Audi RS3 8Y 400bhp - Performance Tuning with Dyno Test

Here at Bluespark Automotive, we often eagerly anticipate certain models that catch our attention. Cars that beg to be tuned, optimized, and run on the dyno for some breathtaking performance results. Among the many vehicles we've encountered, the Audi RS3 8Y stands as a formidable contender.

There are several reasons why a vehicle might capture our interest. Sometimes, it's the novelty of its engine technology, not yet open to the likes of remapping services. Or it could just be an extremely appealing car that promises an exciting tuning experience.

This time, the Audi RS3 8Y covers both...

Our anticipation for the 2022 Audi RS3 8Y 2.5 TFSI had been growing for a while, so when we heard from a customer that they were about to take delivery of this beast, we cleared our schedule. Nothing was going to stand between us and the chance to run the Audi RS3 on the dyno.

Let's take a moment to explain the appeal of the RS3 8Ys 'new style' engine. It doesn't mean that Audi have completely re-invented the wheel but rather that the ECU is locked, impervious to conventional remapping techniques. This is common for contemporary, high-tech performance vehicles. It typically takes time before the ECU can be unlocked and remapped worldwide.

In such cases, our tuning boxes prove to be a perfect solution for the Audi RS3 8Y. Not only do they provide similar performance enhancements as a traditional ECU remap, but they also offer instant gains, saving you time and money. Just connect our box to the 8Y and immediately experience that power surge! Moreover, you'll want to keep the car under full warranty, being fresh from the factory and unlike an ECU remap which will make permanent changes, our box leaves your warranty intact as they are completely untraceable, ideal for maintenance visits to Audi. They can be quickly disconnected, returning the RS3 to its original factory state, just the way Audi like it :)

Fast forward to the much-anticipated dyno day…

The sight of this RS3 8Y pulling up outside was impressive, particularly its vibrant Kyalami Green hue (which we actually love by the way). Yes, we know it might not be to everyone's taste, and you might feel like you've stepped onto the set of the latest FAST 16 movie (or whatever number they’re up to), but with the colour being so vivid, it undeniably brings the RS3 to life.

At the end of the day, who would want a 400bhp Audi RS3 to look boring, anyway?

Now, we are currently under-going some changes at Bluespark Headquarters. Those who follow our social media accounts, will have seen certain sneak-peak looks at this, but essentially we are making some improvements to our facility and upgrading our rolling road system, which will include a four-wheel drive dyno! (Cue the audience ‘oooooo’ sounds now). Due to these changes, our friends over at Performance Centre UK – www.performance-centre.co.uk (check them out), graced us with the use of their 4WD dyno for the day.

So, we drove the RS3 for short trip over to them and up on the dyno it majestically climbed...

Firstly, we ran a stock run, with the engine left completely untouched. This provided a baseline to measure what the engine produces straight from the factory with no level of tune and no tuning box. Now, the Audi RS3 8Y, as advertised by Audi, delivers an impressive 400hp with 500Nm of torque on Audi's stellar 4WD setup - a formidable combination to its rivals.

However, as you can see from the dyno test results it was throwing out beyond what Audi claim, producing an even more impressive 417hp with 533Nm of torque (left arrow indicating power, right arrow indicating torque). This is often the case with many high-performance vehicles, where they’ll frequently exceed the manufacturer's claims.

This does means that it reduced the scope of engine enhancement, with 17hp less to work with and a whole 33Nm less of torque, our engineers really have to delve into the specifics to ensure we could still bring a significant change to the Audi RS3's power application.

Now it was time to install our tuning box (drumroll please).

You can actually take a look at the installation on our YouTube channel here:

With the box installed, it was back to the dyno for another run. This time, to see what differences had been made and how the curves now looked.

Looking at the curves now (blue vs red), you can see the noticeable difference in the shape of the curves themselves. Peak power has increased, and it now produces 451hp with our box. Take a look at the solid blue line (tuned run) indicated by the left arrow. You can see where this peak power is reflected, but also note the curve. It holds that power for much longer compared with the solid red line (stock run). It is this consistency which will make the difference on the road and allow the customer to really feel the powerfrom the RS3 lasting longer across the full rev range.

Low down torque has also greatly improved, now producing 567Nm. You can see where the red dotted line (stock run) starts to tail off, the blue dotted line (tuned run) indicated by the right arrow, really keeps increasing through the rev range. Again, it’s this consistency running right throughout the revs, which will give a distinct feel to the RS3 compared to the engine at stock.

You can see the full dyno test here, on our YouTube channel:

And just like that, it was all complete and we saw it drive away...

Overall, the Audi RS3 8Y with our 3 Channel Pro Petrol tuning box, achieved remarkable figures on the dyno. Plenty more power, impressive torque gains, and that all-important consistency through the rev range. The customer was not only able to feel the difference as they drove their RS3 home, but also left with peace of mind knowing their warranty is still intact, and our box can be easily disconnected at any time.

We hope to have the Bluespark facility complete shortly and are currently taking bookings ready for the launch of that shiny new 4WD dyno. If you wish to make an enquiry, please contact us at: [email protected]

Watch this space for further details or catch us on our socials for the on-going progress: