Re-Mapping - Stupid Question - Why are new cars detuned?

[masonj]

If re-mapping and chipping can give more power and MPG why don't the manufacturers chip or remap cars when they build them?

[VanWheeler]

This is a very good question, why does a car manufacturer purposely de-tune an engine before they sell it? There are a few reasons for this - one is that the manufacturers have to sell there car all over the world and must de-tune there engines for different fuel grades and atmospheric conditions to prevent engine damage caused by these conditions. They also have to take into account the average car buyer not every car buyer is like you, they don’t all want blistering horsepower from there engine, a new mother for example isn’t going to be too impressed by a VW Golf TDI wheel spinning in third gear when she takes it for a test drive. So they must compromise between out & out performance and general sale ability.

[darkhorse1001]

i know in some examples it can be to keep sales for bigger capacity engines that carry a higher profit margin, ie the old 1.8T and the larger 2.4, 2.8 v6's in the b5 A4 era.

the other big factors i would assume is longevity and reliability, the more highly strung an engine is the less reliable and less miles it's gonna see in its lifetime i reckon.