Garrett Stage 1 Powermax™ Turbocharger for 2.0L EA888 Gen.4 (upto 450 HP)

Garrett Stage 1 PowerMax™ Turbocharger for 2.0L EA888 Gen.4 (up to 450 HP)

The Garrett Stage 1 PowerMax™ turbocharger is a direct bolt-on upgrade developed specifically for the 2.0L EA888 Gen.4 engine found in the latest VW, Audi, Skoda, Cupra and Seat performance models. As an authorised Garrett retailer, we can confirm this is a completely new turbocharger, not a hybrid or rebuilt unit, engineered to support up to 450 HP while retaining factory fitment points.

Compared to the standard Golf 8 GTI turbocharger, the PowerMax delivers a 32% increase in compressor flow and a 50% increase in turbine flow, giving you the headroom needed for serious tuning without compromising reliability. The use of the proven Garrett GT2260S core, milled GTX-style compressor wheel and MAR-M turbine wheel means this unit is built to handle sustained high boost and exhaust gas temperatures of up to 1050°C.

What Makes the PowerMax Different

Unlike a stock replacement, the PowerMax is engineered from the ground up for higher airflow while keeping all OEM connection points. The new generation compressor housing includes a port for an optional speed sensor, allowing you to monitor turbo shaft speed when paired with the right tuning setup. The forged and milled Gen II GTX aero compressor wheel improves efficiency and reduces pulsation noise, which is the technology Garrett identifies with the “X” in their turbo naming.

Internally, the unit runs a journal bearing system with a 360° thrust bearing, providing strong axial load support at the higher boost levels this turbo is designed to deliver. Water cooling is retained via two side connections, helping to manage bearing housing temperatures during hard use and after shutdown.

Key Features

• Direct bolt-on fitment with all OEM connections retained
• Electronic actuator (plug and play with factory wiring)
• Gen II GTX milled forged compressor wheel
• +32% compressor flow / +50% turbine flow over stock
• MAR-M turbine wheel rated to 1050°C exhaust gas temperature
• Stainless steel exhaust housing rated to 1050°C
• Speed sensor port (sensor sold separately)
• 360° thrust bearing with journal bearing core
• Maximum turbo speed: 186,000 rpm
• Rotation: reverse left

Technical Specification

Vehicle Fitment

This turbocharger fits a wide range of popular 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen.4 vehicles across the VW Group, including the Golf 8 GTI, Tiguan, Audi TT and Q3 45 TFSI, Skoda Octavia RS and Kodiaq RS, Cupra Leon and Formentor, and Seat Tarraco. Please use our vehicle lookup or check the Vehicle Fitment tab to confirm compatibility with your exact model and engine code before purchasing.

Keep Your Original Turbo

Because the PowerMax is a complete new unit rather than a modification of your existing turbocharger, you can keep your factory turbo in storage. This means the vehicle can be returned to standard at any point, which is useful for warranty situations, resale, or simply reverting before a service visit.

Important: A turbocharger of this capability requires supporting modifications and a professional custom ECU calibration to safely reach its power potential. Fitting the turbo without appropriate tuning, fuelling and supporting hardware will not deliver the gains it is capable of and may cause running issues. Installation should be carried out by a qualified specialist.

Applications

Please note, customers are wholly responsible for checking fitment for their vehicle.