It will be a little bit difficult to explain this very unusual upgrade, but please bare with me. The photos that follow will make the situation more clear. You know it has to be good when it shoots flames from the exhaust!
The newest version of the Audi Q5 uses the 2.0 TFSI EA888 Gen3 engine. As with all the Audi Q5s on planet earth the engine is mounted with the flywheel facing the cabin. Then comes the gearbox, main shaft etc. We call this engine placement type Longitudinal. Every powertrain component sits in one line, along the length of the car. This is not like the Golf 7R, where the IS38 turbocharger comes from – the engine orientation there is transverse. The flywheel faces the front wheel and the crankshaft is vertical to the center-line of the car.
Audi Q5 full custom exhaust upgrade
It would make a lot of sense power-wise to upgrade the turbo to an IS38. The engine orientation creates space limitations. It means that the usual IS20 and IS38 turbos cannot be mounted properly as there is not enough space for them. Then the intercooler piping would have to be redone as it is nowhere close to Transverse engine configurations.
AEM Water-Methanol Injection kit installed on Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI
But: If only the turbo’s compressor housing was rotated and modified accordingly, the IS38 could fit. Then the electronic wastegate would have to be mounted properly, so the ECU can control boost like on a normal IS38. This is exactly what happened and it involved a lot of modifications and skilled craftsmanship.
When the IS38 was paired up with an upgraded full exhaust and AEM Water-methanol kit, the engine just loved the combination. Operating at approximately 1.8bar, it produces 360whp on 4wd!
Audi Q5 – Etuners Stage3 remap with IS38 turbo on Dynojet rolling road dyno
Upgrade specifications
- 98RON fuel + AEM Water-methanol injection kit
- Upgraded full exhaust
- IS38 turbocharger (specially modified to fit)
- Cold air intake kit
Audi Q5 results – Etuners Stage3 remap with IS38 turbo on Dynojet rolling road dyno
Performance results
- Maximum power: 357whp / 420hp @ flywheel , measured in 4×4 on a Dynojet rolling road dyno
- Maximum torque: 500Nm @wheel / 554Nm @ flywheel
