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APR
APR ECU Upgrade - 2.0T EA888 Gen 3 IS38 (Transverse) (MQB)
Fits 2015-2023 Audi S3, TTS, Volkswagen Golf R
Part # ECU-20T-EA888-3-T-IS38
1 Review
APR ECU Upgrade - 2.0T EA888 Gen 3 IS38 (Transverse) (MQB)
Fits 2015-2023 Audi S3, TTS, Volkswagen Golf R
Learn More1
Emissions
This part is legal for sale and use on Emissions Controlled Vehicles, in all 50 states, when used in accordance with the manufacturers application guide because it has a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) number.
See Emissions DetailsAPR's ECU Upgrades are the best dollar-per-horsepower modification one can make to improve engine performance. 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 ECU Upgrades are available with various features and supported octane levels and each stage is compatible with most typical bolt-on modifications. The software is installed to the vehicle's factory ECU through the OBD-II port, resulting in a clean and headache-free install. Furthermore, for those looking for tuning with a limited powertrain warranty, APR Plus has you covered!
Features:
- Horsepower - More horsepower throughout the whole rpm band
- Torque - More torque throughout the whole rpm band
- Warranty - APR Plus is available, providing a factory term limit matching limited powertrain warranty
- Fuel Grades - Multiple octanes from which to choose
- Stages - Multiple performance levels depending on installed hardware
- Flat Torque - Optional torque limited version for a flatter torque profile
- Acceleration - Accelerate faster with more power and reduced throttle lag
- Linear Throttle - Pedal maps adjusted for a more linear feel
- Brake Boosting - Left foot braking or brake boosting added
- Speed Limiter - Go as fast as you want with the speed limiter out of the way
- Standing Limiter - Increased standing limiter for higher revving at idle
- Motorsport Limiter - With the soft limiter removed, you’ll get full power right up to the hard, “bap bap bap” redline fuel cut
- Auto Start/Stop Inversion - Auto Start/Stop defaults to the off position
- Exhaust Crackle - Multiple exhaust crackle profiles including factory, mild, and aggressive all with mode switching and component protection
- Economy - While cruising, or driving normally, your fuel economy may benefit from our optimized calibration
- Flash Counter - Flash counter does not increase with each flash
- Direct Port Programming - Clean and easy install through the OBD II port without removing the ECU
- Free Updates - Get free updates for life
- Guarantee - 30 day money back guarantee
| Brand | APR |
|---|---|
| Emission Code | 1 |
| Engine Aspiration | Turbocharged |
| Engine Configuration | I4 |
| Engine Displacement | 2.0L |
| Engine Family | EA888 Gen 3 IHI |
| Engine Orientation | Transverse |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Market | NAR |
| ROW | |
| Product Type | ECU Upgrade |
| Part Number | ECU-20T-EA888-3-T-IS38 |
1
This part is legal for sale and use on Emissions Controlled Vehicles, in all 50 states, when used in accordance with the manufacturers application guide because it has a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) number.
The following vehicles are considered Emissions Controlled Vehicles:
- 1966 and newer U.S. manufactured California Certified vehicles
- 1968 and newer U.S. manufactured Federally Certified vehicles
- 1968 and newer Foreign manufactured vehicle
Important fuel quality information
Important fuel quality information
Important fuel quality information
Find your boxcode and revision
Find your boxcode and revision
Find your boxcode and revision
APR Plus Warranty Booklet
APR Plus Warranty Booklet
APR Plus Warranty Booklet
CARB EO Document
Lists applicable vehicles and scenarios. Please verify your configuration is applicable.
Lists applicable vehicles and scenarios. Please verify your configuration is applicable.
Only use fuel equal to or higher than specified. Never use a lower octane fuel. Always follow our fuel guide, especially with race fuel and Ethanol, where available. Dynos are for reference only. Results will vary. Contributing factors include the vehicle condition, vehicle setup, dyno type, dyno setup, environmental factors, fuel quality, and more. When describing fuels, the North American Region (NAR) uses the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), (RON+MON)/2, or (R+M)/2. The Rest of the World (ROW) uses RON. RON is Research Octane Number and MON is Motor Octane Number.
Have a question about this product?
- Question
Is this product designed to work in tandem with your throttle booster available for my mk7 golf r?
By Palmer Baldwin on April 28, 2023
AnswerPerfectly works together.Helpful? - Question
CARB EO document #D-783-3 does not specifically address my 2019 Audi TTS as it was published prior to the car build. Does this CARB EO extend to my vehicle or am I out of luck?
By Miles Lundquist on April 17, 2023
AnswerWe're working with CARB to get model year coverage increased.Helpful? - Question
I'm curious to why there is no stage 2 option anymore for mk7 platform, I have the APR stage 1 tune but it isn't quiet what I was hoping for, I noticed a load of stage 2 mk7 golf r's on the internet but the tune has seem to be removed, is there anyway to get something similar through you guys? or pops and bangs added to stage 1? or do I have to switch to a different company to get that?
By Jay Taylor on May 14, 2023
AnswerYou can add the hardware, but we no longer offer the pops and bangs.Helpful?
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APR ECU Upgrade Stages
APR’s ECU Upgrades are available in multiple octanes levels. Each stage is fully compatible with an upgraded intake, catback exhaust, or other minor bolt on modifications.
APR Plus
The APR Plus ECU Upgrade includes a factory term limit matching limited powertrain warranty, and is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications and produces 357 HP with 349 FT-LBS of torque. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, intercooler, catback exhaust, and various other bolt-on modifications all without requiring any new modifications to the ECU.
APR Plus is available for 91 AKI and is only available in the USA.
APR Stage 1
The APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications and produces 357-381 HP with 349-392 FT-LBS of torque. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, intercooler, catback exhaust, and various other bolt-on modifications all without requiring any new modifications to the ECU. This stage has an optional low and high torque modes to maximize clutch and transmission compatibility. 6 Speed DSG / S tronic require APR's TCU Upgrade to run the high torque software. This stage also has optional FWD and AWD files depending on setup. The FWD files will limit wheel spin in first gear. APR recommends NGK heat range 9 (NGK-R7437-9) spark plugs gapped to 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm with a change interval of 10-15,000 mi or 16-24,000 km.
APR Stage 1 is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, and 100 AKI in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, 102 RON, and 104 AKI in the Rest of the World.
APR Stage 3 DTR6054
The APR Stage 3 DTR6054 ECU Upgrade is the next step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires an APR DTR6054 turbocharger system and produces 410-491 HP with 370-425 FT-LBS of torque depending on fueling upgrades. Visit our DTR6054 Turbocharger Product Page for all product details.
APR Stage 3 Plus EFR7163
The APR Stage 3+ ECU Upgrade is the next step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires an APR EFR7163 turbocharger system, APR Fueling (MPI/LPFP in the NAR and LPFP/HPFP in the ROW), exhaust system, intake system, intercooler system and no other engine hardware modifications and produces 470-536 HP with 425-474 FT-LBS of torque. APR's TCU Upgrade is required to run this stage. This stage also has optional FWD and AWD files depending on setup. The FWD files will limit wheel spin in first gear. Additionally this stage is available with optional exhaust crackle modes. The more aggressive modes increase the length, duration, intensity, and operating modes of the exhaust crackle. APR recommends NGK heat range 9 (NGK-R7437-9) spark plugs gapped to 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm with a change interval of 10-15,000 mi or 16-24,000 km.
APR Stage 3+ is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, 100 AKI, and 104 AKI in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, 104 AKI, and 108 AKI in the Rest of the World.
APR Stage 2
The APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade is the next step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires an exhaust system and no other engine hardware modifications and produces 372-387 HP with 367-409 FT-LBS of torque. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, intercooler, and various other bolt-on modifications all without requiring any new modifications to the ECU. This stage has an optional low, medium, and high torque modes to maximize clutch and transmission compatibility. 6 Speed DSG / S tronic require APR's TCU Upgrade to run the high torque software. This stage also has optional FWD and AWD files depending on setup. The FWD files will limit wheel spin in first gear. Additionally this stage is available with optional exhaust crackle modes. The more aggressive modes increase the length, duration, intensity, and operating modes of the exhaust crackle. An intake and intercooler may be required to meet advertised figures. APR recommends APR Spark Plugs gapped to 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm with a change interval of 10-15,000 mi or 16-24,000 km.
APR Stage 2 is available for 91 AKI, and 93 AKI in North America, and 95 RON, and 98 RON in the Rest of the World.
Horsepower and Torque Dyno Charts
| Select a Dyno | Select a Dyno Type |
|---|---|
APR Calibration Report
| Stage | HP | TQ | Max Gain | Max Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock As Reported by VAG | 265-310 PS | 280 FT-LBS | ||
| Stock As Measured by APR | 294 HP | 296 FT-LBS | ||
| APR Plus | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 357 HP | 349 FT-LBS | +66 HP | +68 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 1 (Low) | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 357 HP | 349 FT-LBS | +66 HP | +68 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 360 HP | 363 FT-LBS | +80 HP | +83 FT-LBS |
| 100 AKI / 104 RON | 381 HP | 366 FT-LBS | +90 HP | +84 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 1 (High) | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 357 HP | 366 FT-LBS | +67 HP | +87 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 370 HP | 383 FT-LBS | +82 HP | +97 FT-LBS |
| 100 AKI / 104 RON | 381 HP | 392 FT-LBS | +92 HP | +109 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 2 (Low) | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 372 HP
| 367 FT-LBS
| +86 HP
| +82 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 378 HP
| 367 FT-LBS
| +92 HP
| +84 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 2 (Medium) | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 372 HP
| 385 FT-LBS
| +86 HP
| +102 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 379 HP
| 387 FT-LBS
| +92 HP
| +105 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 2 (High) | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 377 HP
| 403 FT-LBS
| +96 HP
| +122 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 387 HP
| 409 FT-LBS
| +104 HP
| +125 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 3 DTR6054 | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 410 HP | 370 FT-LBS | +147 HP | +110 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 422 HP | 390 FT-LBS | +159 HP | +119 FT-LBS |
| 100 AKI / 104 RON | 447 HP | 399 FT-LBS | +184 HP | +138 FT-LBS |
| 104 AKI / 108 RON | 464 HP | 406 FT-LBS | +201 HP | +151 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 3 DTR6054 w/ LPFP & HPFP | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 439 HP | 384 FT-LBS | +176 HP | +132 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 444 HP | 397 FT-LBS | +181 HP | +136 FT-LBS |
| 100 AKI / 104 RON | 460 HP | 411 FT-LBS | +197 HP | +148 FT-LBS |
| 104 AKI / 108 RON | 484 HP | 417 FT-LBS | +221 HP | +166 FT-LBS |
| E85 | 455 HP | 420 FT-LBS | +192 HP | +144 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 3 DTR6054 w/ LPFP, HPFP & MPI | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 439 HP | 384 FT-LBS | +176 HP | +132 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 444 HP | 397 FT-LBS | +181 HP | +136 FT-LBS |
| 100 AKI / 104 RON | 460 HP | 411 FT-LBS | +197 HP | +148 FT-LBS |
| 104 AKI / 108 RON | 484 HP | 417 FT-LBS | +221 HP | +166 FT-LBS |
| E85 | 491 HP | 425 FT-LBS | +228 HP | +171 FT-LBS |
| APR Stage 3+ EFR7163 | ||||
| 91 AKI / 95 RON | 470 HP | 425 FT-LBS | +191 HP | +152 FT-LBS |
| 93 AKI / 98 RON | 482 HP | 435 FT-LBS | +203 HP | +162 FT-LBS |
| 100 AKI / 104 RON | 508 HP | 451 FT-LBS | +230 HP | +182 FT-LBS |
| 104 AKI / 108 RON | 536 HP | 475 FT-LBS | +258 HP | +206 FT-LBS |
Only use fuel equal to or higher than specified. Never use a lower octane fuel. Always follow our fuel guide, especially with race fuel and Ethanol, where available. Dynos are for reference only. Results will vary. Contributing factors include the vehicle condition, vehicle setup, dyno type, dyno setup, environmental factors, fuel quality, and more. When describing fuels, the North American Region (NAR) uses the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), (RON+MON)/2, or (R+M)/2. The Rest of the World (ROW) uses RON. RON is Research Octane Number and MON is Motor Octane Number.
Acceleration Testing
| Stage | 0-60 MPH (1-FT) | 0-100 KPH (1-FT) | 0-60 MPH | 0-100 KPH | 0-100 MPH (1-FT) | 0-100 MPH | 100-200 KPH | 60-130 MPH | 30-130 MPH | 0-140 MPH (1-FT) | 0-140 MPH | 1/8m ET | 1/8m MPH | 1/4m ET | 1/4m MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 4.247 | 4.509 | 4.641 | 4.852 | 11.159 | 11.502 | 15.020 | 18.428 | 21.190 | 29.834 | 30.228 | 8.218 | 85.275 | 12.81 | 105.75 |
| Stage 1 93 AKI | 3.490 | 3.690 | 3.869 | 4.070 | 8.782 | 9.186 | 10.883 | 13.001 | 15.258 | 20.694 | 21.073 | 7.654 | 91.784 | 12.07 | 111.74 |
| Stage 2 93 AKI | 11.79 | 114.41 |
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 "aggressive" mode as illustrated below with our 2019 Golf R featuring a full APR Valved Catback Exhaust System.
The APR Difference
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 ECU 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 engine more powerful. We adjust air-fuel ratios, advance ignition, increase boost pressure, alter cam positions and lift profiles, and more, all depending on the type of engine and management system, of course! 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 strongest and fastest ECU upgrades, without needing costly end user adjustments. We work with the ECUs intelligent modeling and closed-loop systems, and beta test in multiple environments to create upgrades that work no matter where you drive!
APR Software Pricing Guide
Our performance software upgrade is available in multiple stages with optional features.
| APR Plus (USA/Canada) | |
|---|---|
| APR Plus ECU Upgrade | $999.95 |
| APR Stage 1 | |
| APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade | $499.95 |
| APR Stage 2 - Not for sale in the USA | |
| APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade from Stock | $649.95 |
| APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade from APR Plus | $149.95 |
| APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade from APR Stage 1 | $149.95 |
| APR Stage 3 | |
| APR Stage 3 ECU Upgrade with New APR Turbo Kit | FREE |
| APR Stage 3 ECU Upgrade from Stock | $749.95 |
| APR Stage 3 ECU Upgrade from Any Lower Stage | $249.95 |
Purchasing, Guarantee, and Updates
How to Purchase - APR Software Upgrades are only available through Authorized APR Dealers. The dealer will connect to your vehicle, and install the update.¹
Money-Back Guarantee - Try our Software Upgrades for up to 30 days, risk free! If you are not satisfied, return to an APR Dealer to have it removed and refunded.²
Free Updates - If we make an update, add a standard feature, or if the manufacturer issues an update, you are entitled to a free update.³
1. APR Software may not be available for all vehicles. Stages, programs, and features may not be available for all ECUs.
2. Excludes some Software Upgrades, such as those included with a hardware purchase. Labor charges are at the discretion of the installer.
3. Subject to availability. Labor charges are at the discretion of the installer. Applicable to the original purchaser. Second hand owners may inquire with an APR Dealer about a software license transfer fee.
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Some parts are not legal for use in California or other states with similar regulations.
