THANAS RACE ECU Tune for the AW Polo GTI (MG1CS001) Platform:

It's finally here! The development of our well known and widely used THANAS RACE firmware is now available for your AW Polo GTI, with VW's EA888.3B engine and MG1CS001 ECU. Our world-first firmware adds a number of much needed and highly requested features to the stock MG1CS001 ECU. We'll dig into how each works, but first, here is a list of the features our firmware adds:

• Mapswitching / Multimap (on-the-fly), Up to 4 slots;
• True Flex Fuel (With ethanol content display on dash);
• Adjustable launch control (on-the-fly);
• Rolling antilag;
• Boost-by-gear;
• Full port injection (MPI) control;
• Anti-Theft / Immobiliser Mode.

Our race firmware is applicable to any level of hardware (even completely stock!) We have divided the RACE platform into 3 different levels:

RACE|1: Stock Turbo with no/minimal hardware upgrades

RACE|2: Small Hybrid / IS20 with all bolt-on upgrades

RACE|3: IS38 / IS38 Hybrid / Full Frame Turbo with all bolt-on upgrades

We have rewritten the base function coding of the ECU, to include additional functionality. These functions are accessed using the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. Note that this does not affect the operation of the cruise control, as they are operational even with cruise control off.

Mapswitching / Multimap:

Up to 4 map-slots can be added, switchable on the fly via the (Cruise Cancel button) allowing for variable power output by adjusting the following:

• Boost Pressure
• Boost Pressure in each gear (if boost by gear is enabled)
• Ignition Timing
• Flex fuel characteristics

This allows us to setup your vehicle to run multiple fuel types, and boost-by-gear profiles to get the most reliable power possible out of your setup, without having to run a higher octane fuel continuously. For example:

On a more basic RACE|1 or 2 setup, a typical map-arrangement might be as follows:

• Map 1: 95 Octane Only
• Map 2: E20 ethanol fuel or 98 Octane

On a higher powered RACE|3 setup, it might look more like this:

• Map 1: 95 Octane Only
• Map 2: 95 Octane + Water Methanol Injection Active
• Map 3: Flex Fuel Active + Water Methanol Injection Active (Boost By Gear street setting)
• Map 4: Flex Fuel Active + Water Methanol Injection Active (Boost By Gear TRACK setting)

This allows for different power levels for different fuel types, as well as different surface conditions (unprepped street with less boost in the lower gears, compared to a prepped track with drag radials and more boost in the lower gears).

All levels of the RACE platform can have 4 map-setups if necessary and if the driver wants to run different configurations.

True Flex Fuel:

Our firmware allows for true flex-fuel. As there is no native support for flex fuel, as there is in the Simos18.1 ECU found in most of the MQB cars (Golf 7 R / S3 etc), we have developed our own flex-fuel firmware that allows the ECU to read the ethanol content directly from an ethanol content sensor plumbed into the fuel line.

What this means is our tune can adjust the following according to the ethanol content, in real time:

• Boost and torque level (low ethanol, lower boost, higher ethanol content, higher boost)
• Ignition advance (more timing is added with higher ethanol content)
• Port injection split (more fuel is apportioned to the port injectors as ethanol content rises)
• Fuel volume correction (ensuring the correct amount of fuel is injected for the ethanol content)

This allows for ultimate practicality, as the user does not have to worry about mixing an exact ethanol content, the sensor reads the ethanol content and adjusts automatically.

We have also allowed for ethanol content safeties, if the sensor reading is implausible or the sensor is disconnected, the vehicle will enter a limp mode and flash the engine light to alert the driver of an issue, preventing any damage.

User Adjustable Launch Control:

We have added the functionality of launch control into the ECU as well, allowing the engine to build boost, while the vehicle is stationary and the brake is depressed / full throttle. This builds boost by retarding the ignition timing and reducing torque through cylinder cut to allow boost to build without engine rpm increasing. The driver is able to adjust the launch rpm while launch control is active by pressing the (Cruise + or Cruise -) buttons.

Rolling Antilag:

Similar to launch control, this feature allows boost to build while driving, by holding the (SET) button and going full throttle. During the procedure, the engine will build boost but without the vehicle accelerating, once boost has built, the (SET) button is released and the vehicle begins to accelerate. This is particularly useful for roll-racing and/or scaring passengers.

Boost by Gear:

This allows for different boost pressure levels to be run in each gear, for example:

• 1st Gear: 0.8 bar
• 2nd Gear: 1.2 bar
• 3rd Gear (and up): 1.5 bar

This feature allows very high powered cars to still be drivable in the lower gears at full throttle. Without boost by gear, the only way to limit power in the lower gear is to pedal the throttle or only go half throttle.

Full Port Injection (MPI) Control:

A major shortcoming of the stock ECU is the inability to accurately control the Port Injection in the way that it would be used in motorsport (i.e increasing the fuel volume supplied by the port injection with increasing fuel demand, either by boost, or by ethanol content). Our firmware allows for perfect control of the port injection, in order to make full use of the factory port injectors. In addition, our firmware allows for scaling of larger port injectors (for example 980cc Injectors), while maintaining perfect idle, part throttle and fuel control.

Anti-Theft / Immobiliser / Valet Modes:

This allows for the car to be put into either a valet / low power mode for other drivers or if the vehicle is being dropped off and you suspect the car might be driver, or a full immobiliser mode, which prevents the car from driving entirely.

Results:

Some results from our development as well as client cars. We've tested two different levels of hardware with our THANAS RACE firmware:

RACE|2 IS20 Turbo / Stock Fuelling / Intake / Downpipe / Exhaust

• THANAS RACE Firmware (FLEX FUEL / BBG / MS / RAL / ALC / IM)

Achieving a substantial 105 kw and 209 Nm above stock power, with simple bolt-ons and our RACE firmware and custom tuning.

The next vehicle demonstrating the capability of our firmware on an oem IS38 equipped vehicle with very similar hardware. This vehicle is equipped with our full flex fuel kit including upgraded 980cc port (MPI injectors). It still utilises the stock in-tank fuel pump.

RACE|3 IS38 Turbo / 980cc Port Injectors / Stock LPFP / Intake / Downpipe / Exhaust / WMI

• THANAS RACE Firmware (FLEX FUEL / BBG / MS / RAL / ALC / IM)

Achieving a substantial 130 kw and 244 Nm above stock power. This vehicle also has the option to run 95 and 95/WMI maps, achieving a strong 260 kw and 518 Nm on 95 and WMI alone on its Map 2. It was able to run a strong 100-200 time of 8.9s, full weight on E40. With E40 and WMI in its highest map, this vehicle achieved 284 kW and 577 Nm.

Our firmware and calibration unlocks a whole new realm of possibilities for these cars, get in contact to see how we can assist you in reaching your goals.

Pricing:

Pricing is divided into two parts:

1. Base cost for tuning (Depending on the level of hardware i.e RACE|1 to RACE|3)
2. Add-on cost per feature:

• Map-switching
• Flex fuel
• Launch Control
• No Lift Shift
• Rolling Antilag
• Boost By Gear
• Immobiliser mode
• Additional Map (Up to 4 in total)

This allows the driver to spec and pay for only the features they like with the overall price scaling according to the hardware setup. We also offer a substantial 40% discount to existing THANAS Clients. There is a further 20% discount on the total feature cost if all of the features are chosen.

Supported vehicles:

AW Polo GTI 2.0T (EA888.3B) (<2021)

*Note that support for other EA888.3B vehicles such as the A3 2.0T, Tiguan and others is in development and is expected to be ready in January/February 2026*

Fore more information contact us at:

support@thanas.co.za

+27679539687 (sales)

+27844524190 (technical)

Note that international partners are welcome to get in contact.