Which cars adds the most power from just a tune?

With so many factory turbo cars, I got to wondering which car would add the most power from just a tune?

Let's set an arbitrary cap of say, $60k (when the car was new), to weed out the GT-R/911 Turbo/M4 etc

I know the N54 can add a lot.  The twin turbo V8 in the 2012+ Mercedes E550 et al can add 200hp with a tune.

I don't know the exact number but I had my 2017 Fusion Sport tuned and I'd bet it gained 60-70hp. My FoST only gained 10hp but added 100lb ft/TQ...for $400!!! 

Ford 3.5 Ecoboosts are known for having a lot of headroom for extra boost. The tune I had on my 2014 SHO really woke it up, though I did have some minor driveability issues.

a lot of factory turbo cars are extremely conservative and fine to run on 87.  a 93 octane tune can do wonders.

The supercharged Audi 3.0 is notorious for being under-tuned from the factory. A simple tune with no other mods whatsoever is well over an additional 100whp.

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

I know the N54 can add a lot.  The twin turbo V8 in the 2012+ Mercedes E550 et al can add 200hp with a tune.

50% with just a tune?  Woah.

You barely got in under budget at $59,790 base price

Well the m2 is about that cap, but I'm not super familar with the s58.

B58's can pick around 100hp from a tune depending on the base tune and that is in plenty of cars under $60k. Some of them came with a really weak 300hp tune. Pretty much all the BMW turbo engines seem like that.

I'd figure the larger displacement factory turbos will have the biggest absolute number. I wonder how much something like a hellcat can do with a pulley change? They were under $60k to start I think.

camopaint0707 said:

a lot of factory turbo cars are extremely conservative and fine to run on 87.  a 93 octane tune can do wonders.

Fwiw, octane isn't the largest potential gain source. Knock limit is pretty tight to get best economy. 

ProDarwin said:

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

I know the N54 can add a lot.  The twin turbo V8 in the 2012+ Mercedes E550 et al can add 200hp with a tune.

50% with just a tune?  Woah.

 

You barely got in under budget at $59,790 base price

Yeah buddy, I'll use every penny you give me!!

I was wrong though.  The stage 2 tune requires sport exhaust.  It adds 159hp and 322tq for an eye watering total of 765!!!  I had a stock E550 and it was stupid fast.  A tuned one?!?!  Yes please! 

Edit:  I need to step away from the computer, having major comprehension problems today 

Base model is 402hp stock, tune brings it to 561.  Tq increases from 443 to 765.

The canned tunes for the 1.6T's like to add about 54whp to a 201fwhp engine. 

https://www.lap3usa.com/product-page/elantra-sport-1-6t-gdi-ecu-tune

The 3.0L the explorer st's are getting almost 500whp with a intercooler, really small and heat soaks quick when stock, and a tune. That's up from the factory 400 at the flywheel.

I recall the C5 A6 2.7T's being pretty hot with a tune, I don't remember the numbers though.  

I agree most forced induction vehicles that arent already "high output/performance"

You ever see what a tune will do on a turbo diesel pickup? 

Ranger50 said:

The 3.0L the explorer st's are getting almost 500whp with a intercooler, really small and heat soaks quick when stock, and a tune. That's up from the factory 400 at the flywheel.

Wowzers. Seems like they benefit more than the 3.5L Ecoboost motors, which is surprising

thashane said:

I agree most forced induction vehicles that arent already "high output/performance"

You ever see what a tune will do on a turbo diesel pickup? 

200hp with some smog delete and a tune is possible on some of the motors even with the stock turbo. 

The biggest I have seen in person is on the RS6 the graph is below.  Stage three with turbos, intercooler and some meth injection is almost 1000hp. 

I mean my pedestrian 1.8L E888 VW motor gains 65HP from an original 170HP rating. That is the 87 octane tune so supposedly light on timing advance. 

calteg said:

Ranger50 said:

The 3.0L the explorer st's are getting almost 500whp with a intercooler, really small and heat soaks quick when stock, and a tune. That's up from the factory 400 at the flywheel.

Wowzers. Seems like they benefit more than the 3.5L Ecoboost motors, which is surprising

About the only thing that is similar between the two is the name ecoboost.

3.0 vs 3.5 con rods....

I would imagine the diesel offerings would out-do most of the gas offerings.  They often respond massively to tunes.

In reply to wearymicrobe :

And the MPGs likely increase as well

Good call on the diesel trucks, I hadn't thought of that. I doubt very many sneak in under $60, especially with recent COVID pricing. Maybe an oddball 2wd reg cab?

The early 00's VW 1.8T is apparently quite de-tuned from the factory.  The rumor is VW didn't want it to be more powerful than the more expensive VR6 that was also an option at the time. 

calteg said:

Ranger50 said:

The 3.0L the explorer st's are getting almost 500whp with a intercooler, really small and heat soaks quick when stock, and a tune. That's up from the factory 400 at the flywheel.

Wowzers. Seems like they benefit more than the 3.5L Ecoboost motors, which is surprising

Agreed. I'm probably oversimplifiying, but in general, my perception is that the 3.5, being a larger displacement engine with less HP (360-ish, depending on application), vs. the 3.0 (400hp), there should be more headroom. Also, the 3.5 is an older design, and generally speaking, the newer and more optimized an engine is, the more the factory can push it to get every bit of potential out of it, leaving less room for the tuners. That's why the old 7.3 diesels had so much potential. They were comparatively overbuilt because things like CAE were less advanced, so they had to err on the side of making it more durable. Lower compression, beefier rods, etc. Of course, they were also less efficient, dirtier, and less powerful than their modern counterparts, too.

calteg said:

Good call on the diesel trucks, I hadn't thought of that. I doubt very many sneak in under $60, especially with recent COVID pricing. Maybe an oddball 2wd reg cab?

I was thinking diesel cars... if they haven't been shamed off the planet yet.  3-series comes in under $60k if you don't tick off every option box.  Chevy Cruze still available with one?