Seizing Opportunities

Excerpt

From a tuning side effect to ecological mainstream: In combination with ongoing downsizing, turbochargers have also found their way into gasoline engines. Through the approach of "same performance with less displacement," supercharging has advanced to become an effective means of reducing fuel consumption, even if this calculation often seems not to add up. "Turbo runs, turbo guzzles" may be an oft-heard old chestnut, but developments progress, and teams of engineers worldwide are tinkering around with persuading supercharged engines to save - not just in test cycles but also in everyday operation. Real Driving Emissions (RDE) are the acid test of a technology that retains great potential - in terms of both efficiency and drivability alike. Supercharging works best when turbochargers are collectively applied alongside concepts such as fully variable valve trains and variable compression. All potential must be optimally tapped on the path to further, urgently needed reductions in fuel consumption and emissions - seizing opportunities is the order of the day. …