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Audi TT RS 8SStage 1 to Stage 4 tuning guide

The second TT RS got a new aluminium five-cylinder, 26 kg lighter than the old one, with 400 PS and 480 Nm and 0–100 km/h in 3.7 seconds (Audi's press release). It's the same engine as the RS3 8V from 2017, so most parts list both cars. It tunes well, and the engine computer isn't locked. Two things decide what you can do: whether your car has a particulate filter (European cars from the 2019 facelift do, and Audi's 2022 data sheet lists 98-octane fuel, its data sheet), and the S tronic gearbox, which is rated at about 600 Nm stock.

Years
2016–2023
Engine
2.5 TFSI EVO five-cylinder, aluminium block (DAZA; DNWA with filter)
Gearbox
7-speed S tronic (DQ500), quattro
Stock power
400 PS / 480 Nm
White Audi TT RS 8S coupé with the RS honeycomb grille, quattro script, red brake calipers and fixed rear wing, parked by a corrugated wall

Power by stage

Stock is Audi's figure. Stage 1 to 3 are the tuners' claims on 95 or 98 octane, which Israel sells; cars with the particulate filter sit at the lower end. Stage 4 starts at about 650 hp on 98 octane with a built engine, and the higher figures are on race fuel or E85, which Israel doesn't sell.

Stock400 PS
Stage 1440–505 hp / PS Stage 2500–554 hp / PS Stage 3578–650 hp / PS Stage 4650–1,000+ hp / PS

Names with an arrow go straight to that part's product page for this car. Names in a dashed outline are other brands that make the part; exact links for them are being added.

1

Software only

440–505 hp

The Bosch MED17.1.62 engine computer is flashed through the OBD port by every main tuner; it isn't locked like the RS3 8Y's. Which files you can get depends on your car's software version, and Unitronic says 2019+ cars may need the bonnet open while flashing. Cars with the particulate filter make less: APR's filter file gives 438 hp on 98 octane against 476 hp without it (its page).

Typical cost: remaps $610.95 (APR), $699 (IE), $725 (034) or €890 (BR-Performance); with TVS gearbox software £1,174 before VAT (PERON); gearbox software $625–$649.95 (034, APR); plug-in boxes €609 (RaceChip) or €1,299 (DTE).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 1 tunes compared

TuneFuelClaimed powerClaimed torqueNotes
APR Stage 195 / 98 RON459 / 476 hp611 / 637 Nm$610.95; filter cars 426 / 438 hp
Unitronic Stage 1 / 1+95 / 98 RON476 / 505 hp636 / 672 NmPrice through dealers; 1+ with intake and turbo inlet
Integrated Engineering Stage 195–98 RON427–517 hp662–715 Nm$699; the top figures are on race fuel or E85
034 Dynamic+ Stage 195 RON445 hp579 Nm$725; 034 requires its gearbox software even at Stage 1
REVO Stage 1 / with filter95–98 RON455–490 / 440–465 PS564–590 / 583–610 NmThrough REVO dealers; also fixes the wastegate rattle
RacingLine OEM+ Stage 198 RON483 / 467 PS575 / 565 NmWithout / with filter; gearbox calibration required
PERON Stage 1+ with TVS gearbox98–99 RON450–480 hp610–678 Nm£1,174 before VAT, with 700 Nm gearbox software
BR-Performance / with filter98 RON470 / 450 hp620 / 580 Nm€890
HPerformance Stage 1—480 PS620 Nm€999–€1,549 with gearbox tune and TÜV options
HGP Stage 1 (filter cars)—505 hp638 Nm€4,800 fitted, with shift programme and TÜV
MRC Tuning Stage 1—460–480 / 440–460 PS600–650 NmFrom £1,400; the lower figures for filter cars
Eurodyne Stage 195 / 98 RON+67 / +85 bhp+107 / +125 Nm$499; 2017–18 cars only
BAR-TEK Stage 1—465 PS600 NmPrice on request; cars without the filter
ABT Power R—470 PS540 NmWith ABT intercooler; price in ABT's configurator
RaceChip GTS 5 / with filter—+71 / +35 PS+140 / +80 NmPlug-in box; €609 on sale
DTE PowerControl X—+41 PS+100 NmPlug-in box; €1,299

The S tronic

TVS rates the stock DQ500 at about 600 Nm (its page), and most Stage 1 files already ask for 575–650 Nm, so gearbox software is part of the job. TVS's goes to 700 Nm (£574 before VAT at PERON), and APR ($649.95, its page) and 034 ($625, its page) sell their own. PERON also warns that the connecting rods are the engine's weak point, so it keeps torque down on purpose.

Before you buyCheck whether your car has the particulate filter (European cars from 2019), because the files, their power and the Stage 2 options differ. Ask what the file does to torque and whether it comes with gearbox software.
2

Intercooler, intake and downpipe

500–554 hp

With an intercooler, intake, turbo inlet and downpipe, the stock turbo reaches 500–554 hp on 98 octane, which is about its limit. Filter cars are more limited: APR's filter file has no Stage 2, RacingLine stops them at Stage 1+, and REVO's Stage 2 for them keeps the filter (its page).

Typical cost: intercooler $799.99 (CTS), $1,549.95 (APR) or $1,830 (Wagner); HJS ECE downpipe €3,510.50 (no filter) or €5,259.80 (with filter); turbo inlet $1,126.95 (APR); cat-back $2,254.95 (APR) or from £2,266.92 (Milltek).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 2 tunes compared

TuneFuelClaimed powerClaimed torquePrice
APR Stage 295 / 98 RON499 / 519 hp635 / 672 NmSame software; not for filter cars or the US
Unitronic Stage 295 / 98 RON510 / 554 hp664 / 715 NmNeeds Unitronic intake, inlet, downpipe, intercooler and gearbox software
034 Dynamic+ Stage 295 / 98 RON476 / 503 hp592 / 594 Nm$900
REVO Stage 2 / with filter95–98 RON475–525 / 450–480 PS565–651 NmThrough REVO dealers
RacingLine OEM+ Stage 298 RON520 PS650 NmCars without the filter; 507 PS Stage 1+ with it
PERON Stage 2 with TVS gearbox98–99 RON475–500 hp644–712 Nm£1,324 before VAT
HPerformance Stage 2 / with filter—530 PS660 / 670 Nm€9,999 / €10,999 fitted with TÜV approval
HGP Stage 2 (filter cars)—528 hp632 Nm€7,500 plus €1,200 fitting
MRC Tuning Stage 2—500–520 PS650–700 NmFrom £5,131.86
BAR-TEK Stage 2—510 PS630 NmPrice on request

Parts list

Before you buyRemoving the particulate filter or the catalysts means failing the annual test. HJS's ECE downpipes are approved in Europe; in Israel, ask the licensing office before fitting any of these.
3

Bigger turbo

578–650 hp

Upgrade turbos bolt on in place of the stock one. APR says its DTR8563 makes 578 hp on 98 octane with no change to the fuel system, exhaust or engine internals (its page). PERON gets 575–610 hp from a TTE700 but holds torque back because tuning harder "can easily exceed the capabilities of the connecting rods" (its page). On 98 octane, expect about 580–650 hp; the higher figures makers show are on race fuel or E85.

Typical cost: APR DTR8563 $3,599.95; TTE700 €2,100 or TTE777 €2,520 before VAT; port injectors about $635 (APR, five) or $579.99 (Unitronic); TVS 800 Nm gearbox software £896 before VAT.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Turbo upgrades compared

KitFuelClaimed powerPriceNotes
APR DTR856395 / 98 RON549 / 578 hp$3,599.95 at APR dealersWith APR intake, intercooler and plugs; free upgrade to APR's Stage 3 software
APR Stage 3 file (TTE700 / GTX3582R)98 RON596 / 601 hpWith APR softwareNeeds port injectors and a full exhaust
TTE70098 RON625 PS€2,100 before VATInjectors, 4" inlet and exhaust recommended
TTE77798 RON650 hp€2,520 before VAT700+ hp on 102 RON; needs the bigger Wagner intercooler
TTE600 RACE99 RON591 PSFrom €1,790.83 before VATIsraeli 98 is the nearest
PERON Stage 3 with TVS gearbox98–99 RON575–610 hp£1,896 before VAT (software)For a hybrid turbo such as the TTE700
HPerformance Stage 3 / with filter—625 / 620 PS€14,999 / €16,499 fittedTC-Turbos turbo, with TÜV approval
BAR-TEK hybrid turbo102 RONup to 690 hpFrom €2,465.51 before VATBAR-TEK says 102 octane is mandatory from its Stage 2
Xona XR770—up to 770 bhp£4,295Built on a new BorgWarner core

Parts list

Before you buyAsk for a 98-octane dyno sheet, and how much torque the file makes, since the stock rods set the limit. A changed turbo isn't road-legal in Israel without approval.
4

Built engine and big turbo

650–1,000+ hp

Tij-Power says the stock rods bend at about 800 Nm (its page), and BAR-TEK fits forged pistons and rods "above 650 hp". On 98 octane, built engines make about 650–710 hp: Unitronic's TTE700 file with a built bottom end claims 652 hp (its page) and HPerformance's 707 PS package has lower compression, which it says helps on pump fuel. The 800–1,000+ hp kits below give no pump-fuel figures and are built for race fuel or E85.

Stage 4 options compared

Package or kitFuelClaimed powerPriceNotes
Unitronic Stage 3 BT (TTE700)98 RON652 hpThrough dealersNeeds a built bottom end, port injectors and Unitronic gearbox software; 764 hp on E85
HGP 618 PS—618 PS€18,900 plus €2,900 fittingSteel rods, 9.2:1 compression, TÜV; cars without the filter
HPerformance Stage 4 / Stage 5—660 / 707 PS€24,999 / €34,999Special rods and lower compression; filter version from €27,899
BAR-TEK Thor G30-900102 RONup to 800 hp€3,781.47 before VATGarrett core; BAR-TEK's 1,000 hp stage adds forged internals
JDY Next Gen T3 kit—850 hp (turbo rating)$6,099Manifold, downpipe and lines; tune and fuel separate
Silly Rabbit GTX35 kit—900 bhp$3,995Garrett GTX or Xona turbo
IROZ full-frame Xona kits—800–1,300+ hpFrom $7,999.95Tune, fuel and internals separate

Parts list

Before you buyAbove about 700 hp every figure is on race fuel or E85. In Israel, a built engine and a changed turbo need their own approval to stay road-legal.
+

Suspension, brakes, wheels and body kit

listed for the TT RS 8S

Most TT RS 8S cars have Audi magnetic ride, and several springs and coilovers come in two versions. The stock brakes are 370 mm eight-piston at the front (steel or optional carbon-ceramic) and 310 mm steel at the rear. Some "big brake" kits have discs smaller than 370 mm, so they mainly save weight.

Suspension

PartForLoweringPriceNotes
H&R sport springs 28728-1With or without magnetic rideabout 25 / 20 mm$390.15At ECS Tuning
034 Dynamic+ springsStandard and adaptiveabout 20 / 15 mm$375At ECS Tuning
Eibach Pro-KitTT RS 8S20 / 15 mm€421 before VATTÜV-approved
KW adjustable spring kitWith magnetic rideadjustable$914The adaptive dampers keep working
KW V3With magnetic ride15–35 / 10–35 mm$3,394Separate rebound and compression adjustment
Bilstein B16 / B14TT RS 8S15–40 / 15–35 mm$2,239 / $1,339At ECS Tuning
APR Roll-Control coiloversTT RS 8Sadjustable$1,054.7632 damping settings, camber plates
Öhlins Road & TrackTT RS 8S—$3,093.99Cancellation kit needed on magnetic-ride cars
KW cancellation kitMagnetic-ride cars—$493.95For fitting non-adaptive dampers
H&R anti-roll bars / 034 rear barTT RS 8S—$796.99 / $37327 mm front and 25 mm rear / adjustable 24 mm

Brakes

Wheels and body kit

Before you buyLowering, bigger brakes, other wheels and body parts can all affect the annual test in Israel, so check with the licensing office first.

Quick answers

How much horsepower does a stock Audi TT RS 8S have?
400 PS from the factory.
How much hp does a Stage 1 Audi TT RS 8S make?
Tuners claim 440–505 hp at Stage 1, up from 400 PS stock (Stage 1 options).
How much hp does a Stage 2 Audi TT RS 8S make?
Tuners claim 500–554 hp with a Stage 2 file and the parts it needs (parts list).
What is the most power a Audi TT RS 8S can make?
The biggest builds, at Stage 4, claim 650–1,000+ hp. Check which fuel each figure needs: Israel sells 95 and 98 octane only (Stage 4).
How much does a Stage 1 Audi TT RS 8S cost?
List prices: remaps $610.95 (APR), $699 (IE), $725 (034) or €890 (BR-Performance); with TVS gearbox software £1,174 before VAT (PERON); gearbox software $625–$649.95 (034, APR); plug-in boxes €609 (RaceChip) or €1,299 (DTE).

Watch: real builds

From tuners', shops' and motoring journalists' own YouTube channels. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.

1:09
StockMilltek's full resonated exhaust on a TT RS 8SMilltek on YouTube
1:47
Stage 1A Stage 1 TT RS 8S with the particulate filter on the dynoMTR Performance NL on YouTube
1:08
Stage 1034's Stage 1 on a TT RS 8S: dyno runF80Pilot on YouTube
11:52
Stage 1A Stage 1 TT RS 8S: dyno and 100–200 km/hmcchip-dkr on YouTube
0:23
Stage 2HPerformance's 522 PS Stage 2 TT RS 8SHPerformance GmbH on YouTube
1:00
Stage 2APR's exhaust for the TT RS 8S and RS3 8VAPR on YouTube

All build videos, by car

Questions to ask the shop

  1. Does my car have the particulate filter, and which file versions are there for its engine code?
  2. Is the file made for 95 or 98 octane? Can I see a 98-octane dyno sheet, and is it at the engine or the wheels?
  3. How much torque will the file ask for, and which gearbox software comes with it?
  4. Does the intake fit a left-hand-drive car, and does the intercooler fit without cutting?
  5. Does the downpipe keep the catalysts and the filter, and how will the car pass the annual test?
  6. For a bigger turbo: how will you keep torque within what the stock rods and clutch can take?

Compare side by side: Audi TT RS 8J vs Audi TT RS 8S · Audi TT RS 8S vs Audi RS3 8V · Audi TT RS 8S vs Audi RS3 8Y

Same engine: 2.5 TFSI: 4 more cars with this engine

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