Description

Overview

The DSG transmission found in the new 2022+ Volkswagen GTI/R 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. Our 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! We saw 25-32 WHP and 34-44 WFT-LBS of torque, depending on octane, simply by adding our TCU Upgrade on top of our Stage 1 ECU Upgrade on an otherwise stock MK8 GTI. This and other changes make the TCU upgrade necessary on any tuned vehicle.

Fits 2022+ Volkswagen GTI, Golf R, and Audi S3

Features:

Increases horsepower and torque on tuned vehicles
+25-32 WHP and +34-44 WFT-LBS of torque (MK8 GTI w/ APR ECU)
Maximizes the torque capacity of the transmission
Increases clutch pressure to avoid clutch slipping and damage
Optimized wide open throttle shift points
Optimized launch control strategies
Optimized shift times
Protection routines and limits prevent overpressuring physical seals
Protection routines and limits prevent overpowering electrical components
Fully compatible with APR Plus
Free lifetime updates
Direct OBDII port flash (No TCU removal)

Find your boxcode and revision
Find your boxcode and revision

Performance notes: When updating the TCU, always check for and update to the latest ECU version, if available. We have only validated our TCU upgrades while using our ECU upgrades. When not using both in combination, various behaviors and features may not be predictable or as described. Compatibility notes: Most vehicles with a build date of 01/2022+ are not currently compatible due to a locked TCU.

Increased horsepower and torque

From the factory the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) tells the Engine Control unit (ECU) to reduce torque to prescribed factory limits, which greatly impacts the horsepower and torque gains from our ECU upgrade. We increase these limits and make other critical changes to ensure the transmission can withstand the increased output to allow the engine to achieve more power and torque! On our MK8 GTI with the new 2.0T EA888.4 engine, we dyno tested the vehicle with each octane on our ECU Upgrade with no other hardware. We saw an additional 25-32 WHP and 34-44 WFT-LBS of torque simply by adding our TCU Upgrade. The TCU upgrade transforms the vehicle and makes it significantly more fun to drive. It’s almost like getting tuned all over again!

Maximum transmission torque capacity, clutch pressure, and safety

We’ve recalibrated transmission limiters to allow the transmission to see more torque, and to prevent clutch, we’ve also recalibrated clutch pressure. This relationship is dynamic. As the transmission sees more torque, pressure is increased progressively as to not overstress the system or create harsh shifting. Furthermore the system is expertly recalibrated to the physical limits of the system. Too much pressure can blow out physical seals, and too much current can damage electrical components. We don’t simply turn off the limits and crank pressure to the maximum as a finely tuned balance is necessary for component safety.

Optimized launch control strategies

From the factory launch control is heavily regulated and limited resulting in a muddy launch as the transmission and engine fight to control torque. This is completely contrary to other DSG transmissions of the past and is a constant complaint on both tuned and stock vehicles as the factory method overlimits torque causing slow launches and slow 60-ft times. We’ve recalibrated the system to allow for a faster and more consistent launch, and ensured the clutches lock up to eliminate excessive clutch slip on the launch.

Optimized shift times

Shift timers are optimized to deliver the fastest possible shifts allowable by the transmission. Furthermore, artificial delays between requesting a manual shift and receiving one have been reduced as much as possible.

Who we are - We’re a global automotive engineering firm nestled in Opelika, Alabama. Our 80,000ft² state-of-the-art facility is home to some of the best engineers in the industry, who have mastered hundreds of engine management systems. We have multiple engine and chassis dynos, and the resources necessary to create our TCU Upgrades in-house, from the ground up! We're not a new company either. We've been around since the 90's and we have a strong financial backing to ensure we'll be here to support you for decades to come!

What we do - We optimize everything to make your transmission more capable. We don’t take shortcuts, and we don’t take risks. We do it the right way.

How we differ - With our proprietary calibration and direct ram access data logging tools and operating system code changes, we’re able to make some of the best TCU upgrades, without needing costly end user adjustments.