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VW's new "SuperTurbo" system
Autoweek Article
Quote:
Volkswagen will reach into the past for a combined supercharger-turbocharger system to boost power and fuel economy in its small gasoline engines.
The system, dubbed SuperTurbo Compounding by supercharger supplier Eaton, eliminates turbo lag while boosting overall power and fuel economy by 15 to 20 percent. Eaton, the apparent supplier of the supercharger for the engine, says a car fitted with the system will likely be shown at the upcoming Frankfurt show.
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The article goes on to say that VW's 1.4L SuperTurbo will put out 140hp/184 lb-ft in base form and 170hp/199lb-ft when better tuned. But it gets better: the 1.6L has 195hp and the 2.0L has 240hp!
The beauty of this system, in my mind, is that the torque output is so large. Inline fours aint exactly known for their massive torque, but this system seems to compensate for that shortcoming, whilst also avoiding turbo lag. I drive a WRX, one of the finest four-cylinder engines available and one that isn't short of torque (217 lb-ft), but I do get tired of the turbo lag. I can only imagine what this system would do if applied to, say, a 911 Turbo or a Corvette ZO6... 
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