Zero to Hero - MK7 Performance Tuning with A1 Autohaus

You've recently acquired a MK7GTI or MK7R, and from the moment you took ownership, your excitement was palpable - and for good reason. These vehicles are a product of careful engineering, offering excellent value and an enjoyable driving experience. However, if your experience is anything like ours, you might find yourself seeking a bit more thrill after a few months. As car enthusiasts, we understand the desire to tweak and enhance our vehicles to make them even more exciting.

In this guide, we will guide you through the process of personalizing your car with performance enhancements at A1 Autohaus.

Before we delve into the details, it's important to note that as we advance through the stages, you should have already installed the performance enhancements mentioned in the previous stages. Also, ensure to verify the compatibility of the enhancements with your specific car model and year, as VW/Audi is known for frequent updates.

Some baseline information for the MK7 GTI and MK7R

Let's begin by understanding the baseline performance of your car. Both the Volkswagen GTI and Golf R are equipped with similar engines based on the 2.0T Gen 3 TSI power plant and are built on the MQB chassis. However, there are some key differences between the two models.

The GTI delivers 164 kilowatts at 4700 rpm and 350 Newton meters at 1500 rpm, is front-wheel drive, and comes with a manual or DSG automatic transmission. The Golf R, on the other hand, offers 235 kilowatts at 5600 rpm and 400 Newton meters at 2000 rpm, is all-wheel drive, and is also available with manual and DSG transmissions here in Australia.

Stage 1!

Now, let's discuss the first stage of enhancements. These are designed to keep your car emissions compliant, but still dramatically improve performance. This is best suited to those not wanting to add to many additional parts and are just chasing a nice bump in overal power. We have partnered up with our tuning partners Ecotune and TVS to ensure best resutls are achieved. This first step of enhancements is:

• Stage 1 ECU Tune 
• Intake Upgrade 
• Inlet Elbow Upgrade

The cold air intake is often the first modification car enthusiasts make. It allows your engine to breathe better than the stock unit, delivering cooler, more air into the turbocharger, which can add up to 7.5 kilowatts or more. A1 Stage 1 Performance ECU Tune is the best value for money upgrade, offering up to a 80 kilowatt and 140 Newton meter increase over the stock power levels. Pair this with reputable transmission software, and the performance outcomes are fantastic!

Stage 2!

As we move to the second stage you will need to upgrade your engine software to Stage 2, and at this point transmission software (or a clutch upgrade, for manual cars) is mandatory. This will give you another significant increase in power and torque over the Stage 1 configuration mentioned earlier. However, before installing stage two, make sure to check your local emissions laws as Stage 2 is generally not deemed to be emissions compliant due to the downpipe upgrade.

For Step 2, further enhancements are required:

• Stage 2 ECU Software
• Transmission Software (or a clutch upgrade for manual vehicles)
• Downpipe Upgrade
• Depending on application and tune, an intercooler upgrade
  
  

Stage 3!

For the third stage, we're crossing into the 300+KW level. To achieve this, we will be utilising a turbocharger upgrade, and in some cases, E85 fuel!

Stage 3 is the ultimate in performance applications for the Volkswagen/Audi platforms. Utilizing an upgraded turbocharger, and in some cases upgraded fuelling components, you can take your Golf to north of 300KW (doubling the cars factory power levels), even more with E85 (where power levels up to 380KW are achievable). 

For Step 3, further enhancements are required:

• Stage 3 ECU Software
• Stage 3 Transmission Software
• Turbocharger Upgrade
• Intercooler Upgrade
• Fuelling upgrades (dependant on power levels)
  ... and more, have a chat with us!

We hope you found this guide helpful. Upgrading your car with performance parts can be complex, especially if you're new to it. If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our team of experts.