After checkout, you will receive an email from USP Motorsports with instructions on how your ECU can be flashed. 

NOTE: This software must be purchased along with a required APR Software Flashing Cheetah Cable. (Note: We highly recommend getting the complete APR At Home ECU/TCU Flashing Kit to avoid any potential issues during the flashing process)

APR’s ECU Upgrades are available in multiple stages, supporting various octanes both with or without any hardware modifications. Specific software is available for use with a high flow Race DP exhaust system and drop-in turbocharger upgrades are coming soon. Each stage is fully compatible with an upgraded intake, intercooler, catback exhaust, or other minor bolt on modifications.

Each stage includes optimizations to the factory boost gauge making it react more quickly and corrections to the power and torque gauges to match the increased output. Furthermore, we’ve added left-foot braking, removed the speed limiter, raised the rev-limiter and added a motorsport limiter, reenabled the exhaust crackle on models where it was removed (2019+), adjusted the factory exhaust crackle to protect the catalyst on Stage 1 and 1+ and enabled in more scenarios on Stage 2, optimized cold start, retuned the exhaust flap actuation for the best performance and sound in multiple modes, optimized high altitude mappings, retuned the throttle for better response, and completely optimized the driving experience for street and track use making for a much more enjoyable driving experience!

APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade

The APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications, and produces 459-542 HP with 451-506 FT-LBS of torque, depending on octane. Gains as high as 66-132 HP and 88-146 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, APR RS3 Intercooler System or APR TT RS Intercooler System, catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU. Upgrading the small factory intercooler is highly recommended on this platform.

APR "Lo Grip" Stage 1 modes are equipped with features that help to reduce wheel spin and aid in 60 FT and 0-60 times on street tires and un prepped surfaces. However, for vehicles equipped with much better tires and surface prep, an optional “High-Grip” mode is available to maximize launching performance!

APR Stage 1 is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, 100 AKI, 104 AKI and E85 fuel grades in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, 102 RON, 104 RON, 108 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. For maximum safety, especially on vehicles that see road course use, or long autobahn top speed runs, 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. DO NOT remove or unplug the exhaust valve actuator motors. Doing so will cause the ECU to greatly reduce output.

APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade (Sold Separately)

The APR Stage 2 ECU Upgrade maximizes performance on the stock turbo! This upgrade requires the APR Inlet System, APR RS3 Intercooler System or APR TT RS Intercooler System, and APR Race DP with the APR Race Midpipe & Exhaust System and produces 499-574 HP with 468-530 FT-LBS of torque, depending on octane. Gains as high as 92-165 HP and 113-165 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the powerband with improved turbocharger spool and improved pedal mapping. To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, catback exhaust, a quality TB inlet pipe and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU. For vehicles that are incompatible with the upgraded APR Inlet System, expected reduced output.

APR Stage 2 is available with either the factory exhaust crackle or a more aggressive “Pops and Bangs” exhaust crackle. This more aggressive option lengthens the duration of the exhaust crackle, increases the volume slightly, and operates in more modes, such as lifting off the throttle and changing gears. This is only enabled in Sport and Sport Manual mode. We do not suggest using the more aggressive mode unless the vehicle is catless. Furthermore, cold-startup exhaust noise and operation is dramatically reduced on all Stage 2 modes, and Sport mode opens the exhaust flaps at all times.

APR "Lo Grip" Stage 2 modes are equipped with features that help to reduce wheel spin and aid in 60 FT and 0-60 times on street tires and un prepped surfaces. However, for vehicles equipped with much better tires and surface prep, an optional “High-Grip” mode is available to maximize launching performance!

APR Stage 2 is available for 91 AKI, 93 AKI, 100 AKI, 104 AKI and E85 fuel grades in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, 102 RON, 104 RON, 108 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. For maximum safety, especially on vehicles that see road course use, or long autobahn top speed runs, 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. DO NOT remove or unplug the exhaust valve actuator motors. Doing so will cause the ECU to greatly reduce output.

APR Stage 3 ECU Upgrade (Sold Separately)

The APR Stage 3 ECU Upgrade is the next step towards making more power! This stage is available for multiple setups, and are all designed around using a drop-in turbocharger upgrade. Stage 3 has specific software for the TTE700 and GTX3582 drop-in factory-hybrid turbo upgrades. Both require a APR TCU Upgrade, race DP exhaust system, mid pipes, APR 980cc MPI Injectors, turbocharger inlet system, intercooler, and 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. The TTE700 requires the included wastegate actuator. The GTX3582 requires the included turbosmart wastegate actuator and MAC 3-port solenoid. A proper 500 LPH+ @ 6 bar LPPF is required to run E85, but the stock LPFP is ok for all other fuels. The TTE700 produces 576-713 HP with 523-536 FT-LBS of torque. the GTX3582 produces 581-740 HP with 511-555 FT-LBS of torque. RHD vehicles without the turbo inlet will experience reduced output. In all cases, torque is kept flat to aid in component longevity. This stage has optional high and low grip modes designed to reduce wheel spin and aid in 60 FT and 0-60 times depending on surface prep. 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. Aggressive modes are only recommended with testpipes. 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, 104 AKI and E60-E85 Ethanol in North America, and 95 RON, 98 RON, 102 AKI, 104 AKI, 108 AKI and E60-E85 Ethanol in the Rest of the World.

Hardware Upgrade Options: 

• APR RS3 Intercooler
• APR TTRS Intercooler
• APR RS3/TTRS Intake Inlet Kit
• APR RS3/TTRS Race DP & Midpipe Kit
• TTE700 Stage 3 Turbo Kit
• SRM Stage 3 Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Upgrade Kit
• SRM Stage 3 Hybrid Turbo Upgrade GTX3582

DQ500 Transmission Tune (TCU) Option: 

• APR TCU DSG Transmission Upgrade Tune For Audi RS3/TTRS