Smaller, Turbocharged Engines are Taking Over the Car World

Cars are all about freedom and power. The freedom to go wherever you want whenever you want. It's also about the immense power of an engine giving you sheer thrills as you put your right foot to the floor.

 

These days though, it seems that fuel efficiency is winning a war against power. Due to more strict and stupid regulations, car companies are having to use smaller engines and turbochargers in order to meet ridiculous fuel economy standards. Cadillac has ditched V8's in favor of twin-turbo V6's. Even Ferrari will be switching to turbocharged engines in 2016 due to bigger fuel economy standards.

 

Turbochargers are pretty simple to understand. The exhaust gases from the engine spin a turbine that throws the exhaust gases back into the engine, giving a boost of power. That sounds like a good idea at first. The fuel efficiency of a smaller engine with the feel of a bigger engine. However, there is one problem with turbocharged engines: turbo lag.

 

Because the turbine has to spin in order to shove the exhaust gases back into the engine, you have to have a tremendous amount of force and it takes a while for the gases to go back in. If you don't put your foot down with enough force, there won't be enough pressure for the turbo to work, leading to turbo lag.

 

Of course, there is a better solution to fuel efficiency than turbos. Superchargers also offer a bigger boost of power, but because they push more air directly into the engine instead of using leftover exhaust gases, you don't get any turbo lag.

 

But nothing is better than an old fashioned, naturally aspirated engine with no turbo or superchargers. You get no turbo lag, more power, and it's just better. Unfortunately, it's seems that turbochargers, smaller engines, and fuel economy may be the victor in the tragic war of fuel economy vs. power.