Hi all:
As promised, I’m writing a more detailed review after having the Trifecta tune programmed in my ATS-V for several days now, and have sought opportunities to experience it in various scenarios. As you will see, I have been blown away, and couldn’t be more pleased with the “bang for the buck” this upgrade provides an ATS-V driver.
My ATS-V is a 2017 sedan, 6-speed manual transmission, with approximately 12,500 miles. Prior to adding the Trifecta tune, it was 100% stock.
First off, let’s start with an overview of what the tune does. Trifecta’s website provides a very descriptive explanation of how the Trifecta tune brings the stock ATS-V’s 464hp to somewhere in the neighborhood of 600hp. Although the LF4 is advertised to provide 18lbs/in2 of boost from the twin turbochargers, those that watch the digital boost gauge have likely asked the same question I did. “How can we be achieving 18psi of boost when the most I ever see on the gauge is 12psi?” And the answer is because our LF4s do not provide 18psi (at least mine doesn’t), the reasons for which I do not know.
The Trifecta tune brings the maximum boost up from around 12psi to around 18psi, and also provides what Trifecta describes as, “active rail pressure management, bi-directional enhanced knock control and zoning, enhanced engine and transmission response,” and various other features. Their website goes into detail for each of these features. The tune is also advertised as significantly enhancing the 8-speed auto transmission; although as noted I have the 6-speed manual.
Trifecta also provides what, to me, was a convincing argument as to choosing their tune over taking my car to a local dyno shop, noting, “Why buy a tune from a dyno shop that might run your car on the rollers 10 times when you can buy from a company that's channeled over several hundred dyno pulls' worth of testing into their product? Rather than relying on a “dyno tuner” that may or may not have experience tuning the ATS-V (but almost certainly to their local area only), with TRIFECTA you can rest assured you're purchasing from the company that's been in the GM factory turbo vehicle tuning business longer than anybody else, in many cases pioneering the tuning aftermarket for these vehicles. The TRIFECTA ATS-V calibration has been subjected to over 300 chassis dyno pulls, on dynos across multiple continents, and tens of thousands of test miles have been accumulated in virtually every climate, elevation and season.” As I mentioned, this was a convincing selling point to me personally.
I would never describe the ATS-V as being underpowered in its stock form. Those of us (i.e., most of us) that have read and watched the multiple reviewed by the various car magazines and auto journalists have seen the incredible stock performance displayed by the ATS-V, such as zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds (MotorTrend actually achieved 3.7 seconds), while receiving near-unanimous praise for its incredible handling, steering feel, chassis stability, strong braking performance, and track programming modes. During my research and conducting test drives in the quest of deciding what my next car would be, I knew within five minutes of driving the ATS-V that both the BMW M3 and MB AMG C63s had each fallen a notch in their ranking on my personal comparison list. Plus, with Audi deciding not to bring the new RS4 to the US market, the decision to buy the ATS-V became even easier. Also, an attractive factor for me is that the ATS-V is something I don’t see every day on the roads. I enjoy being a little different and unique, and I’m certainly not a person that buys just for the name or emblem, or the perceived status symbol.
I have greatly enjoyed the ATS-V in its stock form, but soon decided I wanted to experiment with a little more performance. Given the inherent increased ability to tune cars with forced induction, I started by looking at performance upgrades via changes in calibration. After researching the options, the Trifecta tune appeared to be developed over considerable time with precision, by a company that seemed to know what they were doing. I asked multiple questions prior to buying, and they were professional and detailed in their responses (more on that later).
Purchasing the tune from Trifecta provides the buyer with the tune itself and the cable that connects the user’s laptop (via USB port) to the ATS-V’s OBD-II port. Trifecta asks for your VIN number, presumably to ensure their tune is customized for your car (i.e., year, transmission type, etc.). Their website is well-developed and convenient to use. Customers can ask questions via a personalized “forum” type of experience, with just the customer and Trifecta Q&A. I asked multiple questions prior to purchasing, and the team at Trifecta were consistently very quick to answer my questions thoroughly and in a professional, patient, and friendly manner. Once your tune is ready, it is available for download in the customer’s forum. The customer also receives a detailed list of the types of additional modifications that are compatible with the Trifecta tune. For example, one of my questions was whether the tune would need to be adjusted for a set of down-pipes and mid-pipes that I have on order from my friends at Weapon-X. Luckily, the stock tune is 100% compatible with downpipes, with cats or cat-less. However, the stock tune is not compatible with aftermarket air intakes. Thankfully that was not an issue for me, given my ATS-V was 100% stock.
Installation was conducted using Trifecta’s step-by-step installation guide, which also includes a video of the process. Installation was completed without a hitch, and took about 15 minutes from start to finish. Couldn’t be easier!
So, here are my summarized observations after driving for a few days with the Trifecta tune:
- I’m very impressed with the increased power! This car is now incredibly fast; night and day versus stock!
- The added power is quite linear throughout the powerband, meaning it’s not an on/off type of feel. The power is very smooth in its delivery, feeling almost as if
it were a stock LF4 but with significantly more power and torque. And speaking of torque, this motor is now very “torque-ee.”
- Trifecta’s site has the dyno charts. The horsepower and torque provided by the Trifecta calibration are available early…literally from about 1,500rpm through to
the redline.
- You never get the feeling that the new calibration is something that’s been added “on top” of what was already there. Rather, it’s more of “an overall integrated
package” of performance (I hope that makes some sense!).
- In its stock form, I could tell when the turbos had worked their way up to boost (approximately 3,500rpm). As you all know, the stock LF4 does have some level
of turbo lag, but much less pronounced than many other turbocharged cars. The Trifecta tune seems to even out the boost even further, to where any feel of
turbo lag has been further minimized.
- The added power is very usable, and controllable assuming the user exercises reasonable judgment. Obviously with this much power, you can get yourself into
trouble. Not unlike how one can get into trouble with a stock ATS-V, or any car in this league of performance. However, it’s easily managed based on how much
gas you give it. Again, just use reasonable judgment.
- The ATS-V’s chassis and suspension handles the increased power very well. At no times have I felt like the engine was out-performing the car’s ability to handle.
I think this is a testament to how good the ATS-V’s stock chassis and suspension have been designed. The integrated package, with power and handling, truly
makes one think this is what the ATS-V was designed for.
- All stock functionality continues to work perfectly. The Trifecta tune does not impact tour mode, but is present in sport and track settings.
- I’ve attempted a few launch controlled starts, in both the track “1-wet” and “2-dry” settings, and one in full track just for grins. It’s been anywhere from 12
degrees to 25 degrees here over the past few days. My stock Pilot Super Sports stay very hard in this temperature and, needless to say, the pavement is
extremely cold. Not surprisingly in these conditions, traction is a challenge. I was able to get some decent launches by modulating the throttle less than what I
would in warmer, stickier conditions. I can’t wait till we get back to good weather when the Pilot Super Sports are sticky and the roads are hot. I imagine the
traction challenges will be more manageable then.
Overall, I couldn’t be more pleased! Bang-for-the-buck, I personally feel this is an awesome upgrade! As mentioned above, I have some down-pipes and mid-pipes ordered from Weapon-X, and can’t wait to see what this beast is like once I combine those with the Trifecta tune!
As always, the items noted in this post are just my opinions, my $0.02. However, I’ve tried to be reasonably objective, and hope this is helpful to the others that have expressed interest in possibly getting a tune for their ATS-V.
NO MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT WARRANTY MATTERS WITH AFTERMARKET TUNES - If you wish to debate that topic, then start your own thread. Please be respectful and stop hi-jacking posts on different topics.
For those who wish to discuss the performance improvements from the Trifecta tune, or have legitimate questions about the Trifecta tune, I'd enjoy talking.
All the best - Mike
As promised, I’m writing a more detailed review after having the Trifecta tune programmed in my ATS-V for several days now, and have sought opportunities to experience it in various scenarios. As you will see, I have been blown away, and couldn’t be more pleased with the “bang for the buck” this upgrade provides an ATS-V driver.
My ATS-V is a 2017 sedan, 6-speed manual transmission, with approximately 12,500 miles. Prior to adding the Trifecta tune, it was 100% stock.
First off, let’s start with an overview of what the tune does. Trifecta’s website provides a very descriptive explanation of how the Trifecta tune brings the stock ATS-V’s 464hp to somewhere in the neighborhood of 600hp. Although the LF4 is advertised to provide 18lbs/in2 of boost from the twin turbochargers, those that watch the digital boost gauge have likely asked the same question I did. “How can we be achieving 18psi of boost when the most I ever see on the gauge is 12psi?” And the answer is because our LF4s do not provide 18psi (at least mine doesn’t), the reasons for which I do not know.
The Trifecta tune brings the maximum boost up from around 12psi to around 18psi, and also provides what Trifecta describes as, “active rail pressure management, bi-directional enhanced knock control and zoning, enhanced engine and transmission response,” and various other features. Their website goes into detail for each of these features. The tune is also advertised as significantly enhancing the 8-speed auto transmission; although as noted I have the 6-speed manual.
Trifecta also provides what, to me, was a convincing argument as to choosing their tune over taking my car to a local dyno shop, noting, “Why buy a tune from a dyno shop that might run your car on the rollers 10 times when you can buy from a company that's channeled over several hundred dyno pulls' worth of testing into their product? Rather than relying on a “dyno tuner” that may or may not have experience tuning the ATS-V (but almost certainly to their local area only), with TRIFECTA you can rest assured you're purchasing from the company that's been in the GM factory turbo vehicle tuning business longer than anybody else, in many cases pioneering the tuning aftermarket for these vehicles. The TRIFECTA ATS-V calibration has been subjected to over 300 chassis dyno pulls, on dynos across multiple continents, and tens of thousands of test miles have been accumulated in virtually every climate, elevation and season.” As I mentioned, this was a convincing selling point to me personally.
I would never describe the ATS-V as being underpowered in its stock form. Those of us (i.e., most of us) that have read and watched the multiple reviewed by the various car magazines and auto journalists have seen the incredible stock performance displayed by the ATS-V, such as zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds (MotorTrend actually achieved 3.7 seconds), while receiving near-unanimous praise for its incredible handling, steering feel, chassis stability, strong braking performance, and track programming modes. During my research and conducting test drives in the quest of deciding what my next car would be, I knew within five minutes of driving the ATS-V that both the BMW M3 and MB AMG C63s had each fallen a notch in their ranking on my personal comparison list. Plus, with Audi deciding not to bring the new RS4 to the US market, the decision to buy the ATS-V became even easier. Also, an attractive factor for me is that the ATS-V is something I don’t see every day on the roads. I enjoy being a little different and unique, and I’m certainly not a person that buys just for the name or emblem, or the perceived status symbol.
I have greatly enjoyed the ATS-V in its stock form, but soon decided I wanted to experiment with a little more performance. Given the inherent increased ability to tune cars with forced induction, I started by looking at performance upgrades via changes in calibration. After researching the options, the Trifecta tune appeared to be developed over considerable time with precision, by a company that seemed to know what they were doing. I asked multiple questions prior to buying, and they were professional and detailed in their responses (more on that later).
Purchasing the tune from Trifecta provides the buyer with the tune itself and the cable that connects the user’s laptop (via USB port) to the ATS-V’s OBD-II port. Trifecta asks for your VIN number, presumably to ensure their tune is customized for your car (i.e., year, transmission type, etc.). Their website is well-developed and convenient to use. Customers can ask questions via a personalized “forum” type of experience, with just the customer and Trifecta Q&A. I asked multiple questions prior to purchasing, and the team at Trifecta were consistently very quick to answer my questions thoroughly and in a professional, patient, and friendly manner. Once your tune is ready, it is available for download in the customer’s forum. The customer also receives a detailed list of the types of additional modifications that are compatible with the Trifecta tune. For example, one of my questions was whether the tune would need to be adjusted for a set of down-pipes and mid-pipes that I have on order from my friends at Weapon-X. Luckily, the stock tune is 100% compatible with downpipes, with cats or cat-less. However, the stock tune is not compatible with aftermarket air intakes. Thankfully that was not an issue for me, given my ATS-V was 100% stock.
Installation was conducted using Trifecta’s step-by-step installation guide, which also includes a video of the process. Installation was completed without a hitch, and took about 15 minutes from start to finish. Couldn’t be easier!
So, here are my summarized observations after driving for a few days with the Trifecta tune:
- I’m very impressed with the increased power! This car is now incredibly fast; night and day versus stock!
- The added power is quite linear throughout the powerband, meaning it’s not an on/off type of feel. The power is very smooth in its delivery, feeling almost as if
it were a stock LF4 but with significantly more power and torque. And speaking of torque, this motor is now very “torque-ee.”
- Trifecta’s site has the dyno charts. The horsepower and torque provided by the Trifecta calibration are available early…literally from about 1,500rpm through to
the redline.
- You never get the feeling that the new calibration is something that’s been added “on top” of what was already there. Rather, it’s more of “an overall integrated
package” of performance (I hope that makes some sense!).
- In its stock form, I could tell when the turbos had worked their way up to boost (approximately 3,500rpm). As you all know, the stock LF4 does have some level
of turbo lag, but much less pronounced than many other turbocharged cars. The Trifecta tune seems to even out the boost even further, to where any feel of
turbo lag has been further minimized.
- The added power is very usable, and controllable assuming the user exercises reasonable judgment. Obviously with this much power, you can get yourself into
trouble. Not unlike how one can get into trouble with a stock ATS-V, or any car in this league of performance. However, it’s easily managed based on how much
gas you give it. Again, just use reasonable judgment.
- The ATS-V’s chassis and suspension handles the increased power very well. At no times have I felt like the engine was out-performing the car’s ability to handle.
I think this is a testament to how good the ATS-V’s stock chassis and suspension have been designed. The integrated package, with power and handling, truly
makes one think this is what the ATS-V was designed for.
- All stock functionality continues to work perfectly. The Trifecta tune does not impact tour mode, but is present in sport and track settings.
- I’ve attempted a few launch controlled starts, in both the track “1-wet” and “2-dry” settings, and one in full track just for grins. It’s been anywhere from 12
degrees to 25 degrees here over the past few days. My stock Pilot Super Sports stay very hard in this temperature and, needless to say, the pavement is
extremely cold. Not surprisingly in these conditions, traction is a challenge. I was able to get some decent launches by modulating the throttle less than what I
would in warmer, stickier conditions. I can’t wait till we get back to good weather when the Pilot Super Sports are sticky and the roads are hot. I imagine the
traction challenges will be more manageable then.
Overall, I couldn’t be more pleased! Bang-for-the-buck, I personally feel this is an awesome upgrade! As mentioned above, I have some down-pipes and mid-pipes ordered from Weapon-X, and can’t wait to see what this beast is like once I combine those with the Trifecta tune!
As always, the items noted in this post are just my opinions, my $0.02. However, I’ve tried to be reasonably objective, and hope this is helpful to the others that have expressed interest in possibly getting a tune for their ATS-V.
NO MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT WARRANTY MATTERS WITH AFTERMARKET TUNES - If you wish to debate that topic, then start your own thread. Please be respectful and stop hi-jacking posts on different topics.
For those who wish to discuss the performance improvements from the Trifecta tune, or have legitimate questions about the Trifecta tune, I'd enjoy talking.
All the best - Mike
