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Audi TTS 8SStage 1 to Stage 4 tuning guide

The second-generation TTS has the EA888 Gen 3 2.0 turbo with the IS38 turbo (APR), quattro and an S tronic gearbox. Audi launched it with 310 PS (Audi); the 2019 facelift has 306 PS and 400 Nm with a petrol particulate filter as standard (Audi), and the last European cars 320 PS (Audi). US cars were rated at 292 hp and 280 lb-ft (Audi USA). The engine and turbo are the ones in the S3 8V and Golf R Mk7, so most of their parts fit.

Years
2015–2023
Engine
2.0 TFSI EA888 Gen 3, IS38 turbo
Gearbox
S tronic (DSG), quattro
Stock power
310 / 306 / 320 PS; US 292 hp

Updated

Red Audi TTS 8S coupé with a fixed rear wing and black 20-inch wheels, side view on a city street

Power by stage

Stock is Audi's European figure for the three versions. Stages 1 to 4 are tuners' figures at the engine on pump fuel, from 95 to 98 RON (US 91 to 93 octane); Stage 4's top figure needs E85.

Stock306–320 PS
Stage 1350–381 hp Stage 2372–431 hp Stage 3410–481 hp Stage 4536–600 hp

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

Stage 1: Software only

350–381 hp

The IS38 Gen 3 engine takes software well. APR quotes 357 hp on 95 RON and 360–370 hp on 98, from 294 hp it measured stock (APR); 034Motorsport 351 hp on 95 and 377 hp on 98 (034Motorsport); Unitronic 355 hp on 95 (Unitronic); and REVO 350–375 PS (REVO). Cars with the particulate filter make a little less: Racingline quotes 370 PS without it and 355 PS with it (Racingline).

Typical cost: APR $446.95, 034Motorsport $675, Racingline £660 (Car Enhancements UK) or BR-Performance €690; DSG software $549.95 (APR) or from $180 (034Motorsport).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 1 tunes compared

TuneFuelClaimed powerPriceNotes
APR Stage 195 / 98 RON357 / 360–370 hp$446.95Low-torque files for the stock 6-speed DSG
034Motorsport Stage 195 / 98 RON351 / 377 hp$675377 hp with 400 lb-ft on 98
Unitronic Stage 195 RON355 hp—338 lb-ft
REVO Stage 1—350–375 PS—330–360 lb-ft
Racingline Stage 1—370 PS (355 PS with GPF)£660At Car Enhancements UK; with the gearbox tune £1,020
BR-Performance Stage 1—350 hp€690380 hp on the 320 PS car

Parts list

  • Engine tune required APR ECU upgrade034Motorsport softwareUnitronicREVORacinglineIE

    All of them flash the factory engine computer through the OBD port.

  • Gearbox tune recommended APR DQ250 TCU upgrade034MotorsportRacinglineUnitronic

    APR's DSG software fits 2017–2018 TTS; $549.95. 034's starts at $180.

Before you buyThe 6-speed DSG's software caps torque at about 350–380 Nm on a stock car (EcuTek); a full-torque file without a gearbox tune can make it slip. Ask for logs before and after, and use the file written for the fuel you buy.
2

Stage 2: Intake, intercooler and downpipe

372–431 hp

Stage 2 adds an intercooler, intake, turbo inlet and a downpipe. APR quotes 372–387 hp (APR), 034Motorsport 383–386 hp (034Motorsport), and Integrated Engineering 399–406 hp on 2015–2018 cars and 425–431 hp on 95–98 RON for 2019–2021 cars (IE, at GU Motorsport). On particulate-filter cars, Racingline's Stage 2 (392 PS) needs the filter removed; its Stage 1+ keeps it, at 375 PS (Racingline).

Typical cost: APR intercooler $958.95 or Wagner $949 (034Motorsport); IE downpipe $849.99 or CTS with a high-flow catalyst $599.99 (EuroSport Tuning); APR intake $358.95.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 2 results compared

SetupFuelClaimed powerPriceNotes
APR Stage 295 to 98 RON372–387 hp—Same APR file
034Motorsport Stage 295 / 98 RON383 / 386 hp$750408 lb-ft on 98
IE Stage 2, 2019–202195 / 98 RON425 / 431 hp—460–466 lb-ft
Racingline Stage 1+ (GPF kept)—375 PS—Intake, inlet, intercooler

Parts list

Before you buyRemoving the particulate filter, or fitting a downpipe without a catalyst, won't pass Israeli inspection. A full-torque Stage 2 needs the gearbox software too.
3

Stage 3: Bigger turbo in the stock location

410–481 hp

The next step replaces the IS38 with a bigger turbo that bolts into its place. APR's DTR6054 kit makes 410 hp on 95 RON and up to 491 hp on E85 with its fuel parts, priced $2,250–$4,900 (APR); IE's GT2260S file makes 464 hp on 95 and 481 hp on 98 (IE). TTE's IS38-based hybrids for the TT S start at €1,091.60 for the TTE475, and it says the TTE535 is proven at 535 PS on 99 RON (TTE).

Typical cost: APR DTR6054 kit $2,250–$4,900; TTE475 from €1,091.60 or TTE535 from €1,343.70 before VAT.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Turbo upgrades compared

TurboFuelClaimed powerPriceNotes
APR DTR605495 RON / E85410 / 491 hp$2,250–$4,900Bolt-on for MQB EA888 Gen 3
IE GT2260S95 / 98 RON464 / 481 hp—2015–2018 cars
TTE53599 RON535 PSfrom €1,343.70Before VAT; TTE475 from €1,091.60

Parts list

  • Upgraded turbo required APR DTR6054TTE hybridsIERacingline

    Stock-location turbos keep the factory manifold and downpipe routing.

  • Fuel system recommended APRIE034Motorsport

    APR's top figure uses its low- and high-pressure pumps and port injection.

  • Clutch packs or gearbox required DSG softwareSachsDodson

    At this torque the gearbox needs software, and may need stronger clutches.

Before you buyBudget for the turbo, intercooler, downpipe, gearbox software and a custom tune together. A changed turbo isn't road-legal in Israel without approval, and 99 RON and E85 aren't sold at Israeli filling stations.
4

Stage 4: Big turbo kit

536–600 hp

Past the stock-location hybrids are bigger turbo kits. APR's EFR7163 kit fits 2015–2017 TTS and makes 470 hp on 95 RON up to 536 hp on race fuel, and APR warns it may need gearbox and engine internal upgrades (APR). CTS says its JB-600, which fits 2015–2020 TTS, can make about 600 hp at the engine on E85, and 430–460 whp on 98 (CTS Turbo).

Typical cost: CTS JB-600 turbo $1,349.99.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Big-turbo options compared

KitFuelClaimed powerPriceNotes
APR EFR7163 kit95 RON to race fuel470–536 hp—Not available at the time of checking
CTS JB-60098 RON / E85430–460 whp / ≈600 hp$1,349.99Journal-bearing hybrid

Parts list

  • Big turbo required CTS JB-600APR EFR7163TTEIE

    Sized for E85 or race fuel to reach the top figures.

  • Fuel and engine required APRIE

    Port injection or bigger pumps, and stronger internals for the highest power.

  • Gearbox required DSG softwareSachsDodson

    COBB, quoted by EcuTek, warns over about 520 Nm can wear the DQ250's clutches early.

Before you buyStage 4 is a full build: choose one shop to fit, tune and stand behind it. The biggest figures need E85 or race fuel, which aren't sold at Israeli filling stations.

Where to buy

OBDeleven's plug-in reader and app offer one-click customisations for Volkswagen-group, BMW, Toyota, Ford and Mercedes-Benz cars. ECS Tuning is a US parts shop that stocks several of the brands in this guide and takes international orders; import tax and duties are charged on delivery. It lists US-market fitments. Check the fit for your car and the shipping cost before you order. We earn a commission on orders through these links, at no extra cost to you (how the site makes money).

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Quick answers

How much horsepower does a stock Audi TTS 8S have?
306–320 PS from the factory, depending on the version.
How much hp does a Stage 1 Audi TTS 8S make?
Tuners claim 350–381 hp at Stage 1, up from 306–320 PS stock (Stage 1 options).
How much hp does a Stage 2 Audi TTS 8S make?
Tuners claim 372–431 hp with a Stage 2 file and the parts it needs (parts list).
How much hp does a Stage 3 Audi TTS 8S make?
Tuners claim 410–481 hp at Stage 3: bigger turbo in the stock location (Stage 3 parts).
How much hp does a Stage 4 Audi TTS 8S make?
Stage 4 is the top of the ladder for this car: big turbo kit. The biggest builds claim 536–600 hp. Check which fuel each figure needs: Israel sells 95 and 98 octane only (Stage 4).
How much does a Stage 1 Audi TTS 8S cost?
List prices: APR $446.95, 034Motorsport $675, Racingline £660 (Car Enhancements UK) or BR-Performance €690; DSG software $549.95 (APR) or from $180 (034Motorsport).

Questions to ask the shop

  1. Is my car a 2015–2018 TTS, a 2019 facelift with the particulate filter, or a 320 PS car, and which files fit it?
  2. Which gearbox does my car have, and will you tune it with the engine?
  3. Will you log knock before and after the tune, and is the file written for 98 RON?
  4. At what torque do you advise gearbox clutch upgrades?
  5. Does the setup keep the catalyst and particulate filter, so the car passes inspection?
  6. Will you check the turbo, plugs and coils before going to Stage 2 or 3?

Compare side by side: Audi TTS 8S vs Audi S3 8V · Audi TTS 8S vs VW Golf R Mk7 · Audi TTS 8S vs Audi TT RS 8S

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