Tech Review: Superchips SCR Tuner For Late Model Mustangs

Superchips has been a leader in aftermarket tuning solutions since before the current era of plug and play tuners. Their latest advancement in the tuning market is the Superchips Redline, known more commonly as the SCR. According to Superchips’ Jim McGinn, “The SCR came from the success we’d had within the diesel market, and we wanted to provide a similar product to our performance car customers.” 

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The SCR can display a wide variety of PIDs, allowing users to monitor various data points that they choose. They can also add on our EAS accessory to monitor even more data. -Mike Schimmack, Superchips

The SCR is more than just a simple tuning device, it’s a full-featured piece of hardware designed to give drivers real time feedback and information on their vehicle’s performance. With many manufacturers cutting back on the amount of data available to drivers in the form of fewer gauges, the SCR can act as a second dash giving driver’s information not available to them through the stock instrument cluster.

The custom configurable gauge displays can display information that the owners want and in a configuration or orientation that they desire, so they’re not stuck viewing data they don’t need or want to look at. The SCR display is also fully customizable; even allowing viewers to change the background screen to something loaded from their own computer, further personalizing the tuner.

The SCR can read and display information or PIDs from the engine control computer normally only accessed via a diagnostic scan tool.

Data

The SCR has the ability to capture data through it’s data logging functions and users can download that data and even put it into a spreadsheet. This comes in handy when making fine adjustments, or even viewing how a car is performing out int the real world under daily driver conditions.

Superchips engineer, Mike Schimmack tells us, “The SCR can display a wide variety of PIDs, allowing users to monitor various data points that they choose. They can also add on our EAS accessory to monitor even more data that is not typically tracked by the factory computer.” That additional data might include boost pressure if a turbo or supercharger were used, various temperature senors, and much more.

Left: Fully customizable gauge displays allow owners to see information they want to, in a format they desire. Right: Performance tests such as 0-60 and quarter-mile are easily accessed via the menu.

Customizing

The SCR comes preloaded with what Schimmack says are some of the most powerful off-the-shelf tunes. Instead of those tunes being a ‘one size fits all’, approach each tune can be tailored further by the end user for truly customized performance. If a car is equipped with an automatic transmission for example, the shift points can be tailored for not only wide open throttle, but also part throttle – even the torque converter lock-up can be changed.

Cold air intakes tunes are loaded in the SCR -users need only select which one from the menu to optimize their tune.

Popular bolt-on parts, like cold air intake kits, often require custom tuning to maximize their performance. The SCR delivers here as well, with program adjustments for many popular aftermarket kits available for free to SCR owners.  Support for cars with high-flow catalytic converters is also available, allowing these to be installed on many vehicles without tripping the check engine light. The SCR also allows users to select the proper program for the fuel octane level available to them, or that they want to use.

The included MyStyle application allows owners to update their SCR, and customize the background screen.

Update/Upgrade

Another bonus to the SCR is it’s ability to stay relevant as it ages. If Superchips makes a firmware or software update for the unit, it’s available at no cost to the owners through the included app. The same holds true for calibration changes, “If the manufacturer changes their calibration, and we see there’s a need to do so on our end as well, our customers can get that update free from Superchips,” says Schimmack.

Testing

We tested the SCR on a 2013 Mustang GT at the Power Automedia shop. The first thing we noticed was how fast the tune downloaded to the car’s computer, typically taking from 60-90 seconds to complete, which validated a statement Schimmack told us about the download speed, something Superchips is particularly proud of.

We also noticed the SCR is a product that can be used everyday. From acting as an auxiliary dash or secondary display, to data logging, this isn’t a tuner that you use and throw in the glovebox; it becomes an integrated part of the car, like many of the other upgrades we add as enthusiasts. It’s also easy to use, “If you can plug something into the OBD-II port on your car, you can use the SCR,” says McGinn, and we agree.

On the dyno our stock Mustang GT made 355.4 hp and 339.3 ft-lbs of torque. With the SCR 91 octane tune loaded, we made 367.8 hp, and 356.8 ft-lbs, a peak gain of 12.4 hp and 17.5 ft-lbs. Not bad for an out of the box flash tune.

On the dyno our stock Mustang GT made 355.4 hp and 339.3 ft-lbs of torque. With the SCR 91 octane tune loaded, we made 367.8 hp, and 356.8 ft-lbs, a peak gain of 12.4 hp and 17.5 ft-lbs. Not bad for an out of the box flash tune. More importantly if we look at the area under the curve before the peak power numbers,we see that with the SCR tune, the car consistently makes more power and torque in the useable range, averaging about 20 ft-lbs throughout the test range.

Power across the board and functionality that can be put to use on a daily basis make the SCR more than just the average tuning device. Superchips has SCR tuners available for the 2011-14 Mustang GT, the new 2013 Focus ST, and others. For more application specific information visit the Superchips web site.

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About the author

Don Creason

Don Creason is an automotive journalist with passions that lie from everything classic, all the way to modern muscle. Experienced tech writer, and all around car aficionado, Don's love for both cars and writing makes him the perfect addition to the Power Automedia team of experts.
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