While purists, myself included, will always prefer three pedals to two, I will be the first to admit that since it’s 2003 debut, Volkswagen Auto Group’s Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) or Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) was a gamechanger. A quick google search would hail countless pages of noise samples, roll races, and technical ins-and-outs, but simply put… it’s fast… but it could be faster.
That being said, we were hyped to learn that the third generation Audi S3 would not only feature the 300hp 2.0 liter TFSI inline four cylinder engine, but it would also be paired with a fast-shifting Direct Shift Gearbox. A sure recipe for success, Audi kept this power combo together for 4 model years, giving us the chance to really test the limits of the S3.
For starters, 300hp and 281ftlbs of torque is more than enough to get a skilled driver from 0-60 in just 4.8 seconds utilizing lightning fast shifts at a 6800rpm redline that keeps you pinned under what is one of the most impressive factory torque curves in its class! Holding strong from 1800-5500rpms and five crispy shifts later, you’ll find the factory limiter hard set at 155mph, but not before passing the ¼ mile performance benchmark in about 13.3 seconds. All of this, by the way, was done on the factory 225/40 street compound tires. To say this platform is impressive is the understatement of the century, but like every car that crests the white and grey Vivid Racing dyno lab doors, it could be faster.
Our first issue with the Audi S3 was the same issue we run into with almost all OEM’s, so we addressed it immediately. The factory overrun fuel cut delay produces some happy exhaust burbles, but they serve as no replacement for response. A little acceleration enrichment management and throttle mapping saw our otherwise factory S3 immediately come alive, completely eliminating the pedal delay that plagues so many automatic transmission vehicles. From there, we spent a little time on our timing and fueling strategies, even delaying that overrun fuel cut even more for a few fireworks out the tail pipe, before ending with a safe, but aggressive 368 hp and 357 ftlbs of torque. Our new found 20% increase in horsepower and 26% increase in torque was amazing, but we knew something was missing. So, we disabled the speed limiter, and it was impressive, but still not perfect yet. So we looked to the transmission.
Interested in this Audi S3 ECU Flash? Order Here
From the factory, the DQ250 is one of the most capable modern transmissions in the sport compact game, but unlike our beloved T56’s and R154’s, the DQ250’s brawn depends less on it’s hardware and more on its software. In regular trim, Audi designed this transmission for the common person. It has been refined to focus less on violent acceleration and more on comfort, emissions, and longevity, but like most things, the OEM’s took this refinement to the extreme, effectively caging the DQ250’s spirit in the name of normality. Luckily, here at VR Tuned, we have developed a flash that allows you to harness every bit of power and translate it seamlessly to whatever road surface you choose.
The DSG is similar to your automatic and manual transmissions in that it translates engine torque to the wheels, but the way it does it would require its own article. In short, we were able to extend shift points, quicken the clutch engagement, and modify a few parameters to ensure efficient repeatable launches with our higher power levels. Most importantly, nothing we did to our transmission computer affected our engine computer. This means there were no check engine lights, no need to re-tune our ECU, and we had nailed the direct plug-and-play simplicity we have grown to enjoy across all platforms with our VR Tuned products.
Interested in this Audi S3 Transmission Flash? Order Here
All in hand, if you’re fortunate enough to own one of these marvels of German engineering, you owe it to yourself, your car, and your time slips to get it VR Tuned. Whether you’re stock, Full Bolt-On, or just wanted some burbles, you must get your DSG Tuned.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out to iori@vividracing.com, otherwise, we’ll see you at the track.
