel and then fill the tank with the higher octane fuel.
-Allow 15 miles of driving before switching programs. Typically, lower quality fuel will remain in the fuel lines and fuel rails for quite some time before it’s all removed and replaced with the new, higher octane fuel. This is ever more so true on vehicles that have both port and direct injectors. This is even true if you’ve pumped out your gas tank, or idled the engine until it stalls out due to an empty tank.
-During this 15 mile cruising period, if you’ve filled up with Ethanol, do not go wide open throttle. Ethanol is dramatically different than normal pump fuels, but will operate fine if you cruise lightly. Also, if switching to Ethanol, you may get a fault for fuel trims out of range. When this occurs, clear the fault code, switch to the Ethanol map, and continue driving lightly.
-When you’ve driven lightly for 15 miles, switch maps to the higher octane fuel map and drive a few miles before going wide open throttle.
-If you detect any hesitations, timing pull, audible knock, etc, let off the throttle immediately! You may still have lower quality gas in the fuel lines.

Race Fuel Info

APR only recommends using Sunoco GT260 for 100 octane (R+M)/2 maps and Sunoco GT260+ for 104 octane (R+M)/2 maps. Unless specified otherwise, only use these types of fuel as other types of race fuel may have unintended behavior.

Ethanol Info

Ethanol content varies dramatically. A pump labeled for E85 may have content from 85% all the way down to 51% depending on season and location in the USA. This may be different elsewhere in the world. Most non-flex fuel E85 maps only have an operating range of E60-E85 (always confirm the operating range on each product page). Do not use ethanol content lower than specified by the map. Likewise, do not use ethanol content higher than specified by the map, as the system may be fueling limited and unable to run the higher ethanol content. For these reasons, APR highly recommends using an Ethanol Content Sensor to monitor content levels.

Numbers

APR ECU Upgrade Included Features:

APR World Class Calibration Expertise

Tuning 101:

The 5.2L engine uses a Bosch MED 17 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 optimizing the cam shaft positions, adjusting the air/fuel ratio, advancing ignition timing, throttle, intake and exhaust flaps, port/DI splits, thermal management and more.

A Better Engine Management System:

The 5.2L 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 the better part of a decade 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. 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.

Acceleration Enhancements:

Beyond horsepower and torque enhancements, APR’s Calibration Engineers were able to increase the acceleration rate of the vehicle through other calibrations changes. Ignition delay is reduced resulting in a more responsive pedal without altering overall throttle sensitivity. Furthermore, throttle lag commonly noticed at slow speeds and while reapplying throttle has been reduced.

Speed Limiter:

APR’s ECU upgrade increases the vehicle’s top speed limiter for blistering sprints around the track or across the Autobahn without the speed limiter shutting down the fun.

Left Foot Braking:

APR’s Left Foot Braking feature allows more control over the vehicle’s throttle. The factory equipped vehicle’s throttle input is disabled while pressing the accelerator and brake at the same time. Left Foot Braking, a common motorsport driving technique, allows the driver complete control over the vehicle’s throttle and braking system, which may give the vehicle the edge it needs at the track. This feature is available when traction control is in sport or disabled.

Increased Fuel Economy:

APR’s Calibration Engineers paid close attention to several parameters directly related to fuel economy, especially while cruising at highway speeds. Depending on driving style and fuel quality, better miles per gallon may be achieved.

APR ECU Upgrade Optional Features

APR EMCS Programs and Feature

APR’s Enhanced Modular Chipping System, (EMCS), brings selectable programs and features to the factory ECU, without the need to purchase external hardware switching devices. EMCS has the ability to completely rewrite the entire operating map data within the ECU, giving each program mode a completely different set of calibration changes. On this platform, this is contrary to the industry norm of capping limits, using multipliers, only swapping portions of a base calibration, or relying on knock activity to lower output. APR’s EMCS features and programs modes are activated via the factory OEM cruise control buttons, and optionally through APR Mobile. The vehicle’s cruise control will function normally while driving.

To learn how to activate the programs and features, choose the vehicle’s cruise control type from APR EMCS Owner’s Manual.

Program Switching:

Program switching allows the user to cycle through up to four different engine calibrations and operating modes all without the need for external hardware.

Stock Mode:

By selecting stock mode, the ECU calibration is reset to the factory calibration.

Valet Mode:

APR’s Valet Mode protects your vehicle from becoming an expensive toy for unauthorized individuals. By enabling Valet Mode, the vehicle’s performance is extremely limited.

Fault Code Erase:

Fault code erase allows the user to erase and reset engine related trouble codes and ECU adaptation data without using a specialty tool.

Security Lockout:

Security lockout prevents unauthorized individuals from using APR’s EMCS functionality. When enabled, APR’s EMCS features will appear completely invisible until a user specified 2 to 4-digit security code is entered.

APR Performance Modes:

APR’s octane-specific calibrations are available for various premium and race fuels around the world. Each performance mode is a completely new calibration, altered specifically for the characteristics of the fuel quality selected.

APR Mobile

APR Mobile is a simple yet powerful tool designed to enhance the APR tuning experience.

APR Mobile installs on smart phones, tablets and other devices and provides a wireless connection to the vehicle’s engine control unit or ECU. Once connected, the device can be used to access APR’s EMCS program switching features, read and clear fault codes and data log the ECU at high data rates not found on other commercially available tools. The app can also be used to access APR’s latest news articles, locate dealers in APR’s network and review previously saved data logging sessions.

The APR Difference

APR Direct Port Programming

APR’s DirectPort Programming is now available! Any APR Dealer in the world, connected to the Internet, has direct access to APR’s latest ECU upgrades for loading directly over the vehicle’s OBD-II port. This completely eliminates the need to remove and open the ECU for currently available files and can be uninstalled at any time!

APR ECU Explorer

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.

APR ECU Composer

APR’s proprietary ECU Composer is used for altering the engine management system. With full access to every table, map and variable within the ECU, APR’s Calibration Engineers are not limited to a handful of maps as is common for most tuning companies.

APR ECU Assembly

APR’s Electrical Engineers have the ability to alter the code structure of the ECU. Through code levels changes, APR’s Engineers are able to add features to the ECU. Other changes allow higher torque limits than those achievable through only modifying calibration data or using piggyback devices as is the case for many tuners. This allows APR’s engineers to often not require transmission software to meet or exceed advertised gains. On the highly modified end, this often allows APR to make turbo upgrades operate without the need for external manual controllers.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

All APR ECU Upgrades include a 30-day money back guarantee with no questions asked. If for any reason the owners is dissatisfied with the APR ECU Upgrade, they may return to the place of purchase for a full refund, provided they are within the 30 day period from the time of the initial purchase. Labor or shipping charges are not included in the guarantee and are at the discretion of the place of install.

Limited Lifetime Warranty

All APR ECU Upgrades include a limited lifetime warranty against defects in the software, and to provide free updates and reflashes as they become available. Labor or shipping charges are not included in the warranty and are at the discretion of the place of install.