Category Archives: Turbo Technology Updates

Volvo’s new Drive-E power-trains 2013

Efficient driving pleasure with world-first technology

Volvo Cars’ new Drive-E range of powertrains takes efficient driving pleasure to a new dimension in which the number of cylinders is no longer important to describe power and drivability.

The first three engines from the two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain family will be launched in Europe in autumn 2013. The diesel version features world-first i-Art technology, and the most powerful petrol version comes with a class-leading combination of a compressor and a turbocharger.

“We have created smaller, more intelligent engines with power curves that give exciting driveability compared with engines with more cylinders yet deliver the fuel economy of only four cylinders,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Car Group.

“In addition, by adding electrification such as plug-in hybrid technology, we will reach power figures in the V8 territory.”

Petrol engine with compressor and turbo!

Using the supercharger to fill in the bottom end torque gives the petrol engine a big, naturally aspirated feel. The mechanically linked compressor starts to function immediately at low revs, while the turbocharger kicks in when the airflow builds up.

Other improvements to the Drive-E petrol engines include friction-reduction measures such as ball bearings on the camshaft, high-speed continuous variable valve timing and intelligent heat management with a fully variable electric water pump.

Powerful, compact, efficient.

Our all-new 2018 Drive-E power trains combine the low-fuel consumption and emissions of a four-cylinder engine with the handling and performance of a six or eight-cylinder. The result: a smooth, powerful ride—with less stops at the pump.

Audi, Automotive Competition - Road & Track, TURBO CAR Models, Turbo Technology Updates

2013 – AUDI TURBO Power at the lowest revs

August 19, 2013 admin Leave a comment

2013 Audi TURBO (electric biturbo) Power at the lowest revs

With the electric biturbo, Audi is taking another major step forward in its TDI engines. In this forward-looking technology an additional compressor assists the turbocharger in the lower rev range.
Almost a quarter of a century ago, Audi delivered a major boost to diesel engine development worldwide. 1989 saw the debut in the Audi 100 of the first direct injection compression ignition engine with turbocharging and electronic control, since when the TDI has enjoyed an impressive and ongoing success story.

The full potential of forced induction is particularly evident in combination with the diesel engine. It increases performance and reduces consumption and emissions considerably; compared with earlier naturally aspirated engines, this is downsizing at its very best. As a factor of displacement, TDI engines have increased their output by more than 100 percent and torque by 70 percent since 1989; within the same period, emissions have fallen by 95 percent.

The latest development iteration from Audi is the 3.0 TDI biturbo – it delivers 230 kW (313 hp) and a maximum torque of 650 Nm between 1,450 and 2,800 rpm. It has a specific power output of 77.5 kW (105.5 hp) per liter. Yet, in the A6 it consumes an average of just 6.4 liters of fuel per 100 km and emits 169 grams of CO2 per km.

All turbocharged internal combustion engines share one characteristic – that turbochargers are driven by energy from the exhaust gas. For this reason, the charge pressure, and thus torque, does not begin to rise sharply at the lowest end of the rev range until exhaust gas energy increases.

The electric biturbo, however, offers a significant improvement. Specialists from Audi’s Advanced Diesel Engine Development department in Neckarsulm have built and calibrated a 3.0 TDI with this configuration. The conventional turbocharger operates together with a supplementary, electrically driven compressor. This facilitates a rapid build-up of charge pressure and high torque from the very lowest revs, independent of the available exhaust gas energy.

Instead of a turbine driven by the flow of exhaust gases, the new component incorporates a small electric motor that runs the compressor rotor up to a very high speed in an extremely short space of time. The electrically driven compressor, which looks very similar to a conventional turbocharger from the outside, is positioned downstream of the turbocharger and charge-air cooler and is bypassed under most operating conditions. However, when the energy on the turbine side is low, the bypass valve closes and the charge air is directed into the electrical compressor, where it is compressed for a second time.

The effect of the new concept is impressive. When pulling away and accelerating at very low revs, torque build-up takes place significantly earlier, meaning that a high level of pulling power is quickly on call in every situation. Under full acceleration from a standstill, the electric biturbo delivers an advantage of around two vehicle lengths in the first three seconds compared with a conventional engine.

The energy required to drive the electric compressor is derived largely from recuperation under trialing throttle conditions, making it consumption neutral. A further key feature of the concept is the flexible and compact charge line; its heat capacity is reduced as a result, ensuring that the catalytic convertor quickly reaches operating temperature following cold start.

Automotive Industry News, BMW, Mini, TURBO CAR Models, Turbo Technology Updates

2011 “Engine of the Year Award” BMW Wins with TwinTurbos

July 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

2011 “Engine of the Year Award”: Four Titles for BMW Group

Who was that brave motoring journalist the said Turbo-charging was not part of the future back in the nineties!?

The Most Successful Manufacturer in the Most Significant International Competition.

– Engines featuring four, six and eight cylinders prevail in their respective displacement classes and diesel engines prevailed in their respective displacement classes.
– All award-winning engines feature in models currently available in Australia
– Wins awarded across TwinTurbo and naturally aspirated petrol and diesel engines.

With four class victories in the competition “Engine of the Year Award” 2011, the BMW Group repeated last year’s success, whilst at the same time strengthening its position as the most successful manufacturer to take part in the competition. Four, six and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines prevailed in their respective displacement classes.

The award-winning engines are featured in a number of current models of BMW and MINI brands. In addition to the V8 power unit of the BMW M3 and the straight six-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the four-cylinder diesel with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the four-cylinder diesel with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and the new four-cylinder power unit under the bonnet of the MINI Cooper S also received an Engine of the Year award. The awards announcements took place during the trade fair “Engine Expo” in Stuttgart.

The success in four of the eight capacity classes in the world’s most renowned engine competition underscores yet again the BMW Group’s outstanding expertise in the field of engine development. Thanks to BMW EfficientDynamics there is a choice of exceptionally powerful and at the same time remarkably efficient engines available for all models of the BMW and MINI brands. Since 1999, the company has been able to claim more than 50 class and overall victories in the “engine of the Year Award” competition.

Commendation for the awards is decided by an international jury, which consisted this year of 65 car journalists from 32 countries. In the capacity class 1.4 to 1.8 litres an award went to the engine featured in the new MINI Cooper S. The 1.6-litres four-cylinder engine is equipped with a Twin Scroll turbocharger, direct petrol injection as well as variable valve control based on the BMW patented VALVETRONIC system. This combination renders the 135 kW engine the world’s most efficient power unit of its type and size. It assumes the title from the predecessor engine used in the MINI Cooper S, which was able to seize the class victory in the “Engine of the Year Award” competition four times in a row.

The second victory in succession went to the four cylinder diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. Like last year, the 2 litre power unit featured in the BMW 123d and the BMW X1 xDrive23d was also successful in the engine category 1.8 to 2 litres. With its impressive pulling power and exceptionally low fuel consumption and emission levels, the 150 kW engine still sets the benchmark in its class.

A BMW engine was able to repeat last year’s victory in the capacity class 2.5 to 3 litres as well. The jury voted once again for the 3-litre, 225 kW straight six-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, which is also featured in the new BMW 5 Series as well as in a 235 kW version of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible and the new BMW 6 Series Coupé. Its unique technology package comprising a Twin Scroll turbocharger, direct injection technology High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC valve control ensures a particularly favourable relation between driving pleasure and fuel consumption. In this area, it even surpasses its predecessor, which was not only able to win the class valuation in the “Engine of the Year Award” competition three times, but also claim overall victor several categories in 2007 and 2008.

The only naturally aspirated engine amongst the four award-winners is responsible for the currently most impressive series of victories. For the fourth time in succession the V8 power unit featured in the BMW M3 was triumphant in the 3 to 4-litre capacity class. The 309 kW, 4-litre engine convinced the jury yet again with the exceptional pulling power generated by the characteristic high-revving concept utilised on this power unit. The engine under the bonnets of the high Saloon and BMW M3 Convertible combines its outstanding performance characteristics with remarkable efficiency, which is attributable among other things to the Auto Start Stop function, brake energy regeneration and further BMW Efficient Dynamics technologies.

Automotive Industry News, Turbo Technology Updates

OLD NEWS – 2010 Awards prove turbo-charging is the future

November 25, 2010 admin Leave a comment

The following article is an example of the way that the bleeding obvious to some, is generally ignored by the masses.

TURBOCHARGING Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) has ALWAYS been the way of the FUTURE!!

– At least to us on TurboClub!!

Too bad every ICE has not had the benefit of forced induction for the power and economy that it is able to endow an otherwise normally exasperated (!) lump of metal.

Although many fine examples of Turbo Technology have adorned many otherwise low powered models from many manufacturers, the uptake has been abysmal.

Ford has finally recognized the economy fringe benefits of forced induction in their new “Ecotec” range, acknowledging that power is not the only benefit of adding an exhaust gas driven turbine/compressor system.

TurboCharging IS a double edged sword!

You can use that greatly enhanced power output when you need or want it, but at great cost to your wallet at the closest gas station!

1980’s F1 – 1500cc’s + Turbo = 800 HP!

BUT, if you treat your gas pedal like an unbroken egg under your right foot and drive extremely sensibly you can gain great gas savings because of the enhanced efficiency of the forced air flow into your engine.

Awards prove turbocharging is the future.
November 25, 2010 – 12:06PM
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Drive Car of the Year 2010

Proving that biggest isn’t always best, one of the smallest and cheapest cars in the field was also judged to be the standout in the 2010 Drive Car of the Year Awards.

With 10 of the 14 category winners employing turbochargers, Drive’s Car of the Year awards have proved that blown engines are the way of the future.

Turbo is the future. That’s the message to come out of this year’s Drive Car of the Year.

For the second year running, a blown Volkswagen has driven off with overall honours, and the German carmakers’ rivals need to catch up quickly or risk being blown away.

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The Volkswagen Polo 77TSi – Drive Car of the Year’s Best City Car
Drive Car of the Year’s best city car the Volkswagen Polo 77TSi.

In half the 14 categories for this year’s awards, a turbo VW engine, matched to the group’s trick dual-clutch transmission, was arguably the best donk on display. The Polo and Golf were standouts in their category, while the Passat, GTI, Jetta, Caravelle and Audi RS5 also made compelling arguments.

Thankfully, the opposition isn’t sitting idle, with Renault’s turbo hot-hatch Megane RS250 bumping off the VW GTI in the performance under $60,000 category, while Korean rising star Kia has a gem of a turbo-diesel under the bonnet of its very capable Sportage, and Ford has transformed the Mondeo with a new 2.0-litre turbo diesel.

The Jaguar-Land Rover group has also shown that turbo-diesels can match conventional petrol engines for performance and refinement, while BMW’s 3.0-litre turbo sixes (in the 5-Series and 135i) match raw power with impressive efficiency.

All up, ten out of 14 winners were turbocharged.

Read MORE:- http://news.drive.com.au/drive/car-of-the-year/blogs/drive-blog/awards-prove-turbocharging-is-the-future/20101123-184iz.html