MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT: The Next-Generation ECU for Four, Five and Six Cylinder Builds
Quick answer: MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT is the most compact and affordable way into MaxxECU's second-generation hardware platform. It runs up to 6 cylinders fully sequentially (up to 12 in wasted spark) with 6 injector outputs, 6 ignition outputs, 7 low-side outputs and 2 H-bridge/E-Throttle outputs. It has a built-in wideband lambda controller (Bosch LSU 5.2, 4.9 and 4.2), dual knock inputs, 12 analog inputs, 4 pulse inputs, a 550 kPa MAP sensor good for 4.5 bar / 65 PSI of boost, a 3-axis accelerometer, CAN, WiFi and Bluetooth, USB-C, an ARM dual-core CPU and 4 GB of internal logging capturing all 2000+ channels at 1000 Hz. The case is IP68-rated powder-coated aluminium with Superseal 1.0 connectors, 175 × 138 × 35 mm and 450 g. Like GEN2 TRACK it has no native TYPE-K thermocouple inputs — EGT is read through 0–5 V amplifiers on the analog inputs.
Rocket Speed Shop is the official MaxxECU distributor for the Baltics. Here is what the GEN2 SPORT brings over the original SPORT, and when the bigger GEN2 TRACK is the better call.
Who the MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT is for
- Four-cylinder turbo builds. Six sequential channels leave two spare on a four-cylinder, and the 550 kPa MAP sensor covers anything short of a drag-only build.
- Straight-six and V6 builds. Six sequential cylinders, built-in wideband, dual knock and E-Throttle — everything a 2JZ, RB, M5x/S5x, Barra or VR6 street-and-track car needs from one box.
- Five-cylinder Audi and Volvo engines. Five of the six channels used, one in reserve.
- E85 and methanol. Native Bosch LSU 5.2 support handles mixtures that LSU 4.9 struggles to read, and flex fuel is built in.
- Anyone who wants engine protection. Dual knock inputs are new to the SPORT class — the GEN1 SPORT had no knock control at all.
- Data-driven drivers. 4 GB of internal logging recording every ECU channel at 1000 Hz, plus the 3-axis accelerometer, on a unit in this price class.
- Exposed installations. IP68 sealing and Superseal 1.0 connectors as standard. Rally, off-road, boats, bikes.
- Anyone tuning at the track. WiFi connection to MTune means no cable to the ECU.
What GEN2 SPORT changes over the GEN1 SPORT
Dual knock control
The original SPORT had no knock inputs. GEN2 SPORT has two, which on a six-cylinder engine means one sensor per three cylinders and real knock-based ignition protection — previously a reason to step up to RACE.
550 kPa MAP sensor
Built in, user-serviceable, 4.5 bar / 65 PSI of boost, versus the 3 bar sensor on GEN1 SPORT.
Bosch LSU 5.2 wideband
The built-in wideband controller now supports the latest Bosch LSU 5.2 alongside LSU 4.9 and 4.2. LSU 5.2 is the sensor for ultra-rich methanol and heavy E85 mixtures.
IP68 waterproofing as standard
Black powder-coated aluminium enclosure, IP68 rated, with two USB-C ports under rubber covers. No separate waterproof variant needed.
WiFi and Bluetooth built in
WiFi connects to MTune on a PC for wireless tuning and diagnostics. Bluetooth connects to MDash on Android. Both antennas are integrated, with an LED indicator for power, errors and boot status.
4 GB of full-channel logging and an accelerometer
Every one of the 2000+ ECU channels at up to 1000 Hz, with automatic start and stop conditions, plus a 3-axis 8 G accelerometer for chassis and driver analysis. GEN1 SPORT logged to a fraction of this.
More and smarter inputs
Four pulse inputs accepting VR or digital signals, two with selectable 5 V/12 V supply, all with configurable pull-ups, and 12 analog inputs with selectable pull-ups. Everything samples at 2000 Hz, and MTune's built-in oscilloscope shows you what the sensor is actually doing.
Dual-core CPU, 8× larger tables, Lua scripting
An ARM dual-core processor performs fuel and ignition calculations 3000 times per second (GEN1 does 2000), tables are eight times larger, and Lua scripting lets you write your own control strategies and custom CAN messages. Every input and output is protected against reverse polarity, overvoltage and short circuit.
The same software as every other MaxxECU
Every MaxxECU runs the same MTune and MDash, so a tune can be moved from any MaxxECU to any other, GEN1 to GEN2 included. Bear in mind that the connectors and harness are different: a GEN2 SPORT is not a drop-in replacement for a GEN1 SPORT already wired into a car.
How EGT works on the GEN2 SPORT
The GEN2 SPORT has no TYPE-K thermocouple inputs. The engine protection functions — EGT fuel correction and EGT power cut — are present in the firmware exactly as on every other MaxxECU; you feed each thermocouple through a 0–5 V EGT amplifier into one of the 12 analog inputs. One channel on the turbo manifold is a sensible, cheap setup. For per-cylinder EGT, native thermocouple inputs are a GEN2 RACE feature.
MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT full specifications
| Specification | MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT |
|---|---|
| Target engines | All 1–12 cylinder, 2 and 4 stroke |
| Sequential cylinders | Up to 6 |
| Wasted spark cylinders | Up to 12 |
| Injector outputs | 6 peak-hold, high or low impedance / GP outputs |
| Ignition outputs | 6 IGN / GP outputs (selectable +5 V / 12 V / GND) |
| GP outputs (GND) | 7 |
| H-bridge / E-Throttle outputs | 2 |
| Pulse inputs | 4 (VR/digital), 2 with selectable 5/12 V supply, all with selectable pull-ups |
| Analog inputs | 12 (selectable pull-ups) |
| Wideband lambda | Single — Bosch LSU 5.2 / 4.9 / 4.2 |
| Knock sensor inputs | Dual |
| EGT inputs | No native TYPE-K inputs — read via 0–5 V amplifier on an analog input (EGT fuel correction and EGT power cut supported) |
| Built-in MAP sensor | 550 kPa (4.5 bar / 65 PSI boost) |
| Accelerometer | 3-axis, up to 8 G |
| CAN bus | CAN for vehicle communication, expansion and transmission control |
| WiFi | Yes — MTune wireless tuning |
| Bluetooth | Yes — MDash Android app |
| PC communication | USB-C 480 Mbit/s, plus USB-C 12 Mbit/s for tablet communication and charging |
| Internal logging | 4 GB, up to 1000 Hz, all 2000+ channels |
| Processor | ARM dual core |
| Calculation rate | 3000 fuel/ignition calculations per second |
| Input sampling | 2000 Hz on analog and digital inputs |
| Ignition resolution | 0.1 degrees |
| Injector resolution | 0.001 ms |
| Supply voltage | 6–22 V |
| Connectors | Superseal 1.0 |
| Dimensions | 175 × 138 × 35 mm |
| Weight | 450 g |
| Enclosure | Black powder-coated aluminium, IP68 |
| I/O protection | Overvoltage, reverse polarity and short circuit on every input and output |
| Scripting | Lua |
Available kits
- MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT with connector kit — the ECU plus Superseal connectors and terminals for building your own harness.
- MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT with LSU 5.2, flying lead install kit — the ECU, a flying-lead harness and a Bosch LSU 5.2 wideband sensor. The quickest route to a running engine.
When to consider a bigger MaxxECU
Leave yourself some headroom. A MaxxECU is very capable of controlling far more than just the engine, so it is good practice to choose a unit that leaves a few inputs and outputs in reserve. The ECU is not something you swap later like a sensor: the connectors and harnesses differ between models, so pick the right unit from the start.
Consider GEN2 TRACK instead of GEN2 SPORT if…
- Eight cylinders — GEN2 TRACK does 8 sequential, SPORT does 6.
- Staged injection on a six — TRACK has 8 injector outputs, SPORT has 6.
- Dual wideband — per-bank lambda on a V-engine needs TRACK.
- More I/O — TRACK has 16 analog and 6 pulse inputs, 8 GND outputs, 4 × +12 V outputs and 4 H-bridge outputs, versus 12 / 4 / 7 / 0 / 2 on SPORT.
- Dual CAN — if a CAN gearbox, OEM CAN and expansion modules all have to live on the bus at once.
- More logging — 8 GB versus 4 GB.
Read the full MaxxECU GEN2 TRACK guide.
What to buy alongside a MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT
- Pressure sensors — oil pressure and fuel pressure are the two we would fit to every engine. Both can be logged and used for engine protection.
- Temperature sensors — oil temperature and intake air temperature as a minimum.
- Knock sensors — the two knock inputs need hardware to listen with.
- EGT sensor with a 0–5 V amplifier — one channel on the manifold is cheap insurance on a turbo engine.
- Flex fuel sensor — if the car will see E85 or varying ethanol blends.
- Wideband lambda sensor — included in the flying lead install kit (Bosch LSU 5.2). The connector kit version needs a sensor bought separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT and the original SPORT?
GEN2 SPORT adds dual knock inputs (GEN1 SPORT had none), a 550 kPa MAP sensor instead of 3 bar, Bosch LSU 5.2 support, IP68 waterproofing, WiFi, 4 GB of full-channel logging, a 3-axis accelerometer, an ARM dual-core CPU with 8× larger tables, Lua scripting and protected I/O. Cylinder count, injector and ignition outputs stay at 6/6/6.
What is the difference between MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT and GEN2 TRACK?
GEN2 TRACK adds 8 sequential cylinders instead of 6, 8 injector and 8 ignition outputs instead of 6, dual wideband lambda instead of single, 16 analog inputs instead of 12, 6 pulse inputs instead of 4, 4 × +12 V outputs, 4 H-bridge outputs instead of 2, dual CAN and 8 GB of logging instead of 4 GB. IP68, WiFi, dual knock, the 550 kPa MAP sensor, the accelerometer and Lua are the same.
Does MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT have EGT inputs?
Not natively. Feed a thermocouple through a 0–5 V EGT amplifier into one of the 12 analog inputs and the EGT fuel correction and EGT power cut functions work as normal.
Will my existing MaxxECU tune work on GEN2 SPORT?
Yes. Every MaxxECU runs the same software, so a tune can be moved to any other MaxxECU, GEN1 to GEN2 included. The connectors and harness are not interchangeable, though.
Can I tune a GEN2 SPORT over WiFi?
Yes. WiFi connects directly to MTune on a PC for wireless tuning and diagnostics. Bluetooth handles the MDash Android dashboard.
How much boost can the GEN2 SPORT read?
The built-in MAP sensor is 550 kPa — 4.5 bar / 65 PSI of boost.
Is GEN2 SPORT waterproof?
Yes. IP68-rated powder-coated aluminium case with Superseal 1.0 connectors and rubber-covered USB-C ports, as standard.
Where can I buy a MaxxECU GEN2 SPORT in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania?
Rocket Speed Shop is the official MaxxECU distributor for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with warranty coverage, firmware access and local technical support.
Explore the rest of the MaxxECU range
MINI · STREET · SPORT · RACE · GEN2 TRACK · GEN2 RACE · PRO · PDM20 · Expansion Module.
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