Part 3: The Quest for the Perfect Tune

[Rik_CT4s]

Yes, I am just back from doing that.

The test was done with 85% SoC. Same road, same direction. Slope a tiny bit different because with stock it takes 60 meters more to reach the 200km/h.
Tests done in Sport Plus in both cases, flooring the car at 70kph.

Here is the stock:

And here the tuned:

With 100% SoC it can run 6.8x (I got that before, but I wanted to show the difference in exactly the same conditions back to back). Or if I go a bit downhill... but that's cheating.
Keep in mind, my car is by far the heaviest one - it is a Turbo S CT with absolutely every option ticked, even the rear seat entertainment. This also shows in the stock time though.

In sum for the Turbo S CT (MY22). @prj ran @ 85% SOC, and my run @ between 80-85% SOC. We drive exactly the same car type. Also fully loaded here, except entertainmaint in the back that PRJ has. I drove it on 22 inch Vossen.

I guess the most interesting is to compare no launch no tune (as most have) versus the tuned status (no launch, but with the launch patch, and tuned). This will show the most realistic day-to-day situation. Correct me if I am wrong.
When LC no tune is used, the difference with the tuned version is much smaller.
Benefits would be sprints without LC
100-200kmu is unfortunately not impressive, but that is the limitation of the battery/inverters, not because of the tune.

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[prj]

LC no tune/my tune should be pretty similar.
The Turbo S can't be any faster in LC than it is from factory because it just runs battery/inverter limit all the time already stock.

TBH LC is useless 99% of the time. You're not gonna stop your car, then go into LC and launch it when you want more power while you're already moving.

 

[Rik_CT4s]

LC no tune/my tune should be pretty similar.
The Turbo S can't be any faster in LC than it is from factory because it just runs battery/inverter limit all the time already stock.

TBH LC is useless 99% of the time. You're not gonna stop your car, then go into LC and launch it when you want more power while you're already moving.

Fully agreed.
Any chance to improve the tune after say 160kmu....thereafter it is dramatic....up to about 160kmu it is quite impressive but then the party trick ends suddenly
Or it this just limited by the hardware.

 

[Gru]

out of curiosity, you see the shift from 1st to 2nd gear (acceleration and speed "bump") in the no LC/ no tune, but never in the other runs.
why ?

 

[prj]

Fully agreed.
Any chance to improve the tune after say 160kmu....thereafter it is dramatic....up to about 160kmu it is quite impressive but then the party trick ends suddenly
Or it this just limited by the hardware.

For the final time, it's running hardware limit. Probably said it 100 times now
If you don't like it get an e-tron, they seem to be more slippery. Of course it's possible to flash the BMS and get 1000hp. Side effects may include a hot tingling sensation in your feet from the battery fire.

 

[prj]

out of curiosity, you see the shift from 1st to 2nd gear (acceleration and speed "bump") in the no LC/ no tune, but never in the other runs.
why ?

Well, I still had my tune on it, just the torque limiter was changed to the standard one, shift maps still optimized. And stock the shift point also depends on which mode you are in. In mine it is set to the optimal speed in all modes, and that's below 100km/h for the Turbo S.

 

[jakeCT]

I received my package containing the tuned ASG for my Taycan 4 CT today. After confirming receipt of my vehicle data, @prj shipped quickly through the US distributor and it arrived in 1 week. I'm excited to install it in my car but it will be serviced at the dealership until the end of the month.

 

[prj]

While our site gets sorted out the US distributor set it up in their store:
https://shop.efi-motorsport.com/pro...tuning-for-the-porsche-taycan-and-audi-e-tron

We're also also working with a number of companies to bring a full service solution closer to customers and build a distributor network.

 

[jakeCT]

(My service appointment was pushed back so...) tune installed!

(left) original ASG
(right) MapEV tuned ASG

I watched the ASG removal video posted by @prj in the OP a couple times and went for it. I highly recommend watching the video for those installing the tune- it's spot on. Don't skip a step as you'll need all the room you're going to get to access the unit and avoid damaging clips and panels. I would also recommend:
- you must have the M8 triple square socket (seems uncommon in the US, has to be special-ordered on Home Depot; I got it next day from Amazon); I attempted using a close-fitting torx bit and it would have ruined the thread if I applied more force.
- a flashlight (to inspect for stuck clips)
- pliers (to remove 2 stubborn metal clips in the speaker cover that using 2 flat screwdrivers could not extract)
- a damp rag (see below)

as you pull the rubber weather seal, try to avoid contact with the sticky paste, and don't transfer it to your roof liner or cleanup will be a chore. My Cross Turismo is Chalk and it was not obvious to me that I was touching it with my arms and had to return to the kitchen faucet a few times to soap/rub it off.

The red-bordered box is the ASG. The bolts are very lightly tightened.

Apart from 1 or 2 slightly-bent plastic clips, no damage to trim. After some wiping down, the panels and trim look untouched and good-as-new. All the connectors used by Porsche that I encountered are durable; it was surprising coming from my old Tesla which had numerous plastic connectors that would easily break and need replacement prior to reinstallation.

@prj mentioned this to me by email:
"please keep in mind that the first time you turn on the ignition with the new module, you will receive a yellow warning message on the dashboard. This is completely normal, as the ASG is brand new, and needs to learn the VIN of the car. As soon as you turn off and turn the ignition on again the ASG will learn the VIN, the error will disappear and will never appear again. After that just clear the fault codes using MapEV Diag."

and like the first boot animation you get on a new PS5- I had my camera ready the moment the car was turned on.

waited a few seconds, used the power off button; waited a few seconds, turned on the car and warning message is gone.

 

[jakeCT]

So for the drive... I was beaming with excitement when I asked my 11-year old to go with me for a spin.

Pulling out into the street in Normal mode, noticed that the throttle was more responsive, almost Tesla-like (which I prefer to the lethargic Taycan 4 throttle mapping). Stepping a bit more on the throttle (~20%), can immediately feel the car has transformed. Then transitioning to wide-open throttle, it felt as if the car suddenly went from 2nd into 1st gear and I felt that launch-control power provided by the tune. My son and I were laughing at this point, and I switched to Sport Plus because it would give me better control of the car while I was getting used to the tune. On my 2nd drive from a parking lot, Normal mode now feels very good and would satisfy ex-Tesla owners expecting immediacy in the throttle. It will be a viable drive mode for me for daily use, especially with family in tow, instead of relying on Sport mode with the added 1st gear.

Sport Plus- the power is perfect. The car feels perfect. I have only driven a 4S previously, and the power output now greatly exceeds that. I suspect it's very close to the power delivery and feel of Rory Reid's Top Gear video review of the Turbo S CT. What I was surprised by is the much sharper and more visceral change to the Electric Sport Sound. I had expected the original softer tone of my Taycan 4 and to be paired with the (disconnected) hard acceleration feel belonging to a higher trim model. @prj is this a matter of the rate of speed increasing, and the ESS automatically matching that, or was there a specific change to ESS in the tune? I love the change.

I highly recommend this tune for other Taycan 4 owners.

 

[prj]

Thank you for the comprehensive review!

What I was surprised by is the much sharper and more visceral change to the Electric Sport Sound. I had expected the original softer tone of my Taycan 4 and to be paired with the (disconnected) hard acceleration feel belonging to a higher trim model. @prj is this a matter of the rate of speed increasing, and the ESS automatically matching that, or was there a specific change to ESS in the tune? I love the change.

The ESS creates the sound based on the actual acceleration parameters of the car. It is not purely hardcoded.
So if you have more power/torque and a faster rate of acceleration, it also increases in intensity.

There is no way to directly affect the ESS from the ASG though. It has a completely separate control module for creating the sound signature.

All the connectors used by Porsche that I encountered are durable; it was surprising coming from my old Tesla which had numerous plastic connectors that would easily break and need replacement prior to reinstallation.

Yeah, I've pulled my car apart over 10 times at this point... No issues, everything clips back together and looks as good as new. Also on mine the paste under the seal is hardened and does not smear or mark anything hence why I did not mention it.

Flashlight is useful - but everyone has that on their phone these days, so I did not mention it separately.
With some specialized pliers it is much easier to pull the clips out, but because not everyone has those I kept it as simple as possible for the video.

 

[jakeCT]

Thank you for the comprehensive review!



The ESS creates the sound based on the actual acceleration parameters of the car. It is not purely hardcoded.
So if you have more power/torque and a faster rate of acceleration, it also increases in intensity.

There is no way to directly affect the ESS from the ASG though. It has a completely separate control module for creating the sound signature.


Yeah, I've pulled my car apart over 10 times at this point... No issues, everything clips back together and looks as good as new. Also on mine the paste under the seal is hardened and does not smear or mark anything hence why I did not mention it.

Flashlight is useful - but everyone has that on their phone these days, so I did not mention it separately.
With some specialized pliers it is much easier to pull the clips out, but because not everyone has those I kept it as simple as possible for the video.

Thank you for that. So the ESS is audibly validating the significant power increase I am getting, great!

The video as you have it now is perfect. Seeing it and you doing the work on your own car, and of course all the valuable data-driven posts you have here and your history in car tuning space gave me the confidence to purchase the tune.

@prj I think this yellow indicator is new after the tune (but not sure, I'm only into a few weeks of Taycan ownership). When starting the car each time, the "Warn and Brake Assist warning light" appears for a few seconds, then I never see it again for the rest of the drive.

I have a dragy on order and hope to post those results soon.

 

[prj]

The video as you have it now is perfect. Seeing it and you doing the work on your own car, and of course all the valuable data-driven posts you have here and your history in car tuning space gave me the confidence to purchase the tune.

Great! We did put some effort into making the video, and I am glad it has paid off.

@prj I think this yellow indicator is new after the tune (but not sure, I'm only into a few weeks of Taycan ownership). When starting the car each time, the "Warn and Brake Assist warning light" appears for a few seconds, then I never see it again for the rest of the drive.

If I am not mistaken that always happens.

I have a dragy on order and hope to post those results soon.

We did get a 6.6s 100-200 on an e-tron GT, which has the same power after tuning, but it's much more aerodynamic than the Taycan, especially than a Cross Turismo with Offroad Package, so I would not expect those numbers. Probably 7.3-7.4 or so is what it will do.

 

[Porsche-Guru]

A layman review of the MAPEV ASG module...
No draggy times, no tech, no measurements.... just seat of the pants feel and perception.

I have now had the ASG module in a 2023 4S (with Performance Battery +) for over a week.

Installation:
- Very easy if you follow the YouTube guide.
- Make sure you have the tools.
- Lock the car, keep key away.
- As additional precaution, on the key fob, you can long press the lock and unlock buttons together till you see the LED flash. This effectively disables the key fob until you press any key again.
- Once you have unscrewed the M8 screws,; slide the boot cover first and then lift and remove. Do not try and lift it first.
- The side clips (at 2:06 in the video) may appear to be very hard to unclip, just be patient and these will unclip. May require a bit of force.
- The metal boot lid cover may also appear to be a bit difficult to unclip, just start from the sides as in the video and it will unclip. Again, patience and a bit of force is essential.
- I did not need to remove the speaker cover (as mine is a saloon model)
- The metal clips do get left behind in the body, but very easy to remove using nose pliers.
- Metal clips are solid, so no risk of breaking them.

The video is very well done.... so anyone should be able to do this installation.


Driving:
- Above 30mph the car is very different, feels more alive. Below 30mph, not a big difference on the 4S.
- Near instant response on pressing the throttle pedal. The delay (or lack of) between the stock/tuned is very very noticeable. Feels a lot more aggressive.
- Above 60-70mph and keeping the pedal pressed (or WOT), the continued pull from the car is again very noticeable. In the stock car, one could feel a drop in the acceleration at higher speeds. The car now seems to continue to pull harder for longer until you reach max speed.
- Gear shift points seem to have changed and the car seems to downshift to 1st quicker. it is probably the lack of delay on throttle input that builds this nice feeling.
- Hard pressing the throttle or WOT (at any speed) - definitely feel the suspension difference and more planted feel.
- Sport Sound - I have the optional sound package; and the sport sound is different, seems to be louder with higher whine. It is probably because the sound frequency change happens faster - and it gives the equivalent perception of faster build up of speed. I was not a big fan of the sport sound, but now enjoy it on the pulls.
- If you drive the car normally, with measured acceleration inputs, it drives exactly as stock.
- I did not need to change acceleration modulation; it just feel very natural. You press hard, it goes faster... you press gently, it drives normal.
- It just reacts a lot quicker and that adjustment is still very progressive.


Recommendation:
- For the 4S; definitely get it.

- Excellent support
- Nothing beats the honesty and openness of these guys.
- This has been very evident in the 3 posts on this forum... and I believe that that itself deserves a huge amount of credit. No oversell, no marketing claims... just what it says on the tin.

Thank you, MAPEV/ @prj

 

[prj]

Thank you for the review!

- Gear shift points seem to have changed and the car seems to downshift to 1st quicker. it is probably the lack of delay on throttle input that builds this nice feeling.

They have changed in the software as well

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