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 ECU Upgrade Stages

APR’s ECU Upgrades are available in multiple stages supporting various octanes both with or without any hardware or transmission modifications. Specific software is available for use with a FWD Race DP or AWD Race DP, factory GTI IS20 turbo upgrade, and factory Golf R IS38 turbo upgrade. Each stage is fully compatible with an upgraded intake, intercooler, catback exhaust, or other minor bolt on modifications.

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 234 HP with 273 FT-LBS of torque. Gains as high as 65 HP and 78 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band, making the vehicle exceptionally quicker in all scenarios.

The APR Plus ECU Upgrade matches the performance of our Stage 1 ECU Upgrade (87 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! This only excludes our Race DP and turbo/fueling upgrades. 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 I ECU Upgrade

The APR Stage I ECU Upgrade is the first step towards making more power! This simple upgrade requires no engine hardware modifications and produces 234-245 HP with 273-301 FT-LBS of torque. Gains as high as 65-80 HP and 78-107 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band.

To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, intercooler, catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU. APR recommends properly gapping the factory spark plugs to a tighter gap (Ex: 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm), properly installed and torqued (Ex: Per the manufacturer's specifications), and maintained with a shorter change interval (Ex: 10,000-15,000 mi or 16,000-24,000 km).

APR Stage II ECU Upgrade

The APR Stage II ECU Upgrade is the next step towards making more power! This upgrade requires a FWD Race DP or AWD Race DP, and produces 246-247 HP with 275-301 FT-LBS of torque. Gains as high as 75-80 HP and 80-107 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band.

To get more power, the vehicle can be outfitted with an upgraded intake, intercooler, catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU. APR recommends properly gapping the factory spark plugs to a tighter gap (Ex: 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm), properly installed and torqued (Ex: Per the manufacturer's specifications), and maintained with a shorter change interval (Ex: 10,000-15,000 mi or 16,000-24,000 km).

APR IS20 Turbo Upgrade

This ECU Upgrade requires the factory IS20 turbocharger, found on the MK7 GTI, and separate ECU Upgrades are available for use with the factory DP exhaust system or a FWD Race DP or AWD Race DP.

With the factory exhaust DP it produces 274-306 HP with 308-326 FT-LBS of torque. Gains as high as 104-136 HP and 113-138 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band.

With a FWD Race DP or AWD Race DP it produces 284-319 HP with 311-330 FT-LBS of torque. Gains as high as 114-149 HP and 117-145 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band.

APR highly recommends the vehicle be outfitted with an upgraded intake and intercooler. To get more power the vehicle can be outfitted with a catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU. APR's TCU Upgrade may be required to prevent transmission slip on DQ250 DSG/S Tronic models and is required to achieve a higher redline. APR recommends properly gapping the factory spark plugs to a tighter gap (Ex: 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm), properly installed and torqued (Ex: Per the manufacturer's specifications), and maintained with a shorter change interval (Ex: 10,000-15,000 mi or 16,000-24,000 km).

APR IS38 Turbo Upgrade

This ECU Upgrade requires the factory IS38 turbocharger, found on the MK7 Golf R. It requires FWD Race DP or AWD Race DP, upgraded intake and intercooler. It produces 351-357 HP with 335-341 FT-LBS of torque. Gains as high as 146-188 HP and 160-169 FT-LBS of torque are available throughout the power band.

To get more power the vehicle can be outfitted with a catback exhaust and other small modifications without requiring any new modification to the ECU. APR's TCU Upgrade may be required to prevent transmission slip-on DQ250 DSG/S Tronic models and is required to achieve a higher redline. APR recommends using colder heat-range spark plugs (Ex: NGK-R7437-9), properly gapped to a tighter gap (Ex: 0.024" ±0.002" or 0.6mm ±0.05mm), properly installed and torqued (Ex: Per the manufacturer's specifications), and maintained with a shorter change interval (Ex: 10,000-15,000 mi or 16,000-24,000 km)

APR World Class Calibration Expertise

Tuning 101:

The 2.0T engine uses a Continental Simos 18 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 running more boost pressure, optimizing the cam shaft positions, valve lift actuation, adjusting the air/fuel ratio, advancing ignition timing, and more.

A Better Engine Management System:

The 2.0T’s 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 years 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. Mastery of the boost control system makes for an impressively predictable driving experience as the turbo spools quickly, delivering instant power, while torque-by-gear helps with traction control and protects the engine from being lugged out in tall gears. 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.

Motorsport Rev Limiter:

APR’s Motorsport Rev Limiter allows the engine to reach max RPM without the ECU slowing down acceleration nearly 150 RPM earlier. The result is more power to redline and a definable redline feeling as seen on Audi Quattro GMBH vehicles such as the RS4, RS5, and R8.

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 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. On the highly modified end, this often allows APR to make turbo upgrades operate without the need for external manual controllers.

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!