Automobiles Review

Tag: ECU

  • APR Audi R8 5.2L FSI V10 ECU Upgrade

    APR-Audi-R8-V10-ECU-thumbAPR announce their Stage 1 ECU Upgrade which is applicable on the Audi R8 V10. The tweak jumps the power up to 583 (crankshaft)hp although the end result varies depending on the fuel used . The remapping will be fine tuned entirely in accordance to what you usually put in the tank and at APR dealers you can constantly shift from 93 octane to 91 octane or you can completely refresh the system and return to stock power.

    Even better, because the upgrade concerns the 5.2L FSI V10 engine and less so the car itself, the Lamborghini Gallardo can also potentially benefit from the boost. APR have managed to comply with most the manufacturer’s standards so we are promised absolute driveability and reliability. So let’s break it down. At best you get 583 hp and 431 lb-ft of torque. That’s 58 hp more than the standard R8 Coupe and additional 53 lb-ft of torque.

    The Stage 1 ECU upgrade is still being developed for the differently calibrated engines (such as the ones in the R8 GT or the Superleggera) but as soon as it’s out, owners of the initial upgrade will be entitled to the fully loaded ECU – neat. Now watch the video and get hooked.

    APR Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI remapping
    APR Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI remapping

    httpv://youtu.be/e-1LiJhrZog

    Source: APR

    Video Source: APRVideos via YouTube

  • Alfa 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore

    Alfa-Romeo-8C-Competizione-Wheelsandmore-thumbFew have dared to modify the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione partly because it’s such a rare find and partly because it’s such a masterful piece of art. Wheelsandmore however, quite ambitiously, have taken up the challenge to spice things up. But even they are cautious about it liking the “Senza-Cromo” (that’s how they called their project) to “delicate surgery.” The power is up, the suspension is new and the wheels are big – an ordinary formula for an extraordinary car. Applicable on the Alfa 8C Spider as well.

    Let’s start with the figures first. With an ECU upgrade and a handcrafted, stainless steel exhaust system, Wheelsandmore have been able to increase the output from 450hp and 470 Nm to around 485 hp and 520 Nm. Because of the remote controlled valve flaps on the exhaust pipes, the 8C will even sound right, or at least distinctive.

    What can be described as a handling upgrade is the brand new set of wheels – customizable 6Sporz² ultra light wheels (that can come in full carbon). At the front, they measure to 9.0×21-inches while at the back, we have two wider wheels – 12.5×21-inches – wrapped in 345/25/21 S1Evo tires from Hanook.

    Improving on the ride (notoriously bad with the 8C) is the new suspension coilover kit – fully adjustable in terms of compression and rebound. Whether this will benefit your lap time or hurt your spine even more (or both actually), remains unknown.

    As a finishing touch we have the paint job. It’s just that it isn’t paint. More like matte white foil. The red and black stripe though, we like that.

    Wheelsandmore Alfa-Romeo 8C Competizione
    Wheelsandmore Alfa-Romeo 8C Competizione
    Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore
    Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore
    Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore
    Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore
    Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore

    Source: Wheelsandmore

  • JE Design Porsche Panamera 970

    JE-Panamera-970-thumbJE Design have been working on a Porsche recently and this is the end result – the JE Design Panamera 970. Judging by the pictures, we can’t decide whether they have made an ugly car even uglier or not. We do know however, that the power is up and when thundering down the road, bystanders do not pay attention to small details like aesthetics, right?

    Performance upgrades for both, the Panamera Diesel and Panamera Turbo are available. The former is rather subtle but the one for the petrol restores the balance. The 3.0-liter, 250 horsepower diesel gets an ECU tweak that translates into an additional package of ponies (50 more) and some more torque (from 550 Nm to 650 Nm). That newfound power sheds .2 seconds off the 0 to 60 time which now stands at 6.5 seconds. On the flip side, the 4.8 bi-turbo petrol Panamera already has a dramatically more powerful engine – 500 horsepower in total to be exact. Add the ECU upgrade to that and you get 600. Torque is up from 700 to 850 Nm and the result is a 3.8 second 60 mph sprint. It all sounds like engine abuse but actually the packages are TUV certified and the owners get a one-year warranty with the option to extend it even further.

    To match the performance, some aerodynamic OEM bits and pieces have been bolted on the outside. A new front bumper now channels more airflow into the intercooler and has some rather ostentatious LED daytime running lights. The sideskirts have a strange hollow design that culminates in rear air inlets. At the back, a rear spoiler is there to stay while the rear bumper has an integrated diffuser and an air outlet. All fits perfectly with the standard exhaust system but probably it wouldn’t hurt anyone to go with the JE Design cat-back exhaust system that has controllable valves on the petrol Panamera. Each of the four oval pipes at the back end are 100 mm in diameter.

    The standard “Porsche Active Suspension Management” system tells the dampers how to behave has been preserved, but now an air-suspension from JE Design hunkers down the Panamera even lower. From 20 to 30 mm lower to be more precise. At the very least. with that lowered stance, the “Pandora” 9 and 10,5 x 22 wheels fill the wheel arches even more impressively. Tires, front and back – 265/295 wide and 30/25 thin, complete the overall JE Design feel.

    JE Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970
    JE Design Panamera 970

    Source: JE Design

  • Arden Range Rover Evoque

    Arden-Range-Rover-Evoque-thumb“Auto Motor und Sport” is one of the well known automotive magazines in Germany and recently its readers voted the Range Rover Evoque as the most popular import SUV in the country. That is good news for Arden, a tuning house based in Germany that has more than 40 years of experience with British carmakes. Naturally, now they have introduced some enhancements for the Evoque which will give that extra character a good SUV deserves.

    In a frontal view, the Arden Evoque makes an impression with its new, handmade, stainless steel mesh grill that has the company’s typical patterns. A party piece further back is the addition of illuminated side stainless steel pipes. They have been specially designed for the Evoque and subsequently they fit perfectly. You can use a remote control to turn them on for that instant glamor and functionality as well – light can come in handy when getting in or out.

    Sadly the Arden Evoque won’t be too fit for off-roading for the springs are also of a special kind – the 30mm lower kind – while that might be viewed as a slight disadvantage, it does give the SUV an attractive road stance.

    It’s not all shell decorations with the Arden people. The Evoque’s 2.2 Diesel engine has underwent an ECU tweak with an end result of 30 hp more power and 50 Nm additional torque. That may not sound a lot but it will certainly be felt at low and medium engine speeds.

    Arden Range Rover Evoque
    Arden Range Rover Evoque
    Arden Range Rover Evoque
    Arden Range Rover Evoque
    Arden Range Rover Evoque
    Arden Range Rover Evoque

    Source: Arden

  • Renntech MINI ECU Upgrade

    RENNtech-MINI-thumbRENNtech Tuning usually deal with ECU tunings and exhaust system fiddling. Now the Mini Cooper has been introduced to them and it wont be an exception.

    ECU upgrades will be available for both Mark 1 (2006-2010) and 2 (2010-present). The RENNtech people have an already developed tuning program for BMW so why not MINI? Significant change after the upgrade, can be felt in the “S” and John Cooper Works editions. By modifying the ignition timing and throttle mapping, optimizing air/fuel ratio, overriding the top speed limiter and tinkering with the turbo where possible, RENNtech’s ECU upgrade has managed to extract 45 hp more from the standard engine. On Mark 2 MINI that ECU boost can be initiated by the press of a button (the sport button) so that the driver can have full control on the engine works.

    RENNtech MINI
    RENNtech MINI

    To round things up, RENNtech have thrown in an Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust system and an optional down pipe for the additional 8 hp and 10 lb/ft of torque. Who says toy dogs can’t bite?

    Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust
    Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust

    Source: RENNtech

  • Superchips boosted BMW’s 3.0d

    Superchips are ready with another performance package specially for BMW. This time they offer a new ECU remap for the mighty 3.0 liter straight-six diesel. The engine is mounted on 3er (E90/E91/E92/E93), 5er (F10), 7er (F01), GT (F07), X5 (E70), X6 (E71).

    The 2993cc BMW diesel engine originally develops around 240hp (it varies for different models) and 520Nm of torque. The effect of the ECU remap is 44bhp at 4183RPM and 90Nm of torque at 2222RPM. (more…)

  • AUDI TT RS boosted to 401 bhp and 551Nm by SuperChips Ltd.

    Audi TT RS is powered by five-cylinder 2.5 litre turbocharged direct injected TFSI engine. All the power is transmitted to the road through the company’s trademark – Quattro four wheel drive system. The powerful engine produce 335bhp.

    Superchips ltd offer a perfomance package, which includes latest ECU remap, so the small sports car is boosted to 401 bhp, with a maximum power gain of 63bhp at 5989 rpm. The amazing result is achieved thanks to close examination of the TT RS’s Bosch ME9 ECU, so the experts revealed scope for performance improvements, realised through a combination of fine tuning ignition, fuelling and turbo boost settings. (more…)

  • More power for Land Rover Discovery TDV6 from Superchips Ltd

    The big SUVs became so popular last years, that there is at least on vehicle in every single family. The practicality and good comfort of Land Rover Discovery TDV6 made it a good choice among the other vehicles.

    Now Superchips Ltd unveil a performance enhancing bluefin Plug and go remap for the popular 2.7-litre 6 cylinder turbo-diesel engine in Discovery. (more…)

  • Subaru Impreza WRX STI spec C

    Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today launches the “Subaru Impreza WRX STI spec C”, a new addition to the current WRX STI line-up. The model goes on sale today through Subaru dealerships in Japan. (more…)

  • edo GTS with 450 hp and a top speed of 270 km/h

    edo competition Motorsport is now offering more power for the Porsche Cayenne GTS and an aerodynamics package that transforms this SUV into a true powerhouse with the alluring character of a sports car.

    (more…)