Build Ladder עברית

All cars › VAG › Cupra

Cupra Formentor VZStage 1 to Stage 3 tuning guide

The Formentor VZ uses the EA888 Gen 4 2.0 TSI with a 7-speed DSG. The first cars came with 245 PS and front-wheel drive or 310 PS / 400 Nm with 4Drive (Cupra's launch release); the 2024 facelift brought 265 PS and 333 PS / 420 Nm (Cupra's data sheet). Before you plan anything, check which car you have: pre-facelift cars are flashed through the diagnostic port, but tuners say the facelift's engine computer can't be flashed yet. This guide covers the 2.0 TSI VZ, not the five-cylinder VZ5.

Years: 2020–
Engine: 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen 4 (DNPA 245 PS, DNFB 310 PS)
Gearbox: 7-speed DSG (DQ381); front-wheel drive or 4Drive
Stock power: 245, 265, 310 or 333 PS; 370–420 Nm

Power by stage

Stock is Cupra's figure; the 333 PS car is rated on 98 octane. Stage 1 to 3 are the tuners' own claims, in PS or hp as each states them, on 95–98 octane; most don't say whether they are at the engine or the wheels. The lower end of each range is the 245 PS car, the upper end the 310 PS 4Drive. The top of Stage 2 needs the particulate filter removed or MTM's replacement engine computer.

Stock245–333 PS

Stage 1290–411 PS / hp Stage 2358–490 PS / hp Stage 3416–550+ PS / hp Stage 4— no verified parts

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

290–411 PS

On pre-facelift cars (2020–2024) the Continental Simos 19 engine computer is flashed through the diagnostic port (APR's coverage list). APR claims 342–350 PS for the 245 and 404–411 PS for the 310 on 95–98 octane, with the filter kept. For the 2024 facelift, RacingLine says the engine computer "cannot yet be tuned via the traditional methods", so owners are offered plug-in modules, ABT's own control unit or MTM's replacement unit.

Typical cost: remaps $526.95 (APR), €499 (TVS) or €650–€690 (BR-Performance); ABT's control unit €2,990.01; DSG software $649.95 (APR) or €400 (BR); plug-in boxes €459–€609 (RaceChip) or €799–€899 (DTE).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 1 tunes compared

Tune	Fuel	Claimed power	Claimed torque	Notes
APR Stage 1 (245)	95 / 98 RON	342 / 350 PS	540 / 548 Nm	$526.95
APR Stage 1 (310)	95 / 98 RON	404 / 411 PS	522 / 540 Nm	$526.95; APR measured a stock car at 349 hp
RacingLine Stage 1 (245)	98 RON	345 PS	500 Nm	480 Nm without a gearbox tune
RacingLine Stage 1 (310)	98 RON	405 PS	520 Nm	480 Nm without a gearbox tune
REVO Stage 1 (310)	—	374–410 PS	504–555 Nm	Runs on the stock gearbox software
Unitronic Stage 1 (310)	95 RON	386 hp	498 Nm	Needs Unitronic's gearbox software and intercooler
BR-Performance Stage 1	—	320 hp (245) / 380 hp (310)	450 / 500 Nm	€650 / €690; 400 hp / 520 Nm on the 310 with a DSG tune
TVS Engineering Stage 1 (310)	98 RON	390 hp	500 Nm	€499
ABT Power	—	290 / 370 / 325 / 400 PS	410 / 450 / 420 / 470 Nm	For the 245 / 310 / 265 / 333; €2,990.01 each, with a 5-year warranty
MTM	—	300 / 360 / 360 hp	—	For the 245 / 310 / 333; from €1,590 / €1,999 / €1,999
RaceChip GTS 5	—	+55 / +63 / +60 PS	+50 / +62 / +71 Nm	Plug-in box for the 245 / 310 / 333; €459–€609
DTE PowerControl	98 RON or more	+63 hp (310) / +32 hp (333)	+87 / +64 Nm	Plug-in box; €799–€899
RacingLine PCM (facelift)	—	up to +50 PS (265) / +60 PS (333)	+80 / +70 Nm	Plug-in box for the cars that can't be flashed

The DSG: tune it, and check whether it's locked

Unitronic says "some 2022 and many 2023+ vehicles built after 02/2022" have a locked "401" gearbox computer (its note). APR's DQ381 gearbox software ($649.95) needs an unlocked unit, done at an APR dealer. Unitronic's DSG software raises clutch pressure to 600 or 700 Nm and unlocks a 401 unit on the bench, and RacingLine unlocks it by cable or replaces the circuit board. BR-Performance charges €400 for its DSG tune. REVO says its gearbox software is "planned for a future release". We found no verified Haldex software for the 4Drive; APR covers only older Haldex units.

Before you buyRacingLine says the factory gearbox computer also caps engine torque, which is why most files claim less torque without a gearbox tune. On the front-wheel-drive 245, RacingLine recommends its lower-torque map for traction. APR warns about low-speed pre-ignition when the engine is lugged in a high gear.

2

Intercooler, intake and downpipe

358–490 PS

With the particulate filter kept, Stage 2 means an intercooler and intake plus a Stage 2 file: APR claims 416–422 PS for the 310, REVO 398–433 PS and RacingLine's Stage 1+ 439 PS on 98 octane. Unitronic says its intercooler alone added 35 hp. Files that need a downpipe with a sports cat, such as RacingLine's Stage 2 (454 PS), remove the filter and aren't road-legal.

Typical cost: intercooler £861.23 (Forge), $1,177.98 (do88) or €1,099 (MTM); Milltek downpipe £717.76–£1,386.18; TVS Stage 2 / 2+ software €599 / €699.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 2 packages compared

Package	Fuel	Claimed power	Claimed torque	Hardware
APR Stage 2 (245 / 310)	95 / 98 RON	358–363 / 416–422 PS	up to 552 Nm	Intake and intercooler; filter kept
RacingLine Stage 1+ (245 / 310)	98 RON	367 / 439 PS	up to 550 Nm	Intake, turbo inlet, intercooler; filter kept
REVO Stage 2 (310)	—	398–433 PS	540–584 Nm	Intake and intercooler; filter kept
Unitronic Stage 1+ / 2 (310)	98 RON	446 / 470 hp	556 / 584 Nm	Intercooler; Stage 2 needs Unitronic's downpipe
RacingLine Stage 2 (245 / 310)	98 RON	379–389 / 454 PS	up to 588 Nm	Adds a sports-cat downpipe; filter removed
BR-Performance Stage 2	—	340–350 / 430 hp	470–480 / 550 Nm	Full exhaust and sports cat; filter removed
TVS Stage 2 / 2+ (310)	98 RON	415 / 430 hp	560 / 600 Nm	€599 / €699; 2+ adds an intake and downpipe
MTM Stage 2 (310 / 333)	—	490 hp	—	Replacement engine computer and intake; from €15,999

Parts list

Intercooler required Forge FMINT24 intercooler RacingLine intercooler do88 intercooler MTM intercooler
Forge's lists the 245 and 310 at £861.23 and claims 83% more volume; RacingLine claims 96% more. do88's costs $1,177.98 and MTM's €1,099. APR's software cuts power when intake air gets too hot, which matters in an Israeli summer.
Intake recommended RacingLine R600 intake
RacingLine lists its R600 for the Formentor 245 and 300; the price is through dealers.
Downpipe only for the higher files HJS ECE downpipe (4Drive)HJS ECE downpipe (FWD 245)Milltek downpipe (310 / 333)
HJS's pipes keep a catalyst and particulate filter and are ECE-approved, but HJS says the approval assumes a stock engine computer and drivetrain. Milltek's comes with a sports cat, a race cat or no cat (£1,386.18 / £1,040.16 / £717.76), and it doesn't say whether the filter stays.
Filter-back exhaust optional Scorpion valved exhaust (310 / 333)ABT exhaust MTM exhaust by Milltek
These are for sound: Scorpion's valved system is £2,066.45, ABT's €3,240 and MTM's €2,874–€3,749. Cupra offers an Akrapovič system from the factory on the 333.

Before you buyRemoving the particulate filter means the car won't pass inspection. Even an "ECE" downpipe is approved only for a stock engine computer, so ask the shop how a tuned car will pass the annual test.

3

Bigger turbo

416–550+ PS

On the 245, the cheap step is the bigger factory turbo from the Golf R and S3: APR's file for it claims 416–425 PS. RacingLine's Garrett GT2260S claims 439 PS with the filter kept. On the 310, Garrett's PowerMax GT2563S turbo is the usual upgrade: APR claims 485–489 PS on 95–98 octane and Unitronic 537 hp on 98. TVS says Stage 3 often needs upgraded fuel pumps and injectors.

Typical cost: APR PowerMax GT2563S turbo system $2,499.95; TTE575 €3,276.47; HGP's TÜV-tested kits €9,600–€14,900 plus fitting.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Turbo upgrades compared

Kit	Fuel	Claimed power	Claimed torque	Notes
APR Stage 3 factory turbo swap (245)	95 / 98 RON	416 / 425 PS	542–545 Nm	Golf R / S3 turbo, part 06Q145703G
RacingLine Garrett GT2260S (245)	98 RON	439 PS (458 without filter)	529 / 556 Nm	Filter kept at the lower figure
APR PowerMax GT2563S (310)	95 / 98 RON	485 / 489 PS	555 / 564 Nm	$2,499.95 turbo system
Unitronic Stage 3 PowerMax (310)	98 RON	537 hp	621 Nm	Price not shown
RacingLine GT2563 (310)	98 RON	512 PS	648 Nm	Filter removed; downpipe needed
TTE575 hybrid (310 / 333)	98 RON	550 PS+	—	€3,276.47
HGP turbo kits (310)	—	444 / 480 / 526 PS	564 / 580 / 629 Nm	TÜV-tested; €9,600 / €11,200 / €14,900 plus fitting
MTM Stage 3 (310 / 333)	—	525 hp	—	Turbo kit, intake and exhaust; €21,499

Parts list

Bigger turbo required APR PowerMax GT2563S Garrett PowerMax TTE575 HGPGolf R / S3 factory turbo
Garrett lists its PowerMax for the Formentor 2.0 TSI 4Drive. Each turbo needs a matching file, and the gearbox needs its own tune.
Fuel system often needed High-pressure fuel pumpInjectors
TVS says Stage 3 often needs upgraded fuel pumps and injectors.

Before you buyA changed turbo isn't road-legal without approval; HGP's kits are the only ones here that say they are TÜV-tested. RacingLine caps turbine speed because the stock turbo can overspeed at higher tunes, and Unitronic warns about the DQ381's "failure-prone plastic oil tubes".

4

Built engine

no verified parts

We found no built short block or forged internals sold for the EA888 Gen 4 in the Formentor, so we don't give a Stage 4 figure. TVS lists Stage 4 software for €1,499 and says a forged engine is required, but gives no figures (its page). If you want to go further, find a shop that has built one of these engines and can show its results.

Watch: real builds

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

Stockcarwow reviews the Formentor VZcarwow on YouTube

StockMarek Drives tests the Formentor VZ 310Marek Drives in English on YouTube

StockAutogefühl drives the 333 PS facelift Formentor VZAutogefühl on YouTube

Stage 1RSA Motorsports' Stage 1+ Formentor VZ, 100–200 km/hRSA Motorsports on YouTube

Stage 2BR-Performance tunes a Formentor VZ 310 to Stage 2Fanatics100% on YouTube

Stage 2A Stage 2 Formentor VZ, 100–200 km/hLegal Racer on YouTube

All build videos, by car

Questions to ask the shop

Is my car pre-facelift or 2024-on? Can you flash my engine computer's box code through the diagnostic port, or does it need a plug-in module or a replacement unit?
Is my DSG computer the locked "401" type? How will you unlock it, and who covers the gearbox afterwards?
Can I see the 95 and 98 octane files and a dyno sheet? Is there a lower-torque file if I don't tune the gearbox?
Does this stage keep the catalyst and particulate filter, and how will the tuned car pass the annual test?
Which intercooler do you fit for Israeli summer heat, and will you log intake air temperature?
What warranty do I get, can the car go back to stock, and will you service the DSG and check its oil tubes?

Compare side by side: Cupra Formentor VZ vs Audi S3 8Y · Cupra Formentor VZ vs VW Golf R Mk8 · Cupra Formentor VZ vs VW Golf GTI Mk8

Same engine: EA888: 10 more cars with this engine

Which car should we cover next?

One new guide every week. Tap “Me too” on a car you want, or search for any car on our list. The most-requested cars get written first.