APR and/or other "performance intake: impressions?

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

Anyone have specific impressions of the performance intakes by APR and others?

I've read the theory that suggest turbos spool faster, easier and, as a result, bring more power (HP/TQ) by breathing better with less stress. APR's intakes for a C8 RS6/RS7 are about $1,500 delivered...
(1) on a stock tune, what do i get for $1500?
(2) if running APR Stage 1 what extra benefit do i get if I go with an intake as well???

2021 RS7 currently stock w/ about 26K miles. Plugs, filters, oil, diffs, etc maintained per book or better.

[GoCougs1234]

The performance benefit is indeed a more efficient turbo = quicker boost and cooler charge.

My sorta relevant story: When I went stage 3 I added an aftermarket intake at the same time but was getting major boost cuts (= RPM cut, and rather jarring at that) in first and second gears at ~75% throttle or greater. Turns out APR calibrated the stage 3 tune to the stock intake but with the aftermarket intake the new turbo was building boost too quickly in the quick gears and thus exceeding the boost request curve to the extent the ECU had to quickly intervene to prevent a dangerous overboost condition. APR quickly adjusted the tune (increased feedforward gain on the boost control loop to account for quicker boost) and then all worked flawlessly.

For their RS6/7 intake, APR shows a major power improvement (peaking at 40 hp at red line) stage 1 w/stock intake vs. stage 1 w/intake. 40 hp is A LOT of power. I could understand a power gain at the point at which boost starts to build but that's only a phase shift: quicker boost = quicker to build power but not MORE power since requested boost curve remains the same. Could it be the cooler charge? Gaining 40 hp due to a cooler charge is also huge. But then again, I only have hunches and APR has dyno curves! I hope others weigh in as I'm still a bit new to turbos.

That all said, pretty much any of the providers of Audi aftermarket intakes seem to provide charts (whether flow or dyno) only for stage 1 93 octane or bigger. My bet is that is where the performance benefit of an aftermarket intake begins.

[Jmg944t]

I just put the APR intake on my '25. I'm intending to go APR 1+ (91 oct) for a tune. I'd love to see stock vs intake dyno and Apr 1+ with intake vs not dyno.

[Jmg944t]

My car is new and it's cold with bad roads still here in NH so I can't really speak to much about the intake. I will say it is a quality piece and the new inlets are DRAMATICALLY larger.

[enzotcat]

I just put the APR intake on my '25. I'm intending to go APR 1+ (91 oct) for a tune. I'd love to see stock vs intake dyno and Apr 1+ with intake vs not dyno.

Do you feel any butt dyno difference with the APR intake on stock?

[Kczach]

There are other threads on this if you search. I put on the APR intake. It makes a tad.more noise and spools up a little faster. Marginally better according to my butt dyno. I do get better mileage when in granny mode.

[Jmg944t]

Honestly I don't have much of a frame of reference.

[allenyao09]

I saw a Youtube video doing dyno comparison of a BMC high flow air filter on a C8 RS6. I think it added ~10 hp on a stock tune. I would assume the aftermarket intake will add a bit more hp and sound than just the filter without a tune.

[Kczach]

I saw a Youtube video doing dyno comparison of a BMC high flow air filter on a C8 RS6. I think it added ~10 hp on a stock tune. I would assume the aftermarket intake will add a bit more hp and sound than just the filter without a tune.

The APR inlet has a high flow air filter but the inlets are quite a bit bigger. Probably adds more than 10 hp but how much more I don't know.

[andru1313]

disappointed that Unironic is out of the RS6 game for 24 and beyond. so this has me looking at apr now. can you run the intake with out a tune?

[allenyao09]

disappointed that Unironic is out of the RS6 game for 24 and beyond. so this has me looking at apr now. can you run the intake with out a tune?

You sure can run the intake without a tune, but you will only get marginal power gains (10 - 20 hp max I think).