The advent of aftermarket power upgrades for the latest Volkswagen Golf and its hot R counterpart is slow, but steady. The video here tests a relatively simple ECU tuning. Do you think software tweaks are worth it? Watch and find out!
According to RacingLine, which developed the plug-in control unit, it raises the output from 320 PS (316 hp / 235 kW) to 370 PS (365 hp / 272 kW). The peak torque simultaneously goes up from 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) to 480 Nm (354 lb-ft). This being a Golf R, the momentum goes to all four wheels.
As for the acceleration, Volkswagen claims the hot hatch needs 4.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill. The reality is more interesting than that, however, with the stock car driver in the video nailing the launch in 4.18 seconds. The tuned one was only barely ahead with 4.07 seconds. Things kept getting more interesting from there onwards, though, so watch the video and see for yourself what an external ECU can do.