Volkswagen Golf GTI R MK7 / MK7.5 Stage 1 Upgrade
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2025 marks 11 years since the Golf MK7 was first released, and it has now become a staple of modern European hot hatches as well as the aftermarket scene. The Golf MK7/7.5 GTI and R are built on the MQB chassis, which is shared with numerous VW and Audi models such as the A3, S3, Tiguan, T-Roc, RS3, and so on.
In this article, we will focus on the MK7/7.5 Golf R, GTI, and Audi 8V S3, all equipped with the EA888 GEN3 engine. Please keep in mind that the GTI without the performance package comes with the smaller IHI IS20 turbo instead of the IHI IS38. As a result, the power output for each upgrade will be lower.
Products recommended are tagged at the bottom of this article.
Factory Power Output:
The Volkswagen Golf R is a well balanced car from factory with their powerful EA888.3 engine pushing out 206KW/380Nm (7R) 213KW/380Nm (7.5R) at the crank. On a roller dyno, we usually see 180-190KW at the wheel depends on dyno.
Stage 1 Power Upgrade:
We recommend customer to try out stage 1 upgrade as this is the most band for the bucks modification. With the stage 1 tune, you can expect 210-220KW at the wheel (depends on dyno) with factory like power delivery and more linear throttle response.
Stage 1 tunes are generally reliable, as long as the vehicle has been well-maintained with all the mechanical concerns addressed. They can safely run on a factory unmodified cars. In Melbourne, Australia hot climate, we recommend customers to use high quality 5W30 or 5W40 oil. In Motorious Performance, we use MOTUL 8100 X-CESS 5W40.
However, we do recommend the following upgrade to unleash the full potential and further enhance the driving experience:
- Turbo Inlet Elbow
- Cold Air Intake System
- Exhaust Resonator Delete
- Turbo Muffler Delete
- Stage 1 TCU tune
Maintenance Items:
- Engine Oil: MOTUL 8100 X-CESS 5W40
- DSG Fluid Change
- APR Ignition Coils
- Water Pump & Thermostat Housing
- Metal Oil Pan Upgrade Kit
- Haldex Fluid Change
Turbo Inlet Elbow:
Factory turbo inlet pipe has a small diameter of around 61mm and it steps down to 47.5mm at the end joining to the turbo. This design creates a highly restrictive airflow path between the inlet pipe and the turbo.
Aftermarket turbo inlet usually made from durable cast aluminium that is crack resistance. Their large bore design increases efficiency from the intake to the turbo without the bottleneck design of the factory unit. We see 5-8KW gain on a stage 1 tuned MK7.5 R.
We supply both CTS Turbo & Integrated Engineering inlet pipe.
Cold Air Intake:
A cold air intake lets your engine breathe better than the stock unit. It delivers cooler, and more air into the turbocharger. As a result, it will add up to few KW at the wheel but most importantly it will give you the sick intake noise!
If you are after maximum amount of intake noise, we highly recommend the CTS Cold Air Open Intake.
For those who prioritising performance with reduced heat soak, CTS Turbo offers a Enclosed Cold Air Intake System that features an enclosed air box as well as a replacement air scoop to minimise the heat soak effect.
Alternatively, Integrated Engineering also offer a versatile half-open intake system integrated with a integrated air scoop. It can be turned into an enclosed system by adding the optional air box lid.
If you do not wish to spend much on intake, consider the 'PIKEY R600' intake mod. This DIY modification involves using a Dremel tool to enlarge the air scoop, allowing more cold air to flow into the airbox. For optimal results, we recommend removing the snow guard inside the airbox during this modification.
