Improve performance, driveability and fuel economy.
It’s well known that double cab utes and SUVs are the vehicles that best suit the Kiwi lifestyle. New or pre-loved, they are expected to work and play as hard as their owners.
When looking to make their rides even more enjoyable and capable, there’s one change many owners are turning to: optimising their engines for more power, more torque and improved fuel economy.
Jason Crene of Superchips says the ideal can be reached safely and without harming reliability.
Because manufacturers produce vehicles for all markets and all conditions, they configure engine management systems at a benchmark that takes into account variability in environment, fuel quality and other conditions. A vehicle sold in Europe must also be able to deal with heat in Africa and cold in Alaska, with high quality fuels in Germany and sulphur-laden fuel in South America.
“Remapping is simply a software change within a vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU). We modify the operating parameters within the code (or ‘map’) to increase the vehicle’s performance and/or economy, without the need to change or add any hardware.”
In most cases the map stored within the ECU can be accessed using the onboard diagnostics port (OBD) which is always situated within one metre of the driver’s seat. In some newer models the ECU needs to be removed for the modification to be carried out on the bench.
“We ensure that each remap is as individual as the software inside the ECU, safely eliminating ‘performance compromises’. The new remap is based on the original programme in the vehicle.
With decades of experience and access to more than 50,000 tuning files for over 9,000 vehicles, Superchips caters to almost all the New Zealand market and is one of the few companies offering an ‘outcall’ service.
“New Zealand’s car market is one of the most diverse in the world. We have tuning files for the most popular vehicles and the more niche ones as well.”
With Ford’s Ranger continuing to dominate new and used vehicle sales statistics, many owners are looking for improved performance when towing or carrying loads. The company has optimised performance for ‘literally hundreds’ of Ranger owners without a single ‘come-back’ on the work done.
Using the company’s remap optimisation, non-turbo petrol vehicles can see up to 10 per cent more power with significantly enhanced throttle response; turbo-diesels can expect gains of up to 35 per cent more torque and power with bonus fuel economy improvements.
Other popular 4WDs including Holden’s Colorado, Nissan’s Navara, Isuzu D-Max, VW Amaroks and even a Mercedes G63 have all been recently tuned all around NZ.
The VW Amarok is “transformed” by a Superchips upgrade, ramping up from 165kW (220bhp) and 550Nm in stock trim to 238kW (320bhp) and 680Nm of torque. As most 4WD owners know, the power increase is a great talking point around a barbecue but it’s that massive improvement in torque that makes all the difference on and off-road.
Though costs are on the rise across the tuning industry, Superchips offers plug-in optimisation for $1099.00 plus GST. If it’s a more complex tune that requires removal of the ECU for an on-bench mapping service the cost is $1249.00 plus GST. The work takes between one and four hours depending on complexity.
The company is seeing increasing interest from private customers, tradies, and businesses.
“This is where the outcall service can be very appealing. We can do the job at a customer’s place of work or come to their home after hours and complete the work without causing inconvenience or delay.”
For owners who are handy in a DIY way, there is also a ‘mail-order’ service using the world known “Powergate 3+” that provides a re-map and the instructions to complete the job.
