I love history. It’s full of stories about underdogs and how they managed to come up trumps when the odds were stacked against them. Like in 1932 when Australian soldiers went to war with emus. I bet you didn’t know about that, though, did you? It sounds absurd, but it’s absolutely true. Australia was once involved in an armed conflict with emus, and you know who won? The emus. The underdogs, or in this case, the “underbirds”. Now, while we’re on the topic: here’s another story from the history books, one about an underdog, and one I’m sure you haven’t heard.
Back in the day, motors utilised carburettors if they were petrol and mechanical injection if they were diesel. Unfortunately, in that era, it didn’t matter what fuel they were sipping on or how it made its way to the combustion chamber; the result was the same—lots of noise and not a lot of movement.
Then Volkswagen changed the game when it introduced Electronic Control Units (ECUs). Overnight, carbies and mechanical injection became extinct, with modern alternatives such as Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and Common Rail diesel fuel systems taking their place, and a new way of harnessing a vehicle’s power was born, performance modules.
Suddenly, it seemed like every bloke, and his dingo were busy creating a plug-and-play solution to the issue that was plaguing motorists: engines that had as much power and torque as a wheelie bin. But only one stood out, Steinbauer.
While Steinbauer may not have been the first to take up the mantle in the realm of power modules, they were the first to wield their magic with true finesse. Steinbauer created a product that has weathered the test of time and endured the harshest bush beatings, with their Power Modules standing tall as a testament to their tough design. These plug-and-play wonder boxes were the unsung heroes of the diesel engine enhancement world, offering a bang-for-buck investment that wouldn’t leave you with a piston throwing itself through your engine block when you needed it most.
Back in the mid-90s, the small yet audacious company emerged from the depths of a basement in Linz, Austria. Their mission was crystal clear— to elevate the driveability and versatility of these modern diesel powerhouses. But here’s the twist: CEO Herbert Steinbauer vowed to tread a different path, avoiding the treacherous pitfalls of their competitors’ wild antics—no reckless cowboy tunes, no flashy gimmicks, and certainly no pressure box hijinks. Steinbauer had a greater vision in mind. A symphony of advanced programming and electronic sorcery that would crank diesel engines up to eleven without sending them limping to the sidelines, smoke billowing from their exhausts.
Herbert Steinbauer, the ingenious mastermind behind it all, gathered a team of top-shelf technicians and cued the music. Collaboratively, they engineered a groundbreaking power module that seamlessly integrated with diesel engines, unlocking a world of untapped power and potential. Placing reliability at the helm of their endeavours, Steinbauer and his crack engineers meticulously honed their craft, striking the perfect balance between optimising power and performance while preserving the engines’ inherent integrity.
The result was nothing short of extraordinary. Steinbauer’s power modules became the catalyst for diesel-powered dreams, breathing new life into engines and empowering them with a deluge of torque, power, and efficiency that would leave their owners grinning from ear to ear. Gone were the days of lacklustre performance and sluggish acceleration. With Steinbauer’s innovation under the bonnet, vehicles streamed forward with newfound vigour, conquering the open road and hidden tracks with ease.
But it wasn’t just about raw power and torque. Steinbauer’s commitment to reliability set them apart from the competition. Their modules were built to withstand the harshest Aussie conditions, enduring the bone-shattering tremors of corrugated roads and the scorching heat of the outback. Steinbauer solidified their spot in history by giving their modules the ability to sense when your 4X4 is undergoing prolonged and demanding situations, such as towing up steep inclines and having it trim back the module’s output by 1% per second. Within a minute, the module could be running at half capacity, effectively reducing the risk of rising Exhaust Gas Temperatures (EGTs) that can be potentially fatal to your motor, a feature other modules lacked at the time.
Not stopping there, Steinbauer decided to tackle the agricultural and transport sectors too. Developing Power Modules that’d revolutionise the way farmers ploughed paddocks and truckies kept Australia alive. Nowadays, they even have offerings for electric vehicles (EVs).
These plug-and-play wonders proved their mettle time and time again, never compromising on performance or leaving drivers stranded in the outback with catastrophic engine failures. Steinbauer had cracked the code, creating a bang-for-buck investment that gave 4X4’ers the confidence to conquer tracks that were previously out of the question and tow where no rig had towed before.
Word of Steinbauer’s exceptional power modules spread like wildfire, captivating the hearts and minds of 4X4 enthusiasts, truckers, and farmers across the globe. From humble beginnings in a Linz basement, their reputation grew. The once-underdog company had become an industry leader, driving innovation and setting new standards in the world of diesel engine enhancement.
Today, the legacy of Steinbauer lives on as their power modules continue to transform ordinary vehicles into extraordinary machines. With each installation, they honour their commitment to unleashing the true potential of diesel engines and EVs while maintaining the utmost reliability and performance.
